The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-06-30
The Perry-Bynum Duel at IfattOn's
Ford, on the TagaloO.

II. Ferry, OF G~reenVllle, six years age,
asking for a few facts relating to tho duel,
with the purpose of weaving thess and
the apparently authentic traditions 1 had
picked up into an article for this paper.
a prompt reply came. but it was from
his mother, in her own hand, who clearly
discerning the object I had in view asked
me for her sake and for the sake of her
husband, who always sought to discour-
age publicity of the unfortunate affair, to
say nothing of the duel for the rewspa-
pers. That settled me. 1 had the honor
ola brief correspondence with Mrs. Perry,
during which she sent mo some books
embodying the writings of her distin-
guished husband which she published
after his death, and these with her letters
I prize very highly. But Mrs. Perry has
been gone to her final reward several
years, and I feel Gbsolvod from my en-.
joined silence.
AS a great many people know the Per-
ry-Bynum duel grew out o1 the acrimoni-
BUSINESS that characterized ali discussion,
public and private, OF the question OF
Notification. Party spirit ran far high
er in South Carolina then thar it did even
during the rise Of Tillmanism. The COM
mon herd, the ''rahble" OF which we have
heard so much in recent years, pommel-
cd each other other at public gatherings
for opinions sake, and for the same aus
gentlemen settled their differences accord
ing to the code.
At the time of the duel, Governor Per-
ry, although but twenty-seven. had al
ready made q reputation as q lawyer, and
was making himself felt in the politics of
the time. He had %espoused the unpopu-
lar side in the Modification controversy,
and through his paper at Greenville he
was pouring volleys of the grape and
canister of sound Union doctrine into the
ranks of the Nullitiers. He vas in their
way, badly so, and must be gotten rid OF.
Turner Bynum, of Columbia, where he
had but recently graduated from the
South Carolina College, and who was a
young man Of fine promise, Of splendid
courage and a crack shot withal, was
brought to Greenville and put in editori-
al control Of the Modification organ, with
the tacit purpose, I am we'll assured, Of
engaging Perry in a personal quarrel
where he would challenge and kill him.
The scheme worked smoothly enough to
the denoumeDt at Hatton's Ford, on the
Tugalco, when, as Bynum, shot through
the bowels, was being laid in a bateau to
be brought from the island, one of his
party was heard to mutter, CD the
luck!"
Governor Perry was, all through his
lie, strongly opposed to duelling, and he
accepted Bynum's challenge as q deliber-
ate test of his courage, failure to meet
which in the face of popular approval of
the code would destroy him.
I do not know who Perry's second was
but his surgeon vas DR.. Crook, of Green
vile. a Capt. Marley, q low country
man residing at Pendleton, himself q
duellist, was Bynum's second, but l do
not know who his surgeon was. Capt.
Andrew Hunter, Of T%ownvllle, then a
school boy Of II at Pendleton, frequently
saw Bynum st Capt. Warley's, whittier
he had repaired for consultation and tar
get practice just preceding the final en-
counter. Capt. Hunter remembers By
mum as q fine specimen Of physical man
hood, handsome and of determined mein.
It may be said here that at that time a
large number of low country gentlemen,
wealthy and influential in public affairs,
resided at Pendleton. They were, nearly
all OF them, rampant Nullitiers, and they
coddled Bynum as their champion that
was to put out of the way the n man
who, more than all others, hindered their
cause in the up.country. But after By
NUNS death his friends Of an hour in the
bitterness of their chagrin, turned their
backs on his young brother, talented but
dissipated, who had come to witness his
brothers. triumph. The young mar soon
found himself penniless and ~friendless,
hearing which Perry, with characteristic
magnanin,ity, went to his relief, gave
him a liberal supply Of money and sent
him HON. 10 Columbia. This young
Bynum went down in the butchery Of the
Alamo four 7carS later.
The duel was fought IN February or
March, 1882, On the large island st Hat
toms Ford, on tho Tugaloo River. The
principals with their parties repaired to
the neighborhood q short while, tradition
says two weeks, but this would seem
rather improbable, before the time set for
the meeting and took up quartors-Per-
ry at the house now owned by Mrs. w.
P. Norris and Bynum at the place now
the property of Mr.. Harrison Price, and
half a mile nearer the river. Pistol prac-
tice and attempts at adjustment OF the
difficulty wont on, and it is said that each
Of the principals became so expert as to be
able to cut a cord at fifteen PAGES. and
the shooting ut the duel would seem to
verify this.
On the early morning of the fatal day,
Perry's second made a final but ineffec-
tual attempt at adjustment, and when
the young mal who bore the communi-
cation returned, and Perry, who was
walking about the yard in apparent anX.
iety, learned tins result, he Was seon to go
to his room and kneel beside his bed in
prayer.
He and his friends repaired at once to
the island and were quickly follow wed by
the Byrum party, who whirled to the
scene in a carriage. Bynum wore an air
of bravado while the preliminaries were
being arranged, but Perry, slightly pale,
exhibited q quiet but none the less deter
mined demeauor. The spot selected, if
that which is pointed out at tho present
day Is the identical one, was within a
hundred yards of the upper end Of tho
island and within thirty feet of the water
on the western side. The distance was
fifteen PAGES and the principals stood in
pits dug for tho purpose. Bynurn fired
on the insdant, possibly a little before the
word, and his bullet just grazed Perry's
chest on a line with the heart. Bynum's
quick and close shot must have DETECTED
Perry's aim for his bullet crashed through
his adversary's abdomen and clipped the
tip OF the little finger of his left hand
placed at his side. He sank at once to
the ground, attended by his surgeon and
lrlSnCS. Ierry 3 uTScO WAS instantly
at his side after the exchange Of shcts.
The reddish padding of Perry's coat, ex
posed to the view by tho pathway CT By
NUNS bullet looked like blood. The
doctor tore open the coat hastily, but in
m instant exclaimed e~xultantly, Upon
my word, sir, you're not hurt" and
turned his attention to help with Bynum.
Perry strolled off down the island, and
on bis return expressed q wish to speak
to Bynum. The spot where he lay was
surrounded With lookers-on, there being
quite a crowd on the island. These gave
back slightly and Perry, advancing, rails
ed his hat and said, II hope, sir, you are
not fatally hurt" Bynum replied in eff
feet that he would hate to die of 80 trifling
q wound and that he hoped to live to re-
new the fight. He was game to the last.
Perry hurried off to the home of his pa
rents, fifteen miles up the river, two
miles from South Union, in Oconeo, 10
break to them, it is said, the first intelli-
gence thoy had had that their sons life
was likely to be or had been jeopardized
on the field of honor. 1 have an idea,
however, that they knew the meeting was
impending and that he FASTENED, for he
travelled at great speed, to notify them Of
his safety.
Poor Bynun! lie set out from his
lodgings that morning full Of life and