The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-25
CAUGHT A TARTA R.
NOVA SPANTARD TRIED TO MUIR
GENERAL JOHNSON.
Finding That the General Was Not Afraid
ofthe Smell of Gunpowder, the warrior
Hastcns to Withdraw His Challenge

General BRADLEY +. Johnson haf re
turned from Cuba. where he went as
correspondent Of a New York paper. The
General has sent to The News a letter
which gives in detail the facts concerning
the challenge he received 10 fight duel
with an officer Of the Spanish army. The
affair was looked upon as one OF much
Significance by sympathizers with the
Cuban cause. as it was thought 10 be an
effort to bully" General Johnson and
afterward to ride rough-shod over other
Americans. II was for this reason that
the General decided 10 meet the matter
positively. Tho Generals letter follows:
WANTS THE FACTS KNOWN TO HIS
FRIENDS.
New York. July g.
ITO the Editor Of The News
Il arrived yesterday and was In quar-
antine until this afternoon. As ! have
not seen the American papers from July
Sth 10 the 18th. / do not know what has
been published about the duel Translat-
ing from English into Spanish and then
back into English mixes things ny. and If
the substance Of the settlement has not
would seem TO require that they have the
entire facts.
THE SETTLEMENT.
"The English copy of the settlement
furnished me is as fellows:
" In the city OF Havana, this sth day of
July. 1896 meeting was held a. the
Hotel fnglaterra, consisting Of Senior An
tonic Diaz Banco and Senior Carlos
Canio Sabates as representatives q Senior
Manuel de Ampudia, and Senior Don
Ricardo Sanchez and Senior Manuel VI.
Coronado as representatives Of General
Bradley r. Johnson. They resolved.
4. That Sencrcs Diaz and Canio had
presented themselves 20 General Bradley
Johnson for the purpose NJ rectifying the
informality concerning the challenge made
by Senior Ampuda 10 General Bradley r.
Johnson in the letter left at the office Of
the Hotel Inglaterra, for which purpose
they now come requesting an answer.
.. Scnores Sanchez and Coronado
stated that their principal had directed
a letter 10 Senior Ampudia in answer and
Of which the following is the text:
THE GENERALS LETTER TO AM
PUITA.
4" Senior Don Manuel De Ampudia, Cap
tain:
some days ago received from the
hotel clerk. an undated letter. written in
such Incorrect language that I supposed
IL 10 be one Of many scurrilous produc-
lions that !. in common with other Amer
lean gentlemen. have received. As an
anonymous letter. no attention was paid
to IL. If II had been brought to mo by
a gentleman. or even IN some ether Of
fetal manner, / should have believed the
affair serious. You complain that / have
caused yDu indefinite injuries in your
character as Spanish officer by my hav-
ing used my pen 10 defame the army Of
your natiCn. First of all. I wish 10
tell you that do not allow you q place
me in such a false position concerning
distinguished body. whose high char
acter and valCr are well known not only
by me. but by all the world and WHOSE
eentlemanly and courtly bearing I have
often admired. ] must assert also. that my
pen has never been lent for dcfamatory
purposes. You cannot raise your qucs-
ti0n Cf these grounds for they 10 not ox-
list. You have adopted an unheard-of
manner of proceeding and you have ale
lowed yourself 10 challenge me without
even figuring If ] have written the
opinions that YOU suppose. The meth
DDS you have taken TO challenge me are
not those in use by gentlemen in any
country.
Notwithstanding an that has hap
pened, and IN spite Of an these informali-
ties, accept your challenge as complete
" and as peremptOrily as 10 has been
made. My friends. Senior Manuel Corona
do and Senior Ricardo Sanchez are au-
thorizc1 10 arrange with the gentlemen
you may name the place. hour and other
conditions. by which / may respond 10
your challenge. (As the place must bee on
neutral ground, and as f. may be incon-
venient 10 You 70 advance the sum me-
cessary for IN expenses Of duel and trip
! respectfully ask that ! may be allowed
| the privilege of defraying your expenses
on the occasion. such amount 10 Doe re-
| paid by You whenever convenient and
agreeable 20 you)
i remain at your orders.
BRADLEY IT, JOHNSON
CThe words IN brackets stricken out ar
| ter receipt of the letter. at the request
| OF Ampudia's seconds. and before the let
ter was inserted In the Aeta.-R. T. j.
The representatives, Of General Brad
! ley Johnson added that 90 view OF the
! clcarncss Of the terms OF this letter. and
| this being perfectly In accord with the
! instructions they had received from their
! principal they waited 20 hear what the
! representatives. Of Senior Ampudia had to
| say respecting this challenge.
| AMPUDA DECLINES TO FIGHT
"'3 Senores Diaz and Canio stated that
| In consideration of the above menuoned
| letter there remained no motive for Senior
| Ampuda 10 direct 10 General Johnson the
! challenge that brought about this inter
! view for the explanation denied the opin-
| ions that the said Senior Ampudia consid-
cred directed al the army and armed
forces Of this island They therefore with
drew absolutely the challenge. and the Of
fensive opinion contained in the letter that
originated this incident. and which letter
they consider must be understood as not
written. In these circumstances. the four