Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-18
IRBY As DUELLI>T.
Did he Coax the second to ILiSe the
Bullets Drawn

Cumberland MR.. Special 10 " y World.
The Ne,cS Of this city prints editorial
liz the following remarkable story about
United States Senat0r-elect lrby, oil
South Carolina:
''John LaurenS Manning lrby
was student ut Princeton
College in the winter of 1870
Il. 4 dispute arose between him and
fellow-Student over trihing matter,
and after being convinced that the stain
upon his honor demanded satisfaction,
and that nothing but blood would
cfIace the wrong, he sent chal-
leDge to the fellow-Student.
To the utter aStoniShmeut, horror
and dismay Of Irby the challenge was
promptly accepted, and pistols were Sc
lected as the Instruments OF death ana
panacea for honor. His young South
ern blood was not nearly so hot nor did
the insult loom up in its former colossal
proportions as the letter of acceptance
was read and considered.
"Irby. in his challenge, had named
his second. who, by the way, does not
reside more than hundred miles from
Cumberland, aud he Straightway took
himself 10 the second for advice and
consolation. During the conversation
he intimated that duelling was wrong:
il was an evil that had grown up in the
South under peculiar circumstances aud
surroundings, and was not adapted to
the New Jersey climate, and hint
I ed at possible means OF escape
/ from the dilemma. But the second
would hearkcn 70 none of il. Flight
would be worse than death. Fight
there must be. II the second had TO take
mart himself. and il he did lrby would
he his subject. After no little argu-
ment the man. who so shortly before
had been writhing and torturinS under
an honor blackened and diSgraced by
l. an Insult from a NOrtherner. consented
| IN appear upon the field Of honor, pro-
vided the bullets would be- extracted
l from the cartridges before loading the
weapons. Even then danger might per-
chance come from the powder, but the
fiery young Southerncr would incur that
risk for his own honor and the rcputa-
ton of his section for chlvalry. The
opponent was not let into the secret.
In the belief that the weapons we're to
De loaded, and that the contest would be
bona 6de. he cherished the lingering
hope that at the critical moment lucky
accident. he knew not what. would hap
pen. but il not. he would sacrifice him
self on the altar of his country, martyr
20 southern arrogance. Early in tn,
morning. near break of day, according
to the class historian, the party repaired
10 Potter'S woods, south VI the college
grounds. aud. placing the coDbatant:
back TO back. the seconds Instructed
them 10 walk forward tan PAGES; At The
command 'Oue' 70 wheel, two raise The
pistols. and there 10 fire. Though
short Of stature, they both managed il
ten PAGES % put enough ground between
them 90 etfectually remove from th'
mind Of the senator in embryo all mis-
givingS OF dangerous consequences frou
the powder.
"The word was given. 'One'-the,
wheeled-.twO'-up came the pistols
.three'-a repOrt-Only one; that Of ia,
opponent. Irby walked towards him
pistoi pointed. but he stood Ike ada
mant. Irby deliberately fired. IL 4
needless TO say no one was Injured.
III the courage, conduct and tactic
of senator Irby In obtaining the elec
ton To that high position were IN an
particular in keeping with those Of tn
Student Irby. then South Carolina ma
lost much By the defeat OF the venera
BILE soldier and gSined nothing IN th'
elevation Of the youthful politician.