The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-11-21
LAST OF DUEHSTS
DEArA OF COLONEL CASH ENDS
TIE CODE IN THE SOUTH.

Would Rather Aavs Poked sPistoi ut .
Man Than Dinsd 1t Banquet--How He
Threatened and kidieuled . Family
UnttI He Forced One of Its Sons to Meet
BIN on the Field of Honor
His Famous Defense of the Code
DaeIIo.
Washington, Nov. 20.-The death OF
Colonel E. B. c. Cash OF South Carolina
marked the close Of one OF the most in
teresting periods OF the history of that
state, for he was the last of its duelists
and one Of the staunchest believers in
the code honor. The name OF Cash is
closely identified 10 This day with the
take a century 10 wipe away the blood
stains in which it was chronicled. A
gallant soldier in the war against the
Union, the owner OF almost half coun-
ty. thousand slaves, and born OF a
fighting race. Colonel Cash was cava-
lIer OF the old school. fearing, as he him.
self declared, neither man, God nor the
devil. He regarded his honor" in the
sense of the code duelio above every
thing else in the world, md his pistol
case was one of his dearest possessions.
Prior to the year 1880 the Cash family
lived in luxury in the rich Pedee section
Of the state, with It's fierce notions OF
the family honor never having come in
conflict with the letter OF the law. but
in that year, on the afternoon OF July
g. was fought the duel between the head
of the Cash family and Colonel W. NJ.
Shannon, one of the foremost lawyers OF
the state, which proved the deathblow TO
the code in South Carolina
1t grew out of a lawsuit, in which r..
c. Ellerbee, a brother-in-law OF Colonel
Cash, and Mr.. Wiengers were the par
ties. Colonel Shannon represented Wien
ges, and some language in the pleadings
alleged fraud" was made the reason for,
the controversy by Colonel Cash. A cor
respondence followed, and the Cashes,
father and son, finally became so abusive
that Colonel Shannon was goaded into
sending a challenge TO the elder Cash.
The parties met in Darlington and Shan
non fel dead at the first shot, pierced
through the heart by the bullet from
the pistol OF his antagonist.
The duel took place at Dubose's
Bridge, at 2:30 o'clock on the afternoon
of July 5. 1880. The seconds of Colonel
Cash were A. H. Waring Of Florence,
B. ]. McCown of Darlington and NJ. L..
Sanders of Sumpter. Colonel Shannon's
seconds were Thomas Ancrum, ]. NJ. Nc
Cantey and A. d. Goodwin. DR.. Lee OF
Darlington was present as surgeon for
Colonel Cash and DIR. Burnett Of Camden
acted in the same capacity for Colonel
Shannon. Colonel Cash, being deaf in
one ear. it was agreed that the signal
for firing should be the discharge of a
pistol. The distance was fifteen yards
weapons, the old fashioned dueling pis-
tolls. Colonel Shanno fred first, the bali
from his pistol striking the ground in
front of Colonel Cash. Then Cash fred
and shot his antagonist through the
heart.
Captain W. L. De Pass, who was as
sisting Colonel Shannon in the suit
against the Cashes also received a chal-
lenge In his answer to the challenge.
couched in language according to the
code, but that ne would waive all OBJ
jections and meet him on the field Of
honor in North Carolina. On the way
with mis- seconds to the battle-ground
Captain De Pass was arrested. This
made the blood OF Colonel Casl boil. In
a circular which Colonel Cash had print
ed after the failure of Captain De Pass
TO meet him. he stated:
II will add that no friend Of mine has
been instrumental in procuring the
warrants OF arrest. AS far as | am IL
formed. they originated from whining
hypocrite OF Camden Che referred 10
Judge Kershaw), who affects to raise his
hands in holy horror at the settlement
OF difficulty by fair and equal COM
bat; but who does not hesitate TO yiO-
late the ordinances of God, and 10 have
published in the leading newspaper Of
the state base and shameless falsehood
as to the nature OF this difficulty. l.
was my purpose 10 have cowhided Cap
tain De Pass and / only condescended
10 challenge him at the urgent appeals
OF personal friends
II am now sick and disguised and
have abandoned the chase, and offer my
pistol case in exchange for horsewhip.'
This melting never took place.
After the Casn-Shannon duel The en-
tire correspondence was printed in the
News and Courier OF Charleston, S. c.
From 1t the public could easily see that
Colonel Shannon did everything in his
power 10 honora bly, avoid the affair. AT
one time the quarrel was settled, but
Began Cash, the Col0nefs eldest son,
came on the scene and printed such
venomous article that there was nothing
life for Colonel Shannon 20 DO but fight
This article was az follows:
NOW. amt this shameful? De Pass
is 10 blame for IL all. He said ne could
stir up old Wienges to sue Eileroee. and
make a fat thing out 81 it, Well. Ne has
played ne devil; no money up to date
and the prospect growing dim. and
have had 10 take water ike dog. 1
knew 1 would not fight. but / did not
want others TO know Il They say blood
will tell. and I believe i IS true. Ny
daddy was ginmsker. and don't think
people ought 70 expect ne 20 fight. but
l have tried 10 make them believe ]
would II IL over With me now, and
am Bully Billy no longer. / wish ! had
never heard OF the case. and. on God, II
could only recall tie letters 1 wrote 70
thai old devil Cash: but know ne has
GOT them and will s1og thsm- I made
him believe ! vas game. 5ut gave him
no chance 70 Try ne. E-aHt nothing 70
do witt tia; Old wretch They say ne
kills people ana then cate them NJ. ana
believe ne meant 10 eat De Pass 40 z
he could have found him
1t may be I an nO1 saca bad blood
after al ! am sometimes afraid ); j. my