The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-11-12
A Duel with Locomotives.

A newspaper i'll the City of Mexico,
wishing to illustrate the lawless and saw
age character of the people of the United
States, relates the following story, which
would do credit to the imagination of
Dumas:
The scene takes place in Tennessee.
The CONT actors of the public works,
Mr.. Clark, all Englishman, and Mr.. Wood,
an American, had crossed each other in
question of interest, that resulted in fu-
rious rivalry, which soon changed into a
strong hatred.
Twice the two antagonists had met upon
the ground, or, more properly speaking,
once upon the ground and once in the
wood, for the second duel was with rifles, a
man hunt, reciprocal hunt of the game
and the hunter.
The first time, it was Mr.. Clark that was
wounded-he got well. The second time
it was Mr.. Wood his rival having feigned
being struck by the ball, lay as dead. Mr..
Wood approached to see if he had killed
his adversary or If he had only wounded
him. At that moment, Mr.. Clark got up
at bound and fired; Mr.. Wood fell,
bathed in his blood, but the ball had made
the circuit of his ribs he remained one
month in bed, after which he got up, more
anxious than ever to recommence the
struggle.
After several propositions, some more
frightful than the others, the following was
agreed upon:
The duel to be deferred for six months,
during which time rails were to be laid on
a vacant piece of ground extending along
the edge of forest, over space of about
mile, but only one track. The rails
being laid, the fight was to be with loco
motives.
Here are the conditions of this terrible
duel:
The two opponents, each mounted on
his locomotive, heated to suit himself,
to place themselves, one at each end of the
line.
A rifle shot to be fired from the top of
small hill that could be seen from both
ends; it might be possible that the report
would not be heard, but the small cloud of
smoke could be seen.
The first shot to be the signal for the
combatants to make ready.
A second rifle shot, a second cloud Ofs
smoke, would be the signal for the
march
The two opponets are at their posts be-
hind the locomotive, their hands on the
throttle valves, their eyes fixed on the
hillock where the signal is to appear.
The first shot is fired. A thin white
smoke arises in the air.
Five minutes passed Five centuries.
A second cloud of smoke crowns the
hillock. The two locomotives commence
to shake, their motion little slow at first.
acquire in few seconds an extraordinary
speed, electrical, vertiginous.
The movement of Mr. Wood appears
more rapid than that Of his antagopiS
Effectively, he has passed the post thai
dicates the half of the way.
But some fifteen yards further ON the
two monsters meet, they strike, the effect
is terrifying
The locomotive OF Mr.. Wood is thrown
over on its conductor, whom it brushes,
burns, drags and hackles.
The other, that of Mr.. Clark's, BURST.
ed in front, lets escape cloud of steans9
and still runs for a few yards, moved hH
the force of impulsion. - x
But the conductor has Disappeared
The shock has thrown hin4;: EefM
from the road, on the edge of t16s#ood,
where he was found insensible, bruised,
his face burned by the jet of steam, and a
broken leg.
The doctor pronounced his wound not
mortal, and that Clark would get over it.
AS to his adversary, a shapeless and I'M
known mass was Withdrawn from under
the locomotive, bloody clay OF hideous
remains
Honor was satisfied,