The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-08-11
CALHOUN FIGHTSA DUEL
COL. VILLA MSON HIS ANTAG-
ONIST But NO ONE HURT.

The Colonel Fired All His Shots in
Quick Succsssiou-NIr. Calhoun Fired
Only One and Had His Opponent at
His Mercy-Peace Then Patched Up
Unsuccessful Efforts OF Gov. Gordon
and the Law officers to Prevent the
Meeting.
ATLANTA, GA, Aug 10.-The lively epi-
scde in the session of the railroad commit
tee of the House THURSDAY, in which Col.
}. d. Williamson, president of the Chatta-
nooga, Rome and Columbus, denouncel a
statement just made by Patrick Calhoun
Us ab,olutely and unqualihedly false, re
suited in duel fought at o'clock this
afternoon on the banks of the Cooss river
IN Alabama, The friends OF Mr.. Calhoun
and Col. Williamson used every effort yes
| terday to bring about such settlement of
the matter as would avl id an appeal to the
code They failed utterly, Mr. Calhoun
| insisting upon a full retraction, and Col.
Williamson refusing to make any modifca-
ton of his words.
| AGREED TO MEET IN ALABAMA.
Last night the parties agreed to meet in
| Alabama ready for the last resort Messrs
| Calhoun and Harry Jackson left the city
| late last night on tram on tho Georgia
| Pacific road and Col. williamson, CO... John
| KING of Rome and Judge TompkinS went
via the Western and Atlantic road this
| morning. When Gov. Gordon learned Of the
situation he determined to do all in his
| power TO prevent a meeting. He tele-
| graphed the authorities at Cedartown and
| Rome to arrest any of the parties passing
| through, but was too late.
WIRED TWO GOVERNORS.
| He then telegraphod Gov. Seay, advising
| him of the proposed duel and asking his
official Interference through Alabama olIi-
| GERS to prevent its being fought. Upon IA
suggestion that the place might be changed
and Tennessee selected, the dispatch to Gov
| Seay was duplicated to GOV TAYLOR He
| telegraphed Gov. Seay again as late as 4:50
| O'Clock this afternoon. The ground selected
Vas Hokes Bluff, near Alfalfa, and an
Alfalfa dispatch tonight states that
| both parties reached the spot
at 5 o'clock The prelimnaries
were at once arranged and the principals
placed in position. At the word Col. VIII
hanson fired his five barrels in rapid sue
cession and Mr. Calhoun fired once, where
| upon Mr.. Calhoun again demanded an
! apology. After consultation an under
| standing was reached when Mr.. Cal
| houn fired the remaining bullets in
the air and the parties separated. Col.
| Williamson left the field for Ga !s1en TO
have his wound treated and Mr.. Calhoun
and his frie ds went to Catherwood on the
| Alabama and Chattanooga to so to An
niston.
| PASSING THROUGH ROME.
ROME, GA, Aug. 10.--There has been n
great deal excitement here to-day over
rumors of a duel between Patrick Calhoun
of Atlanta and John d. Williamson, presi
dent of the Chattanooga, Rome and Colum-
| bus railroad. More excitement was caused
| when Col. Williamson passed through Rome
about noon to-day on his way to the field of
| honor in Alabama kilograms were re-
ceived by Sheriff Jenkins early this morn
| ing from Gov Gordon, asking him e. arrest
thaIpriucipals at all hazards President viii
| hanson arrived in Rome about | 1870 O'Clock
On his special car. Before it got within the
| city limits he got on the engine
| in his shirt sleeves and rode
through the city in that style TO
avoid recognition. His spscial car went
over to the Rome and Decatur railroad in
| " est Rome 10 be sent VIA that road b It's
present terminus, Alfalfa, where the duel
was to take place
ALIrTLE PISTOL PRACTICE.
While waitingin West Rome Col William
son dismounted and took istol practice on
the trees. He was joined here by John King,
| cashier Of the Merchants National Bank,
VINO was to act as his second, and Dr. Henry
Batey who was to be his physic an. Deputy
| Sheriff Mathis was waiting in West Rome
| to arrest Col. williamson He entered
the private car and took a seat think
| ing taat he would make the arrest
as soon ~ the railroad president entered
| Col. Wiiliamson's party saw into the affair
| at once, and the engine was cut loose aud
| went a considerable distance up tho track,
| where the party boarded it, and the officers
Of the law were left sitting in the car. Col
| Williamson and MS friends went on across
the state line into Alabama
Patrick Calh jun and his party, consisting
| of Capt. Henry JACKSON, who was his sec
ond, and Henry Grady, left Atlanta via
! the Georgia Pacific to meet them. Gov
| Gordon had telegraphed to the governor Of
Alabama to stop the duel if possible
So that the duelists had another
gauntlet to run. At o'clock
| this afternoon. Col williamson
and party were at Cedar Bluff, Ala, wait
ing for the Calhoun party. The last named
| party soon came on the north bound train.
FLEEING FROM THE OFFICERS.
The secondg, Mes rs. Jackson and King,
| began to make preparations, when several
| officers came up TO arrest the parties. The
entire party then went up to RayHes station,
| five mles above Here they were making
| the preliminary arrangeme IS when several
| deputy sheriffs rOdeup with dOube-harrele1
guns leveled az them. The plrUy scrambled
| on President Williams private car, which
was standing in waiting, aud went up three
miles higher. Here they were zaiu
interrupted by sthe officers Of the law.
Boarding the train a ain they went u mile
or two farther up, where unmolested the
prelmi aries were arranged by the seconds,
Messrs King and Jack ON. The distance
was 10 PAGES. Mr.. Calnoun's side won IN
the toss for the choice Of position.
PULLED TIE TRIGGER.
After Capt. Jackson had selected it for
him the dualists faced each other. Mr..
| King counted three and gave the command
to fire. Mr.. Williamson fired five shots.
Mr.. Calhoun fired only one None
Of the shots drew blood. Mr.. Cal
| houn then asked Mr.. Williamson if
| he would uucondtionally withdraw
the insulting epithe5s he had applied to
| MIN on Thursday in Atlanta. Mr. William
son replied that he would not. Mr.. Cal
| houn, after talking to his second, repeated
the question. Mr williamson replied that
be would withdraw the epitbets If Mr..
Calhoun would retract what he said 50 far
as ii referred TO his Williams ms charac-
ter and veracity. Mr. Calhoun agreed 10
this. and fired his four remaining shots into
the air. The duelists arrived III Rome to-
pi1bt ahout q o,clock The code duello was