Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-09-06

their seconds. Every eligible tree
and hillock was already taken pos
session of, and every standing spot
that offered a fair sight of the COM
ing entertainment. The first of
the principals that made his ar-
pearance OH the ground was Wal
dron, a tall, we'll built, good look
ing fellow of about twenty-three.
He walked nonchalantly about,
shaking hands with one, laughing
and chatting with another, taking
a bit of tobacco with a third, until
Jones made his appearance, when
all hands prepared for business.
Jones was a man of nearly forty,
with a hard, repulsive face, and
came upon the ground without no.
ticing any one, going directly to his
place and not leaving it or speak
ing to any one but his seconds.
The weapons were rifles, the
distance sixty yards, and in
very few minutes the ground was
measured and everything ready.
For the first time, then, that day,
there was a silence, each straining
to hear the word and see the fir
ing. At last it came. care you
ready, gentlemen? One! two!
three! Fire!" the sharp crack of
the rifles rang through the gully,
and the heavy thud of Waldron's
body followed it. The crowd stood
still for an instant, and the seconds
bent over him. He was dead,
shot directly through the heart!
There was low, suppressed
murmur ran over the crowd,
which in a few minutes broke out
into wild conversation; and then
| learned that this was the third
member of the Waldron family
that Jones had killed within the
year. l had little time to consid-
er it, for a mighty shout went up
from the crowd, and l turned to
see tall, dark lad, who could not
have been over seventeen, standing
in the spot where but few mo-
ments before the murderous ball
had passed through a human
heart, and to hear from those a.
bout me that it was the younger
brother of Waldron.
A very little time elapsed when
the second command was given.
care you ready, gentlemen? One
two! three! Fire!" and as the
smoke cleared away l saw the
younger Waldron sitting, support
ed by his seconds. A few minutes
elapsed, and could see there was
an argument between principal
and seconds. I saw them lift him
to his feet, but he could not stand.
Once more he was seated, and two
whiskey casks were brought toprop
him in a sitting posture, and it was
understood that there was to be
another shot. / took a look at the |
face of Jones while this was going
on, but l might as we'll have look
ed into the face of a statue. |
Once more the rifles were load
ed, once more the word was given,
and the sharp crack answered.
At that instant | had my eyes
upon Jones, and | saw him start
quickly, and turn suddenly to-
wards the left, opening his mouth
wide, as though gasping for air.
Then he made three or four rapid
steps towards the crowd, holding
his rifle straight out before him,
staggering, and fell fiat upon his
face. For a moment his seconds
seemed paralysed, and then hast
ening to raise him, he came up
with his hands clenched full of the
grass where he had fallen, and his
mouth filled with blood. They
held him SO only for an instant,
for in that time the strong nan's
body became limp, and he drapped
to, the earth a dead man. :
This finished the duel for the
day, though there was a talk that
the last victim had a son, a grow
ing lad, who was certain to take
up the affair within a year, and
fight it to q conclusion, he being
the last member of that branch of
the family Of Jones.
Memphis that night was riotous-
ly noisy and drunken over that e.
vent of the day, as well as curl
ously sympathetic to hear the doc
tors report on the case Of young \