Butte record., 1856-11-22

the flowing locks of Meyers in his left,
and roared at the top Of his lungs:
/ 'Down, cowardly hound, on your
marrow bones, or, by the blazes, I'll
cut your throat"
Incredible as it may seem, Meyers,
still holding his deadly revolver loaded
with. SIX rounds, covered to the floor
like beaten dog, and begged most
piteously for his life, a prayer which
the mocking half-breed granted, on
condition that he would treat the whole
crowd for a week.
From this time the unfortunate Mey-
ers wa subject to every species of in
suit and outrage. The loafers would
pull his nose for mere amusement, the
half-breeds would spit in his face just
to made him treat, and Gen. Cole,
when Intoxicated, would strike him
with his cane to cure him of his cow
ardice, as he said. The miserable gro
eery-keeper brooked all these gross in
dignlties with the patience of mar
tyr, and would sometimes meekly re-
m0nstrate
Gentlemen it is ungenerous to abuse
me thus, for | confess | have no cour-
age, | cannot fight
This continued for whole year, when
change occurred that caused the in
suffers to rue their ignoble persecu-
tons. He had beautiful wife, whom
he loved with the tenderest passion.
One day, when the husband was absent,
the hideous hal-breed Jack Warhawk,
instigated 10 the damning deed by Gen.
Cole, went to the grocery-keeper's pri-
vate residence and maItreated his lady
in the most shameful manner.
Meyers returned home to find his
beloved one drowned, as it were, in
tears. He heard the narrowing tale
without external manifestations of an
ger or emotion His face, it is true,
became somewhat pale, his lip quivered
an instant, and settled to an express
sion rigid as a mouth of iron, and bis
wild, black eye, it may be, shot forth
a few more beams of penetrating fire !;
but he did not mutter curses. He ut
tered no; whisper, or menace, he did
not even dcign to condole or sympa-
ihisc with bis afflicted wife He only
armed himse fwith bowie knife, four
teen inches in the blade, from hilt to
point, and started for the village.
He came in sight of his enemy. pro-
menading the public square, and boast
ing of his villalnous achievement. At
this vision, Meyers lip curled into a
horrid smile, and his dark eye melted
into a stream of tears. He approach
ed, till he stood nearly touching the
half>breed, and then said, in hurried
whisper:
"Wretch, be quick, draw for, by
St. Paul, one Of US must die"
And he waited until the other should
be ready for strife on equal t9rms He
did not have to wait long, for Jack.
understanding that cold, glittering,
snaky smile, and those hot gushing
tears, as the certain tokens of murder
Gus madness, Immediately unsheathed
at the same moment with his adversary;
and then began the dreadful combat,
which was soon decided
Meyers parried three furious blows
of the hateful half breed, and then
grasping his foes clothing with his left
hand, with the other plunged the knife
into his heart. The Cherokee expired
without gToan.
And now the inward and terrible
passions of Meyers found vent in ap-
palling explosions His curses were
fearful, be spurncd his enemy with his
foot, and wished aloud he had a hun
dred lives. so that he could enjoy the
pleasure of killing him hundred times
over. His wrath then changed for his
other ins -.lters. He few at loafer Bill
Green, and tore out his soap locks by
handfulis. He sprang upon Gen. Cole,
and pulled his nose until it was fatten-
cd between his thumb and fingers, all
the while that CORY knife driwying with
blood.
His enemies were taken by surprise,
terror-sricken, stupifdd, that for a.
space they seemed utterly incapable of
voluntary motion.
The coward had suddenly become
the bravest of the brave. The equi-
poise of opposite feeling was destroyed
forever; the sheer power of pure will
had conquered physical fear.
On the evening of the same day
Gen. Cole called special council of
his friends to consult on the course be
should pursue. There was but one
opinion, that he had been insulted by
gross public indignity-
Accordingly upon the following day
a challenge was dispatched, which Mr..
Meyers very promptly accepted, and
fixed the time at noon of the same day
the weapons to be double-barreled
shot guns, the distance ten PAGES.
The parties met on the sand beach,
under the bank of the river, above the
town, and hundreds assembled to wit
ness the issue. The mortal beiiger-
ents were placed by their seconds, and
the dealing guns, enormous dou-
ble-barrels, rested with dark, yawning
muzzles on the sand, in their hands
The spectators were much astonished
| by the strange contrast exhibited in
their appearance. Gen. Cole was an
old, experienced duelist, who had shot