The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-03-13
great lkpile with his right hand, he siezed
the Howing locks Of Meyers in his left, and


the Howing locks of Meyers in his left, and
roared at the top of his lungs
ssDown, coward!--down on your mar
row bones, or, by the blue blazes, I'll cut
out your hearth aufga ssaTqZ7 t
Incredible as it may seem, Meyers still
holding his deadly revolver, loaded with
six rounds, covered to the floor like a
beaten hound, and begged most piteously
for his life-a prayer which the mocking
half-breed granted, on this condition that
the other should treat the crowd for whole
week. oil G!a bon 1a. ers .4 n.
From that hour the unfortunate Meyers
was subject to every species of insult and
outrage. The loafers would pull his nose
for mere amusement; the halfbreeds would
spit in his face to make him treat; and
Gen. Cole, when intoxicated, would strike
him with his cane to cure him of his cow
ardice; as he said. The poor grocery
keeper brooked all these gross indignities
with the patience of a martyr, and would
sometimes meekly remonstrate-
"Gentlemen, it is ungenerous to abuse
me thus, for | confess that have no cour-
age. | cannot fight" r
This continued for a whole year, when
change occurred that caused the insult
ers Of Meyers to rue their ignoble persecu-
tons. He had young and beautiful wife,
whom he loved with tenderest passion
One day, when the husband was absent
the hideous half-bieed Jack Warhawk, in.
stigated to the damning deed by the per.
suasion of General Cole, went to the gro.
cery-keeper's private residence, and NAL.
treated his lady in the most shameful man
ner.
Meyers returned home to find his below
ed one drowned, as it were, in tears. He
heard the narrowing tale without any ex-
ternal manifestations ofextraordinary emo.
ton. His face tits true, became somewhat
pale; his lip quivered an instant, and then
settled to an expression rigid as mouth
of iron; and his wild black eye, it may be,
shot a few more beams penetrating fire;
but he did not rave or mutter curses. He
uttered whisper of menace; he did not
even condole or sympathise with his affiic-
ted wife. He only armed himself with
that Bowie knife fourteen inches in the
blade from hilt to point, and started for the
village. "'" ". -''
! He came within sight Of his enemy. then
the public square and boast
ing of his villainous achievement. At this
vision Meyers lip curled into horrid
smile, and his dark eye melted in stream
Of tears. He approached till he stood
nearly touching the halfbreed, and then
said, in shrilI, kissing whisper '''.'
"Wretch, be quick! Draw for on this
spot one of us must die!' e" "
And he waited till the other should be
ready for the strife on equal terms. He
did not have to wait long, for Jack, under
that cold glittering, snaky smile,
and those hot, gushing tears, as the certain
tokens of murderous madness Immediately
at the same moment with his
adversary, and they began the dreadful
combat, which, indeed, was soon decided.
Meyers parried three furious blows of the
halfbreed, and then, grasping his foes
clothing with his left hand. with his right
plunged the knife up to the hilt in his heart.
The Cherokee expired without groan.
And now the inward and terrible pas
sions of Meyers found vent in appalling ex-
plosions. His curses were fearful to hear;
he spurned his fallen enemy with his foot,
and wished aloud that he had hundred
lives, so that he might himself enjoy the
pleasure of killing him hundred times
over. His wrath then changed to his 9TH
Or insulters. He flew at the loafer, Bill
Green, and tore out his "soap locks" by
He sprung upon General Cole,
and pulled his nose till it was flattened be-
ween his fngers-all the while the CORY
knife dripping with blood in his right hand!
His enemies were so taken by surprise,
error-stricken, Supplied, that for time
hey seemed utterly incapable Of voluntary
notion.
The coward had suddenly become bra
,er than the bravest. The equipoise Of
ceilings was destroyed forever; the sheer
power Of pure will had. conquered physi-
,al fear! Does any one doubt our strange
story? Let him address a letter of inqui
y to the Hon. G. w. Paschal, of Van
Buren,, late Judge Of the Supreme Court
IF Arkansas, and the fullest confirmation
,an be obtained. = sS''ot if
But the tragedy did not end with the
leath of the halfbreed; a greater victim
vas required to complete the expiation.
On the same evening Gen. Cole called
! special council of his friends to consult
IN the course he should pursue. There
vas but one opinion-that, as he had been
nsulted by direct and gross public in.
lignity, he must call his foe to the field Of
lonor; accordingly, on the following morn
ng a challenge was dispatched, which
Meyers promptly accepted, and fixed the
ime at noon ofthe same day-the weap-
ms to be double-barrel shot guns-dis-
ance ten PAGES, @ 8 ,1
The parties met on the sand beach un-
Ter the bank Of the river above the village,
nd hundreds collected to witness the is.
lle. The mortal belligerents were placed
4 nosifion hv their dc and the Hnafh |