The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-24
4 DESPERATE ENCOUNTER,
USED BoHIR-KIIYBS aid RBIoLYERS,
A Fight to the Finish In which Blood
Flowed Frssly-Garth While st the
Point Of Death Requested That
His Adversary be Not
Prosecuted.


Thu recent death Of DR.. David Flour
nov. late of Brunswick, which occurred
| at the Home for Incurables In this city,
recalls ono of the fiercest and most des-
perate duels that ever took place In this
| state.
No one who has ever been q student
at the University OF Virginia but re-
members the story of the Garth-tlournoy
duel, which took place during the ses-
| sion OF '5s-54. In the long lapse Of years
since, however, many have forgotten the
! true statement OF circumstances wnich leo
| to II.
AS all the principals are dead. and as
recently had the story from DIR. Flour
noy's lips, II will be of interest TO the
readers OF The Times to hear 1t.
AS nearly as possible, l give the details
| just as he related them to me.
A STREET ENCOUNTER.
| One morning early in April, 1854, DR..
| Flournoy and John 3. Darlington, OF
Arkansas. both students. were crossing
| the street from the old bookstore to the
University grounds. just as Edgar Garth.
with a friend named Frye, were driving
| herd of cattle over the walk-way. Car
rington kicked one OF them from his path.
whereupon Garth cursed him, dsmount-
| ing at the same time, and daring the
| two students to leave the campus. which
! they promptly did Without much ado,
| thd fight began by Garth's attacking
Darlington and Frye's facing Flournoy.
The latter soon broke Frye's nose with
a brick, placing him hors de combat, and
turned his attention to Garth. who mean
while had downed Carringtor and was
beating him.
With his last brick. Flournoy struck
Garth, and made him retreat. He de-
parted. vowing vengeance on Flournoy
for interfering.
Those who knew Garths reputation as
a fighter felt certain OF more trouble.
so that when. three weeks later. he sent
the two students word to meet him ana
his friend on Sunday morning and fight
IL out, they were not at all surprised
F'lournoy and Darlington armed them
selves. repaired to the appointed place,
and waited some hours. but In vain
Early Monday morning. however, Garth
sent word that II Flournoy came to town
that day he intended whipping him. Bor-
rowing bowie-knife from a FELLOWSHIP
dent. Flournoy. accompanied by Car
rington, armed with a pistol. went to the
old Monticello House.
Il THINK I'LL FIGHT"
While standing at the desk. with his
back TO the door. Garth. with two of his
brothers and two other friends, walked
up, and touching him on the shoulder,
said:
You have got TO take cursing or
fight"
rhe reply of this wiry little virgnian
was:
II believe I'll fight"
Both drew their knives. and this MOI
fearful duel was soon under way. At
almost the first lunge Flournoys knife
found its way 10 Garth's colarbone and
glanced. Gradually. he forced Garth
out into the street. Soon afterwards he
drove his knife through Garths right
lung, the point coming out under the
shoulder. Thereupon the latter backed
off and drew revolver.
And right here comes In a queer part
OF the story. All through the fight Car
rfngton, with drawn pistol. had kept
Garth's friends from coming TO his as
sistance. which. otherwise. they would
have done. and by which DR.. Flournoy
said Darlington saved his life.
This DEPRESSION leads TO the point
wished TO speak OF, which is this: In
the early part OF the struggle, Flournoy's
knife had cut Garth's front pocket, and
a pistol had fallen out. This weapon
as picked up by Darlington, and when,
later on, Garth began firing, he handed
IL TO Flournoy, who Immediately opened
fire upon his opponent. with tho result
that ne put bullet in his breast After
emptying his weapon. he advanced again
to close quarters, and Garth's pistol be-
ing now empty. and his opponent unhurt.
they resumed the contest with their
bowiss.
A FEARFUL SWEEP.
The rest can be briefly told After a
few passes. Fiournoy with one sweep
disembewelIed his adversary. He was
then taken in custody by policeman.
who tried to relieve him OF his knife.
but failed, because at that time young
Eugene Garth approached, crying:
you have killed my brother and will
kill you"
Waving his bloody knife. FIournoy re-
Piled
Il will kill you. too. II you come
nearer"
Afterwards Woods Garth snapped pis-
toll al him. but 1t failed 10 fire.
The news or the fight soon reached the
University, and hundreds of students
surrounded the jail. and many were adj
mitted to see Flournoy. He was suffer-
ing from fifteen wounds, fourteen being
in his left or guard arm, and one I'm his
back.
II being proved that he was not thu |
aSgressor, In two days he was released.
and was soon we'll
Garth was. meantime. lying at the
point OF death as he and all others sup