Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-11-05
A REPoRTED CHALLENGE.

1
been challenged to mortal combat, if
report be true, by Robert Neville, the
well known club man. The prince has
accepted the challenge, according to
the story, and seconds have been
chosen. A day and an hour, and even a
place for the duel have been fixed, but
all these details are secrets as yet.
The principals are members of the
Metropolitan Club, and it was there, it
is said, that he insult which led to the
challenge was given. The incident at
the club was intensely dramatic, and
the members of the club expected to
see Neville fight then and there. But
Neville, who was concerned in de-
cidedly unpleasant affair at the New
York horse show. two years ago, which
was the talk of the clubs for weeks,
managed to control his temper until he
Rad had time to think calmly of the
insult that the hot-blooded Mexican
prince had thrown at him.
It was but few nights ago, and the
rooms of the club were filed with we'll
known members. Nevelle and IturDide
were sitting, with several others, dis
cussing horsemanship. Each told what
he could DO, so the story runs, and it is
said that the claims of the two were
rather wild. Iturbide declared that as
a horseman he could do what William
F. Cody's most fearless riders do not
undertake.
At this point, Nevelle begged to diff.
fer with his friend the Mexican prince.
Such feats as the prince described were
Impossible. The prince took the words
as a reflection upon his ability as a
rider, and upon his truthfulness.
"I'll bet you, my dear Nevelle, that
1 can do everything that I have said"
"No." replied Nevelle, 81 cannot bet
you"
The prince stepping to table poured
a glass of water. Then he returned to
where NEVILLE was sitting and held the
glass tauntingly in the face of his fell
low clubman
"Now," shouted the prince, with
scorn in every accent, "you bet or take
water"
Nevelle did not let the insult pass
unresented. He told the Mexican
prince what he though of him, and
used good, plain English at that.
"You are liar" the prince is report
ed to have shouted.
And this was the insult that is to be
avenged.
Nevelle went to his apartments soon
after the affair. In his room. he thought
it all over. There was but one way to
Avenge the insult, and that was by re-
sorting to the code duello.
An intimate friend was called in. He
agreed with Neville, and carried a
challenge from the latter to Prince
Iturbide. The prince received the
challenge at his apartments and
promptly named friend to arrange
.he details of the duel.
There the matter stands. Friends of
the two men say that they must meet,
and settle the difficulty after the man
ner of gentlemen of old. AS to wheth-
err the two will really be brought to-
gether, opinions differ.
Said well-known gentleman at the
Arlington last evening: flight! No,
they won't fight, unless Bob Neville
| hunts I,urbide down in the streets and
thrashes him out of his boots. What
Bob could have meant by letting that
son of the OH days of Mexico berate
MIN and call him names / can't under
stand. Why, Neville should have tap
ped him on the nose then and there,
metropolitan Club or no Metropolitan
Club. would have fought under
similar circumstances, if 1 had known
that was to be thrown out of the club
and barred from every other club in
the United States. Look at the fix
| Neville is in now. Iturbide has called
him names, and Neville can't get even
by offering to fight duel-which
means that the prince will be too badly
scared to ever appear.
"Iturbide must have known that he
had Neville on the hip when he COM
menced the affair at the club. The
prince knew all about that horse show
unpIeasantness, and he knew that
Neville couldn't resent the insult. But
you can venture your life that the
Mexican never expected to receive
challenge. Iturbide is larger than
Neville, but would be no match for him
in matter of blows, for Bob Neville
is a fighter, and doesn't know the
meaning of the word coward"
Be all this so Prince Iturbide has friends.
They point TO numerous occasions in Mexico
when the heir of Macmillan defended himself
by resorting to the code. The friends of Prince
Iturbide say, too, that Neville was at fault
in the Metropolitan Club affair, that By his
calm tones he cast discredit upon the princes
statement and that the prince was obliged to
make bold stand.
Mr.. Neville was seen at the Metropolitan
Club last night by reporter, WHIP asked him
for his side of the story.
Il can't tell it 10 you," said Mr.. Neville
politely, II am the last man in the world to
say anything about it. 1t wouldn't be ETH
euette, you know"
Cant you refer me to some member of the
club who might give me the details ?"
''Oh, the club members can't tell it. you
know. They will observe the strictest Sec
rery,"
The police have heard of the proposed duel,
and it is understood that Major Moore is de-
termined no hostlities shall take place in
Washington or in the District of Columbia il
he can prevent the meeting.
Last night it was reported that detectives
had been ordered to shadow the two princi
pals. even if they went outside of the Dis
trict but this could not be verified.
ASLEEP FOR MANY YEARs.-A
strange affection has overcome Amos ].
Manning, of Mt. Carmel, Pa, who only
remains awake long enough each day
L r ~