Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-03-27
A SAD STORY.
The Perry Bynum Duel Of Ante -Bellum
Days.

derson, S. c., with photograph or
historic spot in the Palmetto State.
1t is a little island in the Tugalo riv-
er, not far from Clemson college, and
is the scene of the famous duel be-
tween Perry and Bynum, and in which
the latter was shot dead on the spot.
The picture will be framed and orna-
ment our business Office.
To South Carolinians this duel forms
part of the historic records of that
state, but brief recital Of that bloody
event may be of interest to our read
ers in Georgia, as this island is in the
stream that forms a part of the east
ern boundary of Georgia.
Benjamin F. Perry was one Of the
ablest men upper Carolina produced.
He was appointed by President john
son Provincial Governor of South
Carolina Immediately after the close
of our civil war; owing to his strong
Union sentiments. Mr. Perry bitter
~ opposed secession, but when his
state acted he went with it, and did
his full duty as q loyal son. Even
when a young man he antagonized the
ruling and aristocratic element in his
state. and while the distinguished VIM.
L. Yancey and B. F.. Perry were young
men together, both living in Greenville
district and near neighbors. they were
widely divergent on the political is
sues of that day. Some thirty-five
years ago. in writing a sketch Of the
great men Of his state. Governor Perry
saw fit to reflect upon the memory of
this great secession statesman, and
which article was conclusively an
swered by Col. Ben c. Yancey, who
lived in Athens.
B. F.. Perry located in Greenville as
struggling young lawyer, without
friends or influence, and to help out
his meagre income was given editorial
charge of the Greenville Mountaineer,
the leading paper then in the up-coun-
try, and which Is still published
Is known as 1.-The common people," and
through the columns of the Mountain
eer bitterly attacked the dominant and
ruling class. His pen was dipped in
caustic, and being an able and strong
writer, his opponents could not meas
ure words with him. But In order to
retain their political ascendancy In
upper Carolina, it was necessary to
silence young Perry in some way. He
was looked upon as a peaceful man,
for he seemed to studiously avoid per-
sonal difficulties. In those days the
code duello was in full practice among
the chivalrous South Carolinians, and
any man who would not fight was So
cially ostracised and branded as a
coward.
1t was finally decided to send to
North Carolina and import noted
duelist, named Rynum, who had
winged" several men and was cele-
brated as a dead shot at ten PAGES, to
edit an opposition paper in Greenville.
Bynum, 1t appears, was an adventur-
er, and gladly accepted the position,
with the distinct understanding that
he must either provoke Perry into
fighting a duel and kill him, or drive
him from the state.
The rival paper to the Mountaineer,
with Bynum as its editor, was soon
launched, and with its first issue he
began to attack Perry. But he soon
found he could not measure words or
arguments with his rival, when By
mum deliberately set to work to pro-
woke Perry into fighting duel, or
make him "show the white feather"
and which in those times meant social
ostracism and political death. But 1t
was hard to thus force Perry into
measures With his able pen he par
ried every thrust Bynum aimed at
him, and so kept his antagonist on
the defensive. 1t was generally con-
ceded that Perry was a craven,
trying to evade sending a challenge.
With him the pen was certainly NIGH
tier than the sword. Each week, when
the Mountaineer appeared Bynum
would find himself hoisted on his own
petard, to which he would reply with
still stronger or more abusive Ian
guage. He had time and again used
words in reference to the editor Of the
Mountaineer, that would have sent
less cold blooded man to the field OF
honor In the meantime Perry con-
tinued to riddle with logic and sarcasm
the Bynum party, from stem to stern.
Finally a meeting of the dominant
class was held in Greenville, and 1t
was decided that things had gone far
enough, and Perry and his pen must
be silenced one way or the other.
That meeting eliminated in the pre-
paration of an editorial for Bynum's
paper so violently bitter and personal
that it could only be answered by a
challenge. No other reply could be
made. 1t closed further discussion
through the Press. Benjamin F. Per-
ry must either fight or live beneath the
scorn and contempt of his people and
every brave South Carolinian.
Young Perry had long been expect
ing this elimination, and was prepar-
ed for it. He was really at heart a
brave and cool man, but intended to
put Bynum and his hackers so clearly
in the wrong as to vindicate himself
should he survive that encounter.
Perry promptly requested Bynum to
name some friend to arrange prelimi-
naries between them, and as Bynum
was the challenged party he had a
choice of weapons, and named pistols.
He was said to be one Of the finest
pistol shots in the south, and could hit
silver quarter at twenty PAGES nine
shots out of ten. On the other hand,
Perry had no practice whatever with
the pistol, and in sending that chal-
lenge it was generally conceded that
he had, with his name, signed his own
death warrant. Bynum was so con-
fident of killing his opponent that he
bOasted to his friends how he would
hit Perry's heart at the first fire. But
not content with this, he continued to