Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-20
THEY DID NOT FIGHT.
PROPOSED HOSTILE MEETING De-
TWEEN STUDENTS PREVENTED.
A Rieid Investigation 10 Ne Made Of the
Dificulty ON Friday-Ststemsn
from the Boatwrlght Men.

| has sprung I'D between tho students OF
Richmond College as a result OF Mr.. Boat
wrfghts election to the presidency OF the
college seems to be intensifyins rather
than diminishing Things were more
quiet at the college yesterday than for
| seyeral days, but Il leaked out In the
evening that preparations had been made
| for an unfriendly meeting Of the opposing
hands Of students In Lee circle last night.
This dIfYiculty grew out OF that OF Friday
between Messrs. Twitchell. Bowe. ana
Gordon. and II Is thought that 1t - not
| yet settled.
About 7:3o o'clock last evening Mr..
TwItchell passed through the gate OF the
college en- route to supper, when ne met
Mr.. Bruce Bowe, the young man with
whom he had the difficulty Friday morn
ing. Some words passed between these
gentlemen, and proposition was soon
made by MFR. Bowe that the two adjourn
| TO the field near the Lee Monument and
| there fight out their difficulties. Mr.:
| Twitchell accepted this proposition, ana
| said that ne would have his friends at
| the monument at $50 o'clock. Inc news
spread through the college ike wiidhre'
| and in an incredibly short time the cot
| tage was filled with about nifty boys.
| like number OF students assembled In
the college building, representing the Boat
wright faction. 1t was stated by students
who mingled with both sides that num-
her OF men were armed, but OF course no
one could be found who would admit that
he himself carried pistol.
FRIENDS PREVENT TROUBLE.
Several students who have maintained
| a neutral position in the recent disturb
ances. realized that II the two factions,
all wrought up to n high pitch or excite
ment. were to meet on the field. as was
| then their intention, serious row Wouiu
result, and some one would most nhely
| be badly hurt. They. therefore, besought
both sides 10 remain In their rooms, and
finally gained the promises OF all concern
| ei that hostilities would be suspended
| until after the faculty meeting tomorrow
! afternoon. which has been called 10 In
| vestigate the action OF Messrs. Twitchell,
| Gordon, and others who participated IN
| the fracas OF Friday.
Professor Puryear was visited by Dis
patch man last night and asked what ac-
| ton the faculty would take in regard 10
| the pistol escapades of Twltchell and
| others The Professor was seated IN MS
Office advising with some Of the students
| at the time, and said that a most rigid
| investigation would be held and the guilty
partIes would be punished. He could say
nothing further than this as TO the action
| Of the faculty
Professor Puryear was fully cognizant
| OF all that had taken place among the
| students, and he II was who took steps,
| without appearing to know anything OF II,
| to have the fight arranged Tor last night
postponed He Is very much worried over
| the happenings OF the past week. but en-
| deayors to conceal 1t with cloak or good
| humOr so natural to him.
| 1t is probable that the faculty Will make
some dismssals tomorrow.
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS STATEMENT.
The following card, brought TO the Dis
| patch Office early last night, Is from two
Young men who are active supporters OF
| Mr.. Boatwrisht:
please allow us enough space In your
| valuable paper TO make some pertlhent
| statements with reference TO the troupie
| among the students or Richmohd |oi-
| ieee. .
First, we wish to say that the account
given in yesterdays paper OF tne
| Twitchell and Gordon fracas was not
| Mr.. Twtchell was standing near me bui,
| letin-board reading the poem which had
| been put upon this board by one OF the
anu-fraterni,y men, when Mr. Bowe came
up and began to cut IL Gown; Mr ;
| II down while he was reading H. Where
upon Mr.. Bowe spoke to him In very
| abusive language. Mr.. Twitcheil did not
| call Mr. Bowe d scounurel, as stateu
| In one OF the other city papers. but an
| infamous scoundrel' Here Mr. Gordon
| nterfered. and struggle between Gordon
and Twitche.l followed About eight or
| in the fracas Mr.. Gordon is about
| twenty pounds heavier than Mr.
Twitchell. Twltchel then secured pis-
| tol 10 defend himself. as any, other man
would have done under similar circum-
stances. BY some means the pistol was
wrested from Twitchell. At this Juncture
one or two friends OF Twitchell ran IN
and managed to release him from the
grasp OF those who held him. Twitchell
| then went up to the cond floor. where
, he thought he might find friends to pro-
,.ct him, and there he did find friends.
and but for these he would nave been
badly beaten. In regard to the poem
which appeared upon the board we wish
10 say that Mr. J. W. 4. Mcneil WAS its
author. and not Messrs. B!nford and
Provence. as reported. Mr.. w. l.. Prince
was the gentleman who again postei me
poem upon the board in defiance OF the
threat made upon his life
HOW THE STUDENTS STAND.
1--WE wish also to max. a statement
In regard 10 the number of students be-
longing TO each faction. The inforina-
ton heretofore given 10 the puolic
through the press has come very largely
seduently. the impression has been
created upon the minds OF the pubic
that the anti-Boatwright men are largely
In the majority. but the fact is they
are decidedly in the minority, and among
those supporting the president-eect are
some of the brightest students OF the
I'm reply to the statement published
time and again that only the ministerial
students are in favor or MI Boatwtisht,
we wish to say that the resident students
stand as follows: Those in favor or hiIn'
60: ministerial students. ~; n n-ministe-
rails, .. Those opposing him. q MN
isterlals, 10 non-ministerials. There are
who express no opinion We are not
prepared to give an accurate statement
of the nonresident students but we
know the majority are in FAVOR OF MI
Boatwright. A..
Boatwright faction. have never in any way
as body shown any dlsrespect TO Pro-
fessor Puryear nor any OF his honored
colleagues We spouse Presldent-elect
Roatwrghts cause not because we nave
ANYTHING against Professor Phryear, but
for these two reasons: First, the trustees
OF the college. in whom we nave the
greatest confidence. have seen lit TO MAKE
him president OF this institution. second,
those of us who have been mere TWO or
three years know him to be man or
noble Character, and friend indeed TO
the students.
"The present state OF affairs Is greatly
to be deplored by all friends OF the col
lege.
ARE ANXIOUS FOR PEACE.
eve who belong TO the Boatwright
faction had previous to Thursday night
iast acted altogether on the Offensive.
We have tried in every way to bring
about peace. But all our efforts have
been In vain. Since December ii, 1891,
scarcely day has passed in which we
have not been grossly insulted by the
opposing faction. They have heaped In
suit not only upon us, but upon Presi-
dsnt-elect Boatwright and the trustees.
We now believe that patience has
ceased to be virtue with u.s. and In
the sentiment Of the great Virginia ora
tor we join in saying: Is life so dear
or peace so sweet as to be purchased
at the price OF taunts and insults OF
anti. Boatwrights? We know not what
course others may take, but as for us.
we will stand by the trustees and our
noble president-elect, Frederick William
Boatwright.
~. w. T. MCNEIL
''W. l.. PRINCE"
MAY SETTLE IN PEACE.
Steps were taken late last night TO
bring about an amicable adjustment OF
the differences existing between the stu
dents. Committees representing both fac