Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-04-03
An APRIL F00LDUEL
IN WHICH PROMINENT YOUNG SOCIETY MEN
PARTICIPATED.
How the Affair Was Brought About and How II
Culminated-Who is the
Joke On?

Tuesday morning, at four o'clock
two closed carriages left the vicinity
of the Mcclure House and drove ont
the National road to the Bethany
pike. up which road they pro-
ceeded for distance of about mile,
until an open field was reached, when
tbe carriages were ordered to stop. and
from them stepped five young men,
prominent i'm Wheeling social circles.
50 far this secret expedition had 4 very
Frcnchy air about it, but aS daylight
had not arrived yet. further develop
ments were DELAYED.
When the break of day came the
party repaired to the field and
began making preparations for
regular sure enough duel. aS lar aS ap-
pearanceS went. and they were pro
cccdcd with i'm a deliberate. systematic
manner. The master of ceremonies
Mr. Howard Simpson, had everything
I'm readiness and the distance. about
fifteen PAGES. was marked oil. Inc
principals were Mr.. w =. Burke and
Mr.. Randolph HiN. Mr.. BurkeS sec
ond was Mr.. Harry Il. OFT. while Mr.
VIII Arnett acted in the same capacity
for Mr.. HiN. The men stood with
their right sides towards each other
and as Mr.. Simpson, who was attlred III
full evening dress, counted one. two.
three, the ducliStS turned suddenly
facing each other. and the reports
of two rcvolvcrS rang out on the criSI
morning air.
Neither man ninched. but Burke had
fired into the air over his adversary
head. while HiX fired directly at
Burke. Two more shots Immediately
followed. both being fired in the same
manner aS the first.
Then the two principals, feeling thai
their honor had been satisfied, walked
up 10 each other and shook hands, attci
which the party rc-cntcrcd the carriages
and returned 10 the city
80 far the duel seemed To have been
I'm dead earnest. but the story goes thai
rs far rs every man but Mr.. Burke was
concerned. ii was a First of April Joke
And now To go back some days and see
how il came about.
In seems that week or SO ago while
the TWO principals to the affair were
calling upon couple of ladies. Mr. HIN
offered Mr.. Burke some affront, which
was resented and Xix sent Burke
challenge to fight a duel. To the sur
prisc. somewhat, of Xix and hi'
friends who had concOctcd the plot
Burke very promptly accepted anC
named swords as the weapons.
This rather Stumped the jokerS and II
was only through the earnest efforts Of
the seconds that young Burke was IN
duccd To change the weapons 10 pistols
This was what they wanted. and IL wa
arranged that blank cartridges were Il
be substituted for loaded ones. every
man being in the secret except Mr.. Burke
who all this time considered the
affair I'm dead earnest he having beer
led ON I'm that belief by the others. Al
the young men concerned, with one OF
two exceptions, were AT the Wheeling
Club that evening. but there was no i'm
dication of what was to occur In the
morning. and much to Mr.. Burke
credit hc never revealed by word or ac
the slightest fear of the outcome.
Before the party leftthe city they call
cd ON DIR. !. l.. Bcllcyillc and attempt
ed To get him TO accompany them
this being done to impress more full!
upon Burkc's mind that the affair was u
earnest. The doctor, however, threat
cncd 10 have the party arrested, an'
they hastily left, and the result OF The
affair is rs outlined above.
Ii is said that several farmers wh'
were on their way to town or to wori
saw the young men in the field. and the!
hung on the fences frightened hall Il
death and begged the young men moi
To stand up there and Kill each other
| and doubtless they were greatly relieved
when they saw the party all leave alive
/ The affair was discussed about tow
all day Tuesday among those who were
aware of the circumstances. ana Tn
/ Wheeling papers agreed to suppress an.
mention of the affair at the carneS
solicitation of relatives of the parties
but the story was telcgraphed all Owe
| the country in much more Sensational
]
IL is understood that Mr.. Burke wa
not made cognizant of the hoax unit
about three o'clock Tuesday afternoon
and me- has been congratulated upon al
sides for the courage hc showed
through the whole matter. The othe
participants in the eScapadc want
understood that they concocted ii rs a.
April fool joke. but now the question
arises: Who is the joke ON?
1t is found necessary to publish tn
above statement Of facts in order to eN
plain the following card, which is Signe
by two of the participants, whose names
while not printed, are left at the REGIS
TER counting rooms for the information
of any of the remaining parties concer
ed in this rather unique iiaSco who dc
sire TO know them: