The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-10

clined to go to dinner party at Senator Palm
er's, because he had dresa-coat and TOO
poor TO buy one. Riddleherger Is. however.
cornwall in his tastes He likes good fellowship
and he seems to breathe an atmosphere so high
~ charged with ozone that his animal spirits
continually come to the front The iron in his
blood at times gives him an unG Ne amount of
courage and bis actions were ne not United
States Senator. would almost warrant the sup
position that he was keeping his spirits up by
putting spirits down.
/ am assured, however, that Mr. Riddlebercer
never drinks but of his friends, who was re-
Gently Governor of Virginia. aud who unlike
Riddleberger. Is actually inclined to drinking,
heard the report the other day that Senator
Riddlebergar. inbibing too freely. He
left Petersburg and straightway came 20 Wash
ington. went directly to the Metropolitan Hotel
and announced that he was going to reform his
friend Harry. Senator Riddleberger. however.
happened to be i'll at the time. and the Virginia
hotel Hobbies. asked them in to take drink.
With the glasses in their hands they pledged
success to the mission of the Ex-Governor, and
at about tho fifth drink the Ex-Governor was in
such condition to evidence decided need
of reformation himself. He then called upon
Senator Riddleberger. but was told blythe serv-
ant that he could not be admitted. as the Sen
ator was sleeping. He left the hotel and con-
tinusd the spree and the result was that he be-
came Intoxicated to such degree that he had
to be reshipped 10 his own home without seeing
the Senator the actions of whose mercuriai
temperament he had so unjustly attributed to
other than those of nature.
Nevertheless Senator Sherman should be care
full as to how he trifes with The buzz-saw.
Sherman came having duel once, but
Riddeberger has actually stood fre-twice.
Some years ago George ID. Wise. now one of the
Virginia Representatives in the House. play
fully called Riddleberger a BANKED liar in the
columns of Richmond newspaper, aud Riddle
berger straightway sent a challenge To show
the blocdthirstlness of the man when angered.
he sent challenge to editor Beirne that same
day and he arranged to fight the two duels on
the same afternoon. Wise chose pistols for
weapons. and the meeting was at o'clock P. NJ.
in a clump of woods few miles from Richmond,
and so near the residence of the judge of the
county that he could hear the shots. At the first
fire Wise's pistol did not go off, and Riddleber-
gers ball flew wide of the mark. Wise then
handed his pistol to hs second and told him there
was something the matter with it. The ball was
drawn, the pistols wer 9 reloaded and the COM
batants took second fire. At this time Wise's
ball cut Riddleberger's coattail but Riddle
bei gers shot again wasted itself the air.
Iiddleberger reached down his hand and looked
at the place where the ball had gone through
the $40 coat. He then raised his hand and
He thought moment, still scratching. and then,
to the Wise's surprise, be seized the pistol by
the barrel and threw it as far as he could into
the bushes. He then threw out both arms, and,
walking half way towards Wise, held out his
hand and intimared that he thought they had
better settle the matter in other ways Wise
replied be had nothing to complain of, and, If
Riddleberger satisfied, he was, and SO the
duel ended. The other engagement, Riddle
Riddleherger should be applauded rather than
condemned for refusing to stand up and be fired
at by men who were probably better shots than
himself, and whom he considered his enemies.