The New York herald., 1921-05-29

sop Borrowe there was removed
one of the few remaining figures
OF an international cause celebre that
held society in New York, London and
Paris by the ears twenty-nine years
ago last February. The episode was
the near duel between him and Mr.. j,
Coleman Drayton that started seri-
ously In London and petered out in
Paris, to the great relief of mutual
friends and amid the smiles of a large
public on both sides of the water.
On March is. 1892, cable message
from London brought the news to New
York that the much heralded duel was
not imminent Society here took a
long breath and sat down to read some
remarkable correspondence that came
from London with the announcement.
On that date the Majestic sailed from
England for New York with Mr.. Bor-
rowe and Mr.. Drayton among the pas
sengers. The latter went aboard the
steamship at Liverpool. Mr.. Borrowe,
learning that fact. after the steamship
had left the Mersey, took the Irish mail
from Liverpool and overlook the steam
ship at Queenstown. He was accom-
panied by Mr.. Harry Vane Milbank.
whose reputation as a duelist was
known throughout Europe.
For two months previously the Amer
ican colonies in London and Paris had
heard vague rumors of prospective
duel between Mr.. Drayton. who had
married Augusta. third daughter of Mr.,
and Mrs. William Astor, then living. and
Mr.. Borrowe, son OF Samuel Borrowe
then vice-president Of the Equitable Life
Assurance Society. The causes leading
up to the trouble were based. 1t was said,
upon suspicious entertained by Mr..
Drayton regarding Mr.. Borrowe's at
tentions TO Mrs. Drayton.
In the autumn OF 1891 Mr. Drayton,
his wife and children went to England
and took a house in Wimbledon. In
London Mr.. Drayton made the ST.
James's Club. Piccadilly. his city head
quarters. Mr.. Borrowe arrived in Lon
don in the following January and took
rooms at Victoria Hotel.
story OF Cause Cclebre.
The following story Of what followed
is taken from the exclusive account Of
the cause celebre which was printed in
TIE EVENING SUN of March IS. 1892:
Soon after Mr.. Borrowe's arrival in
London Mr.. Drayton found him and Mrs,
Drayton lunching together in the Mid
land Grand Hotel. According to Mr..
Borrowe's friends Mr.. Drayton came
upon them, accompanied by two detec-
tives, and said:
"Ah. Caught you again p Then he
left the room.
1t was not until some weeks after
ward that the correspondence between
the two started Mr.. Borrowe was will
ing to meet Mr.. Drayton on the field
Of honor but his seconds, Harry Vane
Arilbanl and Edward Fox refused to
allow him to fight on the ground that
Mr.. Drayton's previous conduct forfeited
his right TO ask for the satisfaction OF
G gentleman. In this decision the sec
onds were upheld by no less authorities
on duelling than Aurelian Scholl and
the Due de Morny, two OF the most oele-
brated duellists OF France. Neverthe-
less Mr. Drayton continued to accuse
Mr.. Borrow OF cowardice.
The negotiations for a hostile meeting
between the two men under the code or
honor was then told In the volumfnous
correspondence which was released for
publication in TIE EVENING SUN. In
the first letter. sent by Mr.. Drayton to
Mr. Borrowe from the st. James's Club
and dated February !, 1892, Mr.. Dray-
ION lfNlLeu WI. boiloMc " O. 80 'aS
letter read as follows:
II wrote you week ago informing
you that would be In Paris on the 27th
or the 2sth of January, and my address
fn case you wished to have an interview
with me there. Perhaps the letter never
reached you. If you should be willing
TO meet me III Paris. l can
meet you there on couple Of days mo-
tice and can assure you we can have
q sufficiently long interview to settle
any disputes between us i shall OK
pect an ansv er therefore before Thurs
day or l will take II for granted that
YOU do not desire the proposed inter-
view"
In his reply. dated the next day, Mr..
Borrowe wrote Mr.. Drayton that he
was "in ignorance OF the matter OF in
terest to us both or the necessity n It's
in Paris" and added:
You will. of course. not construe this
as a declination on my part to discuss
any proper subject with you in Paris
or elsewhere"
Mr.. Drsyton More Explicit.
Mr.. Drayton, having digested Mr..
Borrowe's reply. became In his next
note more explicit. On February he
wrote him from the St Janes's Club:
You evidently perfectly understood
why / wrote you. II Is impossible 10
explain the subject either in letter or
IN England. I gave you the choice Of
behaving once in your life like gem
tleman and you do not choose to accept
it. DO you. or not, care 70 meet me
IN Paris for matters impossible 70 settle
here? Yes or no?''
In reply Mr.. Borrowe wrote Mr. Dray-
ton that while he repudiated any right
upon Mr. Drayton's part 70 demard his
presence IN Paris he would be In Paris
the following week and stop at the
Hotel Chatham, rue Donau. In on I'm
mediate reply. in which Mr.. Drayton
signed himself as Yours with Increased
respect" Mr.. Drayton said he would
be In Paris at the time appointed.
Mr.. Borrowe and Mr.. Fox. who was
well known in tho history OF American
newspaper correspondence IN cOuncc-
ton with the Modoe and Sioux Indian
campaigns In the Western States. wc"e
on the point or leaving London for
Paris when letter from sir. dayton
was placed IN Mr.. Borrowe's hand
dated February 2. In It Mr.. Drayton
informed Mr.. Borrowe that his seconds
would call upon him at the Hotel Chat
ham between 4 and O'Clock OH Feb
ruary IL.
Apparently the seconds did not walt
upon Mr.. Borrowo at tho time set, for
on February 10 Mr.. Drayton, then stop
ping at the Hotel d'Orient IN Paris.
sent Mr.. Borrowe a note that his sec
onds would not call upon him until
half-past five o'clock on the afternoon
OF the 18th and he trusted that Mr.. Bor-
rc4ya would hc fharc 10 meet the