Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-11-26
A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.


mond, recalls one of the fiercest and
most desperate duels that ever took
place in this State.
No one who has ever been student
at the University of Virginia but re-
members the story of the Garth-Flour-
ney duel, which took place during the
session of 1854. In the long lapse of
years since, however, many have for
gotten the true statement of circum
stances which led to it.
One morning early in April, 1854, DR..
Flournoy and John S. Darlington, of
Arkansas. both students, were crossing
the street from the old book store to
the University grounds, just as Edgar
Garth, with friend named Frye, were
driving herd of cattle over the walk
way. Darlington kicked one of them
from his path, whereupon Garth cursed
him, dismouutiDg at the same time, and
daring the two students to leave the
campus, which they promptly did.
Without much ado the fight began by
Garth attacking Darlington and Frye
facing Flournoy.
The latter soon broke Fiye's nose
with brick, placing him hors de.com-
hat, and turned his attention to Garth,
who, meanwhile, had downed Caring
ton and was beating him.
With mis- last brick, Flournoy stuck
Garth, and made him retreat. He de-
parted. vowipg vengeance on Flournoy
for interfering.
|, Those who know Gsrth's reputation
as u fighter felt certain gilmore trouble,
SO that when, three weeks later, he
sent the two students word to meet
him and his friend on Sunday and fight
il out, they were not at all surprised.
Flournoy 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 if Flouruoy came to
town that day he intended whipping
him. Borrowing a bowie knife from a
fellow student, Flournoy, accompanied
by Carripgton, armed with pistol,
went to the old Monticello House.
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" y
The reply of this wiry little virginian
was: II believe I'll fight.n
Both drew their knives, and this
most fearful duel was soon under way.
At almost the first luuge Flourney's
knife found its way to Garth's collar
bone and glanced. Gradually, he
forced Garth out into the street. Soon
afterwards he drove his knife through
Garth's right lung, the point coming
out under the shoulder. Thereupon
the latter backed off and drew a revol
yer.
And right here comes in queer part
of the story. Ali through the fight
Darlington, with drawn pistol, had
kept ,Garth's friends from coming to
his assistance, which, otherwise, they
would have done. and by which DR..
Tourney said Darlington saved his
life.
This depression leads to the point I
wished TO speak of, which is this: In
the early part of the struggle Flour
noys's knife had cut Garth's front
pocket, and pistol had fallen out.
This weapon as when picked up by
Darlington, and when, later on,
Garth began firing, he handed it
to Flournoy, who Immediately opened
FIRE upon his opponent, with the result
that he put bullet in his breast. After
emptying his weapon, he advanced
again to close quarters, and Garth's
pistol being now empty, and his
opponent unhurt, they resumed sheI
contest with their bowies.
The rest can be briefly told. After a
few passes, Flournoy with one sweep
disembowled his adversary. he was
then taken into 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 I
will kill you!'
Waving his bloody knife, Flournoy
replied:
ii will kill you, too, if you come
nearer
Afterwards Woods Garth snapped
pistol at him, bat it failed to fire.
The news of the fight soon reached
the University, and hundreds of stu
dents surrounded the Jail, and many
were admitted to see Flournoy. He
was suffering from fifteen wounds,
fourteen being in his left OF guard arm,
and one in his back
1t being proved that he was not the
aggressor, in two days he was released
and was soon well.
Garth was, meantime, lying at the
point of death, as he and all the others
supposed, and had declared the wish
that Flournoy should not be prosecut-
ed, as the fight was fair one, and him
self the aggressor.
He lived many years afterwards, but
never fully recovered from the effects
of his wounds. 5,5a
DR.. Flournoy further said that many
students accused Darlington of having
shown the white feather, but declared
that Darlington had saved his life, and
done all brave man should. The lat
ter was member of the well-known
Virginia family Of that name, whose
! father had moved to Arkansas.