Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-08-08

Duel to the Death.
THE TERRIBLE McHENRY-LEWIS
MEETING IN MONTGOMERY
COUNTY.

A correspondent Of the Richmond
Dispatch, writing from Blacksburg,
Montgomery county, Va, under
date of July 18th, gives the follow
ing interesting account of the terri
BILE duel which took place in that
county many years ago, and which
led to the first anti-dueling law
passed in Virginia. The correspon-
dent says:
Last winter attention was called
through the columns of the Dispatch
to two quite interesting facts in the
history of this county-the capture
Of Mrs. Ingles by the Indians and
her subsequent escape, and the his
tory Of the Deserter's Tree. The
following notable though horrible
event in the history of Montgomery
will prove of interest to many of
your readers. The facts, as stated,
are, l am quite sure, correct, since
they were obtained from the very
best authority, who had them from
a personal acquaintance of the per-
sOnages concerned:
The famous but horrible duel be-
tween Lewis and McHenry occurred
very near Christiansburg in May
1908. The particulars are as fol-
lows: A certain Mr.. King, who
was Sheriff of the county, had a
difficulty with Mr.. McHenry, a
young lawyer of promise, growing
out Of his (King's) election. Hard
feelings and bitter passions were en-
gendered on both sides. The trou-
BILE was believed, though, to have
been all settled, and Mr.. King was
elected to the Legislature, and at
tended its sessions. Upon his re-
turn the trouble broke out afresh,
having been revived, as is so often
the case, by officious friends OF each.
1t grew worse and more bitter, until
finally Mr.. McHenry challenged
Mr.. King to fight duel. 1t must
be recollected that at that early time
no law save the old English common
law forbade dueling, and the prac-
tice was sadly common. SO, no Sc
crecy was observed as to the chal-
Ienge. Mr.. King refused to hght,
giving a most manly and sensible
reason why he would not. He said
that he was married man, with
wife and children dependent upon
him. and could not afford to fight ;
while Mr.. McHenry, on the other
hand, was a single man, ana no one
would suffer by his death. MIR. Nc
Henry who was man OF uh'
daunted courage and generous I'M
Dnlses. seemed to have been either
deeply aggrieved or exceedingly an
orv for he insisted on the duel
King was, however, firm enough 10
persist In his refusal.
At this point Tom Lewis comes
unon the scene. He was a grandson
of old General Andrew Lewis, OF
point Pleasant fame, whose Statue
stands in your city, so famed Tor lis
beautiful statuary. King had mar
ried his (Lewis's) sister, Lewis
was AZ brave as a lion, hlgh.ssrune,
and supersensitive as to an analr @ o,
honor. Upon hearing that hlns
had refused to fight McHenry, Lewis
can't word to the gentleman that ne
would fight him. McHenry, VINO VINO
"as brother-lawyer and an inti'
mate Dersonal friend of Lewis's, re-
Lied that he had no quarrel WITH
him and would not fight him'
no ,his. Lewis replied that Nc
Henry must fight, or ne ooDorG %optI
nnhIic,v denounce him as coward
RR,o stSte of affairs having become
tnown mo to common friends, puollC
knoW" o,;na was held to see if matter'
could not he amica6ly arrange as;n,
i hiring the progress of this meeting