The Shasta courier., 1868-08-29
SHASTA COURIER
DUELs IN THE SOUTHWEST.

Colonel T. B. Thrope draws upon his long
experience in the Southwest for some inter
esting stories about duelling, which are pub
lished in the August number Of Harper's
Monthly He tells of descendant of Gen.
Philip Schuyler, who, some thirty years ago,
while travelling in that section, was set upon
by an outlaw. He says:
''The mans name was Gamble; he had
committed innumerable murders, and defed
arrest or punishment. He had been repeat
edly warned by the constituted authorities
OF his State, declared an outlaw, and largo
reward was then offered for his arrest
Schuyler was a stranger. and at the time
waiting at the village tavern for the mail
stage. To loiter away the time, he was, with
a number of villagers, sitting at a table anus
ing himself with conversation and indulging
at the same time in fits of laughter. Sud
denly the party was interrupted by yell al
most as loud as steam-whistle. which noise
was followed by a volley of braggadocio epi-
thets and the general inquiry, What the
people round the table were making all that
noise about?'
The parties in the locality turned pale as
they recognized the re1oubtable Gamble, for
they saw there was mischief in his phrenzied
eye. The outlaw having delivered himself
OF the opinion that every man present was
sneak and coward, ended with deliberate
ly discharging mouthful Of tobacco spittle
upon the polished boot of Schuyler, who was
the only person in the room who could, by
external appearance, be pronounced gentle
man. The rude men who witnessed this
congra tulated themselves that the blow had
fallen upon helpless traveller, and that in
81 Oh, ~
follow they could make their escape
= To Schuyler this insult was electrical
and, rising with Indignation, he demanded
of Gamble. (of whose history at the time he
knew nothing):
50 Did you intentionally spit upon my
boot p
Gamble was spcechless with rage and as
tonishment, and soon as he could recover the
use Of his tongue, he thundered out:
''' Yes , and III do the same for your face
next time
But, before he could carry his disgusting
threat into execution, Schuyler struck the
outlaw such a blow in the chest that the ruff.
fin went reeling against the side of the wall
In another instant the parties closed with
each other, and a rough and tumble fight
ensued, in which each party attempted in
vain to use their knives. The spectators
formed ring and looked as coolly on as if it
had been dog fight. If Gamble was killed
they got rid of the terror of the vicinity; if
the stranger. what difference did it make to
them ? The fight continued, without seeming
damage, until both parties separated for a
moment from exhaustion but as they were
about to renew the contest the landlord in
terfered, and suggested that both men be
shut up In a dark room, each armed with
revolver and bowie knife, and be thus left
in quiet way to fight it out like gentle.
men,
The proposition was received with cheers,
and Gamble especially endorsed the PROPOSE
tlon. Schuyler was silent, but showed him
self to be as resolute and as fearless as tiger
When the duelists were placed on the oppc-
site sides of the room by the landlord, and
he was about to disappear, the brave said
Major, have julep ready for me in fif-
teen minutes SCHUYLER said
- If fall. you will find on my person
silver watch and thirty dollars in New York
money; bury me decently, and keep what
remains above necessary expenses for your
trouble
$ The landlord then retired and locked the
door, the bar-room spectators hanging round
the outside, speculating on the result or bet
ting drinks or small sums of money to back
up their opinions Not a person in that
crowd believed that Schuyler stood the slight
est poss BILE chance of escaping with his life.
These frontiersmen could not believe that a
delicately built, gentlemanly man, with ef
Terminate face and fair hands, could be equal
to such an encounter.
Many seconds elapsed before any noise
was heard then followed quick reports of
the pistols. 1t was evident that a deadly
struggle was going on, and one of the partv
seemed to have fallen on the floor. Again a
scuffle ensued, and again body fell.
" The persons in the Dar-room now ioined
those up stairs, aud headed by the landlord
the den was opened. A terrible sight of
blood met the eyes of these men, Gamble
was already dead and Schuyler Law on the
floor insensble from the loss of blood.
Nothing could exceed the care that was
bestowed upon Schuyler by his now enthusi
astic frontier admirers They sat by his bed
side and watched him as their child. In a
few weeks he was perfectly restored to health
and the people the country round came to
thank him for his prowess. 1t is further
stated that, by the advice of his friend the
landlord, who refused all remuneration for
ms hospitality. Schuyler went to the capital
Oh the State and obtained not only the reward
set upon the outlaws life, but was also the
recipient OF complimentary dinner from the
Goyernor and other high officials. He even
had lucrative and honorable inducements
neid out to settle permanently in the COM
muh,ty- But his experiences in the back
"oous were not agreeable, and be returned
10 MS native New York, considering its dan
gers and temptations preferable to iife in the
pine forests of the South -