Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-03-25
THURSDAY MORNING. MARCH 2o, IsAI.

would have fought TO their knees IN blood,
rather than submit to such wrong IRON
the kings officers, saw no harm IN the
thing when done by themselves.
But there are two sides to every cues
ton. The wagner bad been reared 10
a country where the rights even OF the
weakest are held inyiolaie, and consider
ing himself an injured man, was determn-
ed not to submit without struggle. AL.
though alone, he did not lack the conr-
age and audacity to assert bis liberty
He was great, gigantic, two listed,
square built fellow, who bore on his face
the marks Of many hard-iought battle,
and was in fact noted bruiser the hero Of
numerous 6ghts--one on whom muchmon-
ey had been lost and won. He consider.
ed himself The best man in the country, and
had much better evidence to found his be.
lief upon, than most men can show In
support Of their self destination. After a
pause of some minutes, he observed to the
Captain that it was hard to be forced to
go with the expedition against his will !;
that every man ought to have a fair
chance; that he had not fair chance,
inasmuch as the odds against him were so
grea: as to deprive him Of the power of
resistance. He said, however, that he
would make proposal, which he hoped
the Captain would be gentleman enough
TO agree to.
sOh, certainly replied the Captain |;
| will agree to any thing that's far.
very good, said the WAGNER; all |
want is to be put on an equal footing with
tho rest Of the men. don't want TO be
forced to go like slave along with others,
going BY their own free will. am Vir.
glnia born, and am as willing to serve my
country as another man but then Pm not
gong to be ordered about by them that
are not my masters
Gentlemen continued the WAGNER,
turning to a circle of men who had col
lected around, 4 arm come of the right
breed OF dogs there is no mistake in me ;
am not afraid to go where there is dam
ger; all want is fair chance
That's right, exclaimed several voices.
very good says the teamster = now,
Captain, | will make you civil, genteel
offer. | will fight you, or any man in
your company; if am whipped, my wa
gon and team are yours, and will go with
you; but if win the fight, am my own
man, to go or not, as please.
'Hurrah! Hurrahp 'Oll Virginia never
tire /! shouted several voices.
A dead silence ensued, and all eyes
were turned upon the Captain. 1t was
now evident that the wagner had shown
himself shrewd negociator. he was
aware of the military bias which formed
leading trait in the character Of those
around him, and which would lead them to
applaud his bold challenge. He knew
Crawlord's cas-. of mind, or had guessed
it during his interview. The Captain
was stout, active, and chivalrous; he prd-
ed him on his personal prowess, for which
he had obtained some reputation. He was
not by any means so heavy or muscular
as the team-driver, and could scarcely
hope to meet him in a pugilistlc encoun-
ter, with any chance of success. But
then to refuse the challenge might seem
to indicate a want Of confidence in his own
manhood it might lessen him in the eyes
of his men, and endanger his influence
over them while his own disposition and
code oil ethics perhaps suggested that IN
good faith the wagner was entitled to the
far chance which he claimed. He was
popular leader, and must act in conform.
ty with the public sentiment of the CON-
munity whose SURFACES he desired. The
sense ofjustice of that body would doubt
less have decided, that when about TO lake
possession OF mans property, and in
deed OF himself, against his will, nothing
could be- more reasonable than 10 Indulge
him in fight if he demanded it. Military
commanders, when forced to surrender to
superior force, think it right to make
show of fight, and have few men killed,
to save their honor. Our wagner acted
upon the same principle; aud Captain
Crawford was not the man to deny justice
to any one, however humble. He there.
fore agreed to the proposal, and both
parties threw off their coats, and began to
prepare for the combat.
At this iuncture, tall STRIPPING, who
had recently joined the company, but was
stanger to most Of them, and who had
been carelessly leaning against tree, OBJ
serving the scene with apparent uncon-
Germ, or with the levity with which spirit
ed youth behods contest which he sup
poses will end in words, stepped forward
and drew the commanding officer aside.
Captain said he, 'yon must let me
fight that man; he will whip you'
1T takes man TO do that, replied the
Captain.
Il don't dispute that replied the youth;
but noticed that fellow while you were
talking with him, and am satfed that
there is not a man in the company who
can handle him but myself. 1t will take
the best kind of man to do it,
you have high opinion Of yourself,
young man.
That's my business said the youth,
sharply but wha, may think Of my.
self, is neither here nor there. don't
want 10 see you whipped, nor TO lose the
wagon but depend upon it, if you fight
that man, he will use you up in short Or
der he will beat you 10 jelly in min.
ute. Turn him over to me, and the team
shall be ours
"a ma. ctruol, The non 1anaa