Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-29

Tue Governors Famous Dual wa
state senator WflIiams-Rts son M.
tiDsutshed Himself in DuaI W.
Editor Elam.
from The New FORK Suu.
ALEXANDRIA, VA, Dec. 25.-Amon
the candidates talked about for the suc
cesslon to Rlddleberger's seat in the Son
ate is ex.Gov. Extra Billy" Smith a
Fauquier county. He got this surname
by his readiness at any time to run fo,
any Gf1ce, and the willingness. aImos
amount ting to eagerDess, with wbIch be
sought participation in duels, either az
principal or second. While he WAS t3oy.
ernor OF virginia, before the war. he wss
in his prime; then he sank into .ipnocp.
GUS desuetude," until now he has heon
resurlecte for the Senatorship. And be
IL said that he is as ready as ever to epter
Did.
Extra Billy" has quite a dua,ino
record, and his sons have gained 6istinc'
ton In the same line. In fact. the lam.
iiy, TAKEN together, has done more fight.
Ing IN the held of honor than perhaps anv
family IN Virginia. Extra Biuyo him.
sell, While student at the University of
virginia, began his career as an ex-
FOUNDER OF the code by sending a bullet
through the wrist of a fellow student vino
lad insulted him in the class room. This
incident gave MIN somewhat of a reputa-
ton, ana when he was admitted IN tha
bar and entered politics he was
treated with marked respect bv his
political opponents. Along In 1S46 he In.
creased his reputation by his fam0usdueI
With State Senator Williams, ThIs fa.
nous duel was the talk of Virginia at the
time, and is we'll remembered by the old
residents OF this part of the State. 1t arosa
from political quarrel. When the com.
Oatants raced each other Smith, who was
crack shot. asked his opponent coolly
where he wanted to receive the bullet.
Anywhere you can put it," answered
Williams, detiantly.
Every WE'LL" said Smith. 81 know Won
ean't hit me, and as / don't want to kin
Fou will only make it flesh wound in
HE shoulder-the right one." =,
When the smoke cleared away fter the
uEst shot Smith stood smlingiy examin.
lng the barrel of bis pistol, While vii.
liams' weapon dropped to the ground and
his pistol arm hung bleeding and useless |
1t his side. An examination showed |
mat he had suffered flesh wound. in the |
Aght shoulder, just as his opponent an |
bounced beforehand. In subsequent dueis |
Extra Billy' invariably asked his oppo. |
,ent where he wanted the bullet. and
complied with all the requests, except in
Inc case, when he severely wounded a
nan who was a good shot and evidently
bent on killing. Still, Smith has never
tiled mar, and has come forth un-
cratched from all his fights, save for a
roken finger he received on one occa-
iOn.t
His eldest son. who ia now TTnitad
t-ates Attorney for one of the Territories,
has dueling record which, though not
10 long as his fathers is eventlul. Be-
hdes participating as second in several
lfliirs OF honor and engaging In some
oi0odless fights as principal, be distiI-
pushed himself few years ago by &C.
Ferely wounding Mr.. W. C. Elan, late
fdltor OF the Richmond Whig, The duel
g still fresh in the public memory. It :
occurred in an adjoining county, and was
Is fierce an affair as Virginia has seen Tor
long time. AT the first shot neither was !
urt. A second shot resulted in 6
mith, who persisted, however, in
ghting it out. At the third shot
liam received disabling wound in the
ip, from which he has not yet entirely !
covered. When President Cleveland r
ominated Smith to his present office his
ueling record was brought up bv his
nemies, but Mr.. Cleveland did not think !
outlawed man to go into the field of :
onor, and the Senate did not find objec- :
ons either.
younger son has recently come forth
a crack shot. He has not vet got be- :
0nd the honor Of being second In a duel =
oweVer; but in that secondary position
showed the qualities which mark him !
q worthy aOn Of a worthy afro D.,