Washington telegraph., 1854-10-11

/ A1C t1tH iDdUe LIS VIII, toOh iedVe OF HIS
[ friends, bought pair of pistols and dirk,
and made such other preparations as a man
usually does who is about to leave a populous
for frontier country Thus far, how
ever, he had penetrated in safety to within
sixty miles OF his destination and was now
waiting at Major Lawson's hotel for the
mail-stage, which was expected in few
hours, or days, as the state Of the roads and
other contingencies might determine. As
we have. found him in rather dangerous
company, it may not be amiss to add word
respecting his qualifications, in case of a
row. His height did not exceed five feet
ten. and none of his proportions were large
but he was symmetrically built, possessed
great strength and greater agility and was,
moreover, tolerably scientific pugihst.-
On the whole, notwithstanding their great
disparity in size, worse antagonist might
have been been found for the redoubted
I Meriwether Gamble.
We left that gentleman standing in the
doorway Of the bar-room, and looking most
rantanc0rousIy, as kentuckian would say
upon the terrified company. Having wait
ed about two minutes, possibly in the hope
of receiving an answer to his first interro-
gation, he thus delivered himself of his
opinions oD things in general:
$50 you're all'quiet now. You we're ma
king noise enough just now, when I came
In. What's the matter ? P'raps you don t
know me ?' The countenances of all ex-
pressed that they sincerely wished they did
not
I'm Meriwether Gamble the greatest
team in the district. I'm perfect steam
boat, with considerable sprinkliDg of the
comet can knock down and drag out a
whole regiment, whip my weight in Indi-
ans, swallow a buffalo whole, and pick my
teeth with the horns And it's my opin-
DIN that you're all set of coWards'
With which practical application Of his
somewhat desultory remarks, the bully
elected torrent of tobacco-juice across the
room, directly upon the polished boot Of the
New Yorker, who involuntarily shook his
foot as man might do who had stepped in
to a puddle
The rest OF the company were not sorry
to see the insult, which had been offered
to all present, thus particularly fixed upon
the stranger, who was thus bound to take up
the quarrel; but they very much doubted
if he would show fight They had not long
to doubt. Schuyler rose from his seat, and
advancing close to the huge rufhan. asked
in cool and unimpassioned tone
Did you intend to spit on my boot. sir?!"
Gamble appeared speechless with aston
iShment and rage.
Il ask, did you intend to spit on my boot
sir"
Spit on your boot, I'll spit in your
face next time -
Very possibly he might have proceeded
to put his threat into execution; but if such
was the intention, Schuyler gave him no
time to perform it, for on receiving the
above response, be instantly planted his fist,
with all the emphasis he could command,
full in the Georgians chest. So eGergeti-
ically and skillfuIly was the blow given, that
the giant reeled back, and with scarcely an
eforr to save himself, toppled over on the floor.
Had this result been brought about by
miracle, the company could not have been
more stupifed-that the strongest man they
had ever seen should be knocked down at
one blow by a fellow who seemed hardly a
mouthful for him But they had no long
space for their wondering coeitations; for
Gamble suddenly sprung to the floor with a
tiger-like bound, and, throwing himself
headlong on Schuyler, bore him down at
once. Then followed oaihs, and paintings
and rapidly-interchang blows, and pre-
cipitate scatterGti0n of the bystanders right
and left, as the combatants rolled over and
over on the floor in mortal struggle,
There was pause in the conflict. Both
had risen to their knees neither endeavor-
( ed to regain his feet, or overthrow the 9TH
er; but Schuyler was evidently trying to
draw his dirk. and Gamble as clearly en-
deavoring to draw his Bowie-knife
At lenght the Georgian having freed his
right arm, raised it over his head, as If to
chop down his antagonist with his clenched
fst. Such however, was not his intention.
In moment the bright blade of his weapon
cleaned in the air, and muttering fearful
oath. he made deadly stab at the other
Schuyler caught his opponents wrist, and
turned the kuife aside its point entered
the floor, and it snapped in two.
Furious at the loss of his weapon, Gam
bic suddenly caught his antagonist by the
throat with both hands, and casting his huge
weight upout him, hurled him back help
lessly to the floor. 1t was a pcrilous time
for Schuyler. With one had on his breast
the savage held him down; the other was
twisted in his flowing black curls, and the
long thumb-nail was under bis eye Hes
gouped ~ exlaimed the host when sudden
ly the fallen man jerked up lis knees. and
fairly sent his bulky enemy over his head
in a complete sommerset. A shout of ap-
probation broke from all present The ma
.jor now thought proper to interfere
Boys" he exclaimed as the combatants
70 c-ninnI thnir foot o,ld crn1.o Sir .,e ,o,,n.r