Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-02-25

NJ uli. 1C Wao o'fl -
powerless TO fly.
There was no hesitation in the conduct
of Jack Warhawk. Brandishing his big
knife with his right hand, he seized the
locks Of Myers in his left, roaring at the
top of his voice:
"Down, coward down on your mar
row-bones, or by the blue blazes I'll cut
your throat
Incredible as it may seem, still hold
ing his deadly revolver, loaded with six
rounds, covered to the floor like beaten
hound, and begged most piteously. for
his ife-a prayer which the mocking
halfbreed granted on condition that he
would trest the whole crowd for a week.
From that time the unfortunate Myers
was subject TO every insult aud outrage.
The loaiers would pull his nose for mere
amusement, the half breeds would spit
in his face to make him treat, and Gen.
Cole. when intoxicated, would strike
hin with his cane, to cure him of his
cowardice, as he said. The poor grocery
keeper brooked all these gross indigni,
ties with the patience Of martyr; and
would sometimes meekly demonstrate
with them thus:
Gentlemen it is ungenerous TO abuse
me thus, for / confess have no courage
| cannot fight."
This continued whole year, when a
change occurred that caused the insulters
to rue their igneble persecution. He
had beautiful wife, whom he loved with
the tenderest passion One day, when
the husband was absent, the hideous
halfbreed, Jack Warhawk, instigated to
the damning deed by the persuasion Of
Gen. Cole, went to the grocery keeper 5
private residence and malLreated his
lady in the most shameful manner.
Myers returned home to find his be-
loved one in tears. He heard the har'
rowing tale without external manifesto
ton Of anger or emotion. His face, 1t is
true, became somewhat pale-hls lip
ouivered an instant, and then settled
into an expression as rigid as mouth OF
iron, and his wild black eye, it may be,
shot few more beams of penetrating
FIRE; but he did not mutter curses. He
muttered not whisper of menace, he did
not condole or even sympathise with his
afflicted wife. He only armed himself
with bowie knife, fourteen inches in the
blade, from hilt to point, and started to
the village.
He came within sight Of his enemy,
then promenading the public square and
hoasting of his villainous achievement.
At this vision Myers lip cured with
horrid smile, and his dark eyes melted
into stream of tears. He approached
till he stood nearly touching the half
breed, and then said in horrid whisper;
wretch, be quick, draw, for by ST.
Paul, one of us must die
And he waited till the other should be
ready for the strife on equal terms. lie
did not have to wait long, for Jack, un-
derstandng that cold gittering snakey
smile. and those hot gushing tears, as
certain tokens of murderous madness,
i'm mediately unshenthed at the same mo
ment with his adversary, and they began
the dreadful combat, which was soon de-
cided. Myers parried three furious blows
of the hateful half breed and then, grasp
ing his foe's clothing with his left hand
with the other plunged the knife up to
the hilt in his heart. The Cherokee fell
and expired without groan.
And now the inward and terrible pas
sions Of Myers found vent in appalling
explosions. His curses were frightful to
hear-he spurned his fallen enemy with
his foot, and wished aloud he had hun
dred lives so that he might enjoy the
pleasure himself of killing him hun
dred times over. His heart then changed
for his other insulters. He flew at the
loafer Bill and tore out his soap locks
by handfuls He sprang upon Gen. Cole
and pulled his nose till it was fattened
between his fugcrs--all the while that
CORY knife dripping with blood in his
right hand His enemies were so taken
by surprise, terror stricken, and stupe-
fed that for short space they seemed
incapable of voluntary motion.
The coward had suddenly become the
bravest of the brave. The equipoise Of
opposite feelings was destroyed forever
the sheer power of pure will had con-
quered physical fear. Does any one
doubt our strange story? Let him ad-
dress letter of inquiry to Hon. G. W.
Peachel, of Van Buren, late Judge Of the
Supreme Court of Arkansas, and the
fullest confirmation can be obtained
On the same evening, Gen. Cole called |
a special counsel of his friends to consult |
on the course he should pursue There
was but one opinion-that as he had |
been insulted by direct and gross pub |
lie indignity, he must call his foe to the |
field of honor. Accordingly on the fol
lowing day challenge was dispatched,
which Myers promptly accepted, and
fixed the time at noon of the same day
the weapons to be double barreled shot |
guns-sistance ten PAGES
The parties met on the sand beach, |
under the bank of the river, above the
village, and hundreds collected to wit
ness the issue The mortal selligerents
were placed in position by their seconds,
and the death dealing guns-enormous
double barrels-rested with dark, yawn-
ing muzzles on the sand, in their hands
The spectators were much astonished at
the contrast exhibited by their appear
aaan. Gen. Cole was an old, expert
enced duehs;. Eho had shst his man
before he was eighteen, ssd lad often
been engaged in affairs Of the kind.
On the contrary, Myers was unac-
ouainted with frea arms, and had always
hitherto been deemed an uumitigated
poltroon. And get singular TO record,
the duelist was nervous and agltated,
almost trembling, while the reputed COW
ard Eag eelm, irm, steady as a rock,
with that appalling sHlle on bus euried
lip, aud few scattered tesI-drops gleam-
ing in the sun, on his cheek
Gen. Coles second gave the word.
III F,r,--oue-two-threel de need not,
however. have counted SO many, for with
he echo Of the sound .'hre, Myers ele,
sataa Lis llecs As quick as thought, and
'oncbed he trioqet IhsFe vas 3 tre-