Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1854-08-25

lip, ana his gleamy blue eyes gazing fierce.
Iy into that Of his deadly foe, seemed 70
the wondering mind like a ball Of fire, so
intense and reyengerul was its glare. At
length he called out, in a voice as piercing
and shrII as the shrek Of trumpet:
"Murray, you ID coward, why don't
You shoot are you afraid to shoot!' p
Whether it was the position Of Murrav's
arm, so long extended, or that he became
excited by the mocking taunt, or surprised
at the terrible tones Of his enemv's voice
or Quaied, with prelernatural dread, be.
fore the lightning Of his burning blue eye
it is impossible to say; but at last, what.
ever might be the cause, a remarkable
change came over him. lie grew palid-
his lip Quivered-his hand shook He f.
red. The ball merely grazed Menefee's
left temple, without injury.
The seconds reloaded the pistol, and
placed it in the hands Of MoDelcc; and the
parties again assumed their proper stations.
The youthful aycnger Of his sisters shame
waited not an instant. He was in too
great hurry TO finish his work for sus-
pouse. Quick as the fash of sunbeam
be elevated his weapon and fired. With
the roar Of the without sigh
or groon-Murray dropped dead in his
tracks. His right eye had been shot out
Meneiee fled the country, and settled in
Conway county, Arkansas. Henccorrh,
the whole current Of his thoughts and pas.
sjons appeared TO be changed. The earth.
quake ot.mortaI wrath, which had burst up
from the profound abysses Of his soul. had
pIowcd out new passage for the march
OF ambl,Ion-a passage stained with in.
claceabIe blood. Before, his heart bad
burned with unQuenchabIe enthusiasm 10
excel in knowIedge-in variety, depth,
and extent Of attainment; now, he cove.
ted superiority only in desperate deeds
the bloody achievements Of brute bravery.
Nor, 10 say the truth, could he have select
ed a more appropriate field in The wide
world, for belligerenl purposes, than Ar.
kansas then afforded. Political strife ra-
ged with incredible fury. No man could
be leader either in the parties of the State
or in those of 4 County, unless he stood
ready at all times, 10 defend his principles
at the point Of the bowie or the muzzle Of
the pistol.
To cnumcrate all the duels fought by
opposing chiefs ofthe different factions du.
ring that sanguinary era, would stagger
belief. A faint idea the barbarous state
of things, may be conceived from the fact
that A Arkansas has never, 10 this day, had
Il senator or representative in the councils
Of the nations who has not once, if not
more, perjllcd his life on the so.caIed
"feId Of honor" Honorable duels, how.
ever, formed scarcely tithing Of the com.
bats waged Riots, afTrays, and deadly
rccontres by chance medly, were of week
ly and sometimes daily occurrence. Mr..
Menefee took a hand in all, and escaped
from each without d scar, till his very
name grew TO be a thing Of terror, at the
sound Of which even brave men trembled.
And thus he had reached the fate of his
own false, and, at last, fatal ambition. As
a famous fighter, he was universally ac.
knowedged TO be without Il second and
that, too, in country aboundi0g with bold
spirits from every quarter of the Union
The Rectors, the Deshas, Wilson Conway,
the most rcdoubabIe heroes,-dreaded his
lerocious blue eye.
1t would have been curious inquiry 10
analyze the motives and feelings Of the ter
ribo duelist at this period. He does not
seem TO have been actuated by absolute
and sheer cruelty. He did not WELD the
bowie.knie for the purpose Of inAicting
pain; it was only the instrument with
which he cleayed his way to noioriety.-
He fought, not SO much 10 avenge insults
as to achieve popularity. ToeXceI, ascend
culminatc, formed the goal ofthoughts and
wishes; and 10 do this in his present
sphere, bot Il single path lay opeh-the
path marked by fire and blood. He be.
came monomaniac-hopelesSIy diseased
in the organ Of destructiyeness. lie lived
Only III SldlG Vi CAldlC uTGdIllS OF DIu-
yery-dreams oyerhowng with the con.
sciousness Of surprising power-the pow
er 10 make all eyes and all hearts tremble.
He devised extraordinary methods Of dis.
playing his courage and contempt of death.
He was known on several occasions, with
out ultering a word, TO approach and spit
in the face Of notorious bullies, and with
whom he had no cause Of quarrel, and
for the sole purpose Of provoking fight.
One personal advantage resulted from this
excessive desperation. No other physi.
clan could be found hardy enough to set.
tie in Conway, where such foe reigned,
and, as a matter of course, Menelee got
all the practice. He even attended his
own wounded he would cut man open
with his bowie-knile in the morning, and,
if called upon, sew him up in the evening
with his needle.
/ The old proverb says "there must be an
end 10 everything;" and an end came at
last 10 the reign OF the "Fighiing Doctor, u
&c he ,yos chrictnnnd i'm hlooI ,hrouohou,