The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-01-13
{. N. CLAY WAS A FIGHTER
HIS BRAVERY IN THE FACE OF
ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH.
His Canvass for Congress Against
Wickliife-Was Shot at by William
BROWN Fire Eater.


Brown-A Fire Eater.
The story of Gen. Clay's canvass for
Congress against Wicklitfe gives one
an insight not only into the fighting
character of this ire eater, but also
affords a peep into that phase of
southern lite that is now, happily, cX-
tinct. He once told the story to Il |
man in these words:
During the campaign Wicliliife in
troduced my wife's name into one Of
his speeches. | challenged him, and
we fired at ten PAGES. Both of MS
missed and | raised my pistol into the
air and demanded a second fire. The
seconds would not permit this, and
we left the grounds without recon-
or an apology on either side.
As look over the matter now ! don't
believe our seconds had loaded the
pistols with balls, and | did not see
how | could have missed.
"Well. Wicliliife here had the worst
of the fight. and during the canvass
for Congress | was making good
opposition to him, much to the disgust
OF the pro slavery party. He had "A
handful which he read during his
speech. We had our speeches togeth
er, and when he brought out this bill
always arose and asked If | might
interrupt him. He would politely
consent and would then say that the
handful he had read was untrue and
had been proven so.
"The pro-slavery men got tired OF
this and they decided to kill me. They
sent for Sam Brown. who was one of
the most noted DULLES in Kentucky.
Il is said that he had had forty fights
and never lost battle. Brown came,
and ne and Wicilitfe, a fellow named
Jacob Ashton and Ben Wood. Il police
bully, held consultation at which
they loaded pistol which Brown WAS
to use on me the nest day. ! knew
nothing of this, and | had not my du-
cling pistol with me. interrupted
Wickiiie as usual, and rs | did 20
Brown struck me with his umbrella
and told me that my statement was Il
lie.
II saw at once that it meant fght
and when | recognized Brown | knew
il meant a fight to the death. | had
Il long. sharp bowie knife in the breast
Of my coat, and jerked this out, but
before ! could strike, Browns friends
grabbed my arms from behind, and
hauled me back about fifteen feet
from Brown. Brown now pulled his
pistol and told them to get out of the
way and let him Kill me. The crowd
got back and | stood alone. Brown
1,
started toward him. | could see him
looking along the barrel OF the rcvoI-
yer. lie took aim and waited until ne
thought | was near enough to give
him sure shot and then fired. |
felt the bah strike me in the breast.
and | thought it had gone through me
and | determined to kill him if |
could before | died. | came down on
his head with a tremendous blow OF
the bowie knife, but did not split open
the skull | struck him again aud
again and stunned him so thai lie was
not able to fire. With one cut of the
knife | sliced his nose right in two,
so that it separated in the middle and
came out as fiat as a pancake. With
another blow | cut off his ear so that
it hung by Il shred, and with "A third
| put out his eye. The conspraiors
hickory sticks and chairs, some of the
blows of which | still feel
Il broke loose from my captors and
again made for Brown, and they, TO
keep him out of my way, picked him
up and threw him over stone fence
about seven feet high, and this ended
the fight. Though | was the assault
ed party they afterward tried me for
mayhem, and at his trial Brown con
fessed the conspiracy, and Henry Clay
defended me. OF course | was not con-
victed and | felt very friendly to
Brown, and wrote him note thank
ing for his evidence and telling him
was willing to be friends with him II
he wished to be So He refused how
ever to bury the Ratchet, and when
remembered his condition ! did not
wonder at it. The doctors had patch,
ed him up pretty well, but he was Il
/ horrible looking object. and | expect
ed that he would insist upon due
1 with me, or would attack me and have
his revenge. met him several times
afterward however and he never even
| touched me. ! have no doubt that he
stayed in Lexington intending to kill
me, but the probability is that he had
not the moral courage to attack me-
"Where did Browns ball strike
you. generate"
at struck me just over the heart,
replied Gen. Clay, "and ! would have
been killed but for one thing. The
scabbard of my bowie knife was tipp
ed with silver, and in jerking out my
knife pulled this scabbard up so that
| II was just over my heart. Brown
bullet struck the scabbard, and i'm