New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-20
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
CLAY'S FIGHT WITH BROWN.
The Story as Told by Adherents of the
Latter.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir Recently I read an extract from The New
York Tribune in OF the Denver papers. I'm rea-
ton to the fight between Cassius Clay and Samuel
NJ Brown As my father. DR.. John GUSTS
Darby. then living at Lexington. Ky. and was
acquainted with both of the men, wish to state
facts in relation this fight. he told them
TO me-
Samuel NJ. Brown not bully but was
gentleman in every sense OF the word; abso-
lutely fearless. and would fight when occasion de-
manded. He was at that time general inspector of
the United Postal Service for several of the
States west Of the Allegheny Mountains In max
ing his rounds which in those days was done large
y horseback. he forced to stop at Lex
ngton account Of sickness. AS remember. Mr.
Clay then candidate fny Congress and Mr.
Brown rode out from Lexington to Russells Cave
70 hear the speeches. AS he In weakened
condition he carried umbrella. During his speech
Mr.. Clay made a statement which Mr.. Brown
knew to be untrue. and he declared the statement
to be lie. Mr.. Clay jumped down of the platform
and rushed at Mr.. Brown with a knife. and Mr
Brown. having no weapon OF any kind, fought him
off with his umbrella. In the fight Mr.. Clay nearly
severed of Mr. Browns ears. cut MIN in several
places about the head and 80 severely over and
about one eye that Mr.. Brown came very near
losing Il.
During the nght some one handed Mr. Brown a
pistol which cooked. As Mr.. Brown explained
IL 10 my father he was nearly blinded by the blood
flowing into his eyes RE fired once. and struck
Mr.. Clay he heart AS nearly all pistols IN
those days were Of the old fashion. single fire.
self-cocking pistols Mr. Brown. being nearly blind
ed, did notice that the pistol he had was a
revolver. and supposing that It would only shoot
once. he threw Il away. Mr. Clay then rushed at
him again with a knife, which Mr. Brown grabbed
by the blade. and Mr.. Clay wrenched the blade
until he almost cut out the palm Of Mr.. Brown )
hand; but he succeeded in taking the knife away
from Mr.. Clay, and when he started at Mr.. Clay
with the knife Clay's friends. who were largely IN
the majority at that meeting. rushed in and sep
arated them.
Mr. Clay went 10 Lexington that afternoon and
published a statement that "a hired assassin had
beer sent Russell Cave to murder MIN, ana
containing other similar statements This state
ment Mr.. Browns friends forced Mr. Clay 10 pdb-
lish retraction OF.
Whether there was any truth in il not. great
many people in Kentucky always believed that Cas-
sas NJ. Clay wore a coat OF mail and that he was
thus saved from being killed by Mr.. Brown IL Is
well known that persons who carry knives carry
them suspended from a belt. from tine waist
band Of their trousers and that the sca9 nlis
below. At any rate few people credited MI Gay ;
statement that he saved by his knltcS SCaO-
bard being over his heart
Some years afterward when Mr.. Samuel brown
died, Mr.. Clay again published statement OF MS
fight with Brown and again stated that Brown was
hired assassin to murder him. with more To thaJ
effect. One OF Mr.. Browns sons. William or
Mason. Brown. who then lived I'm Missouri wrote To
Mr. Clay and also wrote to my father that he was
coming to Kentucky to make Mr.. Clay retract that
statement. He did go to Kentucky, and Tor ret-
sons which he must have thought good Mr.
OF the statement. THOS. J.. DARBY
Denver Sent Il 1872