The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-07-22
bearer of a cartel.

port of the Perry-Bynum duel, and
the details of which were given me by
a son of Governor Perry.
Bynum was North Carolinian and
a member of the eminent family of
that name.
To understand the causes that
brought on this duel the reader must
understand that for years there had
been a. growing restlessness in the
white counties of the Piedmont belt
of South Carolina against the domina-
ting political power of the seaboand
counties and of which Charleston was
the center. Naturally the lower ,eoun-
ties resisted apy change that weaken
ed their power.
The champion, Of the rights of the
up-ceuntrX was. a bright and aggres-
sive. young lawyer, Benjamin, F.. Perry
of Greenyille, Mr. Perry afterwards
attained distinction as statesman
and writer. He opposed. secession,
but cast his lot. with the South, as did
Alexander H. Stepheps of Georgia.
In recognition of his Union senti-
ments, PRESIDENT Andrew Johnson ap-
pointed him provisional governor of
his state, but after a brief admins,
tratien he was removed to make place
for. that carmagnole, Of corruption
that characterized the reconstruction:
era.
To assist in his fight for the. rights;
of, his. section ,Bea, Perry established.
a, weekly paper in: Greenville, called
the Neaataineer, and being. strong
and aggressive writer, began to. put ia,
soms telling lieks against the political
situation in his. state. and demanding
a fair deal for the upper white coun-.
ties.
Naturally these editorials We're as
and; gall to the, ruling dy-r
nasty in South CAROLINA and young
Perry a. vezitable thorn in their flesh.
It is said that all manner Of efforts
were made, to sguelch on silence Ben
Perry, but without avail.
It was then that, a handsome and
chixanous young man named Rynum
from North Carolina came to Green
viHe and established an opposition
paper to. the MountaineeT, named the
Patriot. Rhe; reputation Of RyRun
had preceded him to Greenyine. He
was saidrto be, q man absolutely with
out fear, would fight at the drop Of q;
hat and drop the hat himself. He
vas also noted duelist, had been
engaged in several affairs. of honor,
and had never failed to bring dswRa
bis antagonist at the first shot. "a
had a piercing eye. nerve of: steel,
and it is said that standing with pistol
in. hand, lowered at his side, he couid
raise the weapon, take his sight at. 9
glance and cut a thread at ten PAGES
between the words: "one:-twe--
thrse--Firey' the signal for dpelists.
There. are two sides to this affair
and at this day of course it is inlpos--
sble to say which is correct. The ad-
herents of Perry charged that Bynum
was brought to Greenville to force
a. duel on Perry and kill him. Friends
of Bynum deny this but assert that he
came of his own free will to Green
vile and the duel was the termination
of a political controversy between ri
val and warm-hleoded young editors.
But from the arst issue Of his paper
Bynum began an aggressive criticism
Of Ben Perry and his paper and to
which articles Perry replied with abil-
ity, but he evidently sought to avoid
any appeal to arms. Fhe tone of the
two papers each week grew warmer,
until finally Bynum 'peRned an article
SO bitter and personal that no altes-
native was left Perry but to challenge
or forever wear the brand of era
ven.
B. F. Perry was brave man, but
utterly unskilled in the use of wea-
pons. But Perry knew that he could
not live in South Carolina under such
a stigma and so be sent Ryaum z
Challenge and which was promptly
accepted Bynunl being the ehal-
lensed party had the selection Of wsa-
pons and be named pistols and the
distance ten PAGES. In sending this
cartel Ben Perry and everyone else
felt that he bad signed ais death war
rant.
Passengers On the Southern rail
way crossing Tugalo river, oae, Of the
two streams that form the Savannah