The state chronicle., 1893-06-11
FRIENDS STOP THEIR DJTEJ,

HiHNDo SAOT THEIR DUEL.
Weil-Known North Carolin1ane T.,
tended to Fight With Rapiers.
Washington Post, 10th.
A number of prominent gentle
men we'll known in Washinpto,
have been much Interested in pre
venting duel which was slated fo
yesterday morning. The high con
tracing parties were Col. Paul B
Means, noted lawyer and politi
clan of Concord, N. c., and Mr.
Harry Martin, the step-son of Sen
ator Vance. Senator Vance, al
though ailing arrived in the city OF
Thursday morning and did hi,
best to stop the affair.
Senator Ransom, who is FRIEND
OF Means, was engaged on q simila,
mission. At late hour on Thurs
day night their efforts had not beer
attended with success.
The duel was to take place on the
banks of creek between Alexan
dria and Mount Vernon, about eight
miles from 7 a. shing ton, on the Vir,
glnia side Of .he Potomac.
Means left rnyste1iously at 1880
on Thursday evening in company
with his second, Col. Henry Ber.
gwin, OF Asheville, y. G., a brother
OF the Colonel of the Fifty-second
North Carolina Regin ent, who was
killed IN leading a charge at the
Devils Den in the battle of Gettys.
burg. They left the city for Alex
aadria by private conveyance, and
were reported there on Thursday
night by telegram. Or youn g
Martins whereabouts nothing was
known.
Senator Ransom, Kope Elias, a
prominent politician, and Represe-
sentative John 81. Henderson, of
North Carolina, secured the city for
him, but could not find him. From
what was known OF him, no one en-
tertained the remotest idea that he
was in hiding with any idea of
avoiding the encounter.
The quarrel between the would
be principals is of political origin,
and arose over Senator Vance check
ing confirmation of the nomination
of Miss. Dusenberry to be postmis-
tress OF Charlotte. n. @.
Mr.. Means vas ;much offended at
Senator Vance for his opposition to
Miss. Dusenberry, and began to use
the strongest possible outside in
Huence to induce Mr.. Cleveland to
reappoint her. It created great
deal of friction, but all went we'll
until some weeks ago Senator
Vance, his wife, and his stepson
were on Richmond and Danville
train between Salisbury and Green
sboro, in North Carolina, on their
way home. The Senator was ill and
under the care CT physician. Some
where between these points Col.
Means entered the car, ard seein g
Vance went up to him and spoke
bis mind very plainly.
Martin resolved to resent it, and
Thursday it was learned that he had
challenged Means. The latter ac
cepted forthwith. He is short
sighted and wears glasses. Pistols
therefore, would place him st great
disadvantage. He chose rapiers. In
the use of this weapon both men
are said to be highly skilled.
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning g
pair Of black horses hitched to 8
carriage dashed rapidly across the
Long Bridge. Upon the box was a
negro driver, and inside were Mar
tan and an unknown friend. At the
Virginia shore a voice called sternly:
"Halt. Hold up" and Sheriff
Shively, of Alexandria county,
barred the road.
"Drivs on! Drive on" oalled Mar
tin, and the negro attempted to
obey. The sheriff drew revolver.
"Better stay STILL" he said. The
negro thought 80, too. Shively ap-
preached the carriage window and
glanced in.
Il kow you," he said, "and know
what you are after. I have war
rant for your arrest. You go back
to Washington. If you attempt TO
set foot on Virginia soil I will lock
you up. If I find you here in the
next ten days I will lock you up.
You can have your choice between
an Alexandria Jail and a Washing-
ton hotel"
Mr.. Martin expostulated, bat to
no purpose.
The sheriff was the Immediate
cause Of the failure of the duel, but
behind him was Judge Chichester,
and behind the judge were the
friends of Martin and Means. Real
izing that the affair had gone too
far, and might end seriously, they
had communicated with Judge Chi
chester and asked him to enforce a
cessation of hostilities. The result
was q surprise to Martin and to