The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-05-14
BLACK DUNCAN )"
Or, a Night with Desperadoes.

There is elias. Of men to be found
in the new settlements Of this country,
in the far West, on the frontiers OF
civilization, who are probably not
elualled anywhere for desperation and
Il reckless disregard for human life
a this class were the men of whom
am ahout TO relate the following in
cident
\ few year, ago, q WAS about elgh-
teen ut the tHme,) | had gone out To the
western part of Kansas for the purpose
Of spendn. my college vacation in
hunting. On my arrival in the neigh
horhood of the hunting grounds, pro
ccelcd on horseback from the county
town to tavern situated in Il thinly
settled district which WAS chiefly III
habitcd hy hunters-the majority Of
them OF that desperate character which
obtains among men who are cut loose
from all social ties, and whose rule OF
law j. the revolver and bowie knife.
Ny purpose in going TO this house was
to make such preparations over night,
H. were necessary before entering upon
my hunting expedition on the next
day.
On my arrival at the tavern, | found
six OF eight OF the trequenters Of the
house assembled in the bar-room drink
ing They were rough, hardy looking
set Of mcm-chictly Americans-and
seemed 10 be OF class that would
scruple AT no deed, however perilous IN
its character They were dressed for
the most part in homcspun clothing,
and were all splendid types of that
strong-limbed growth Of the Western
plains and forests which acts As the
pioneers of progress and civilization.
sat down in one corner OF the room
apart listening a the conversation going
on between the mcn Their talk was
chiefly concerning certain adventures
that tbeg had experienced in the course
of their hunting expeditions, and of
deeds of violence which hal transpired
at various times in the settlement |
noticed that the name of Black Dun
can" was frequently mentioned during
the conversation, and always in man
ner that indicated that the man who
bore that name was ut once dreaded
and dislikcd 10y those present From
the character that was given him in the
rec;tals of the mcn-his name being
mixed up with some of the most fearful
and sanguinary scenes that they were
4 To no
that this same BLACK Duncan was one
of those characters of whom we read 80
frcquently-the desperate Of the West
ern wilds.
The conversation was at It's height,
when suddenly the door leading intothe
yard-or rather upon the road-was
opened, and man of gigantic height
and of q mOrose vlSage made his ap-
pearance standing on the threshold, and
looked steadily upon the company as
sembled in the room. lnstlnctlvely !
felt this to be Black Duncan, the hero
of the nights conversation. | had also
singular presentiment that the for
bidding looking stranger had come to
the tavern on this particular night for
no good purpose. His appearance as
he stood there, was one calculated TO
strike terror TO the stoutest heart even
in that wild region Of wilder men. Near,
" seven feet in height, and large and
brawnv in proportion, his face was
shaded by heavy growth Of jet black
beard. which seemed but continuation
of his long hair of the same color. The
hue of his hair and beard, taken IN con-
nection with his reddish, swarthy com
plexion, was sufficient to account for his
nickname of BLACK Duncan, by which
he was known. His eyes were blood
shot, and his whole appearance indicat-
ed that he,had been drinking deeply; He
was dressed in hunters shirt and his
lees, from the knees to the feet were,
encased in buckskin leggins. Upon his
his head he wore a fur cap from be-
meath which his hair streamed down
over his shoulders. The formidable
picture was completed by the presence
of a couple of revolvers and murder
Gus looking bowie knife, which were
stuck in the leather belt which he wore
around his waist.
As this man appeared upon the scene
a deathly stiffness fell upon the party.
l heard one of them say to his neighbor
in whisper:
Speak of the devil and here he
comes, Black Duncan, by all that is
holy"
He looks dangerous tonight" replied
the other. "He means mischief or I'm
a liar"
Eve must keep an eye on him." said
the first speaker, 'or he'll fix some Of
us. Get out your revolver"
| noticed that nearly every man Of
the party, at this juncture placed his
hand on the butt of his revolver, which,
like Black Duncan, he wore in hisbelt
What my feelings were at thus having
been brought face to face with one o.
those desperate occasions so common in
. the history of border life, may be con