The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-12-09
REMARKBLE FIGHT.
A how ic.k TOurniaeni ON the
Bordcr-.BOth Combatants Killed.

BOrdcr--BOth mbatSn Afihc".
Lowell (kanSas) Cor. y. y. Herald
DIR. V. C.. Lawrence, of Nacuna,
recently of Philadelphia,
has lust arrived here and furnished
me the following details of one OF
those bloody tragedies enacted no.
where else than oil the borders:
On Tuesday election day. Joe and
Charley Bigger [brothcrs), Gus Nor
ton and Tom Jackson, who had been
driving a herd of cattle into Missouri,
passed through here on their return
home. i'm Northern Texas. The men
were all young, well mounted and
armed, and each possessed of consid-
erablc money, the proceeds of the
sale of their cattle. They stopped
some two hours in this place and l
had a long conversation with them.
On Wednesday afternoon they camp
ed OIL the banks ola small stream in
the Indian Territory, about forty
miles from Eerc, and after stalking
out their horses, while cooking their
supper, sat down to a game OF cards.
They had hardly commenced their
game when Orestes Watrous (knOwn
as Cock-cycd Watt Theo Allison and
Dick Bradford. noted New Orleans
gamblers. road into the camp. These
gamblers were OIL a professional tour
from Fort Scott, and were bound for
Baxton Springs and Kansas City.
The new corners were gladly well
coined and invited to camp with the
hcrders, which invitation was quick
ly accepted.
The sun being some two hours
high, il was suggested that there was
plenty of time to have a social game
or two of poker before supper, and
accordingly Watrous, Bradford, Joe
Bigger and Jackson took a hand. AT
first Bigger and Jackson won; but
luck soon turned, and Watrous and
Bradford were in a fair way of clean
ing out the others, when Bigger de-
tectcd Watrous cheating. A row at
once ensued; blows were i~nterchang-
ed and weapons drawn by both par
ties, when it was proposed, in order
to secure fair play, that Bigger and
Watrous should fight ii out OIL horse
back, their weapons being bowie
knives. This was at once agreed to,
and the men prepared for the bloody
fray. They were Invested of their
coats and shirts, and their knives
were bound TO their right hands.
They were then placed sixty yards
apart. with orders to ride at each 9th
or full speed, passing OIL the left side.
Both we're splendid hOrsemcn. Big
ger was mounted OH a clean limbed
fiery pony, a little over fourteen
hands high, while Wa.rous rode a
large "watch-eyed," vicious Oan
At the word ego" the combatants
spurred toward each other like the
wind, but passed without inficting
any injury. a second and a third
ioust was run, when Watrous' horse
received a slight cut Oh the flank. On
the fourth round Bigger, as lie passed
Watrous, threw himself oil the of
side of his pony, so as 10 expose no
portion of his person, and drove his
knife deep into the neck of his adj
versary's steed. Watrous, divining
the vancouver, wheeled as the blow
was stuck, and attempted to ham,
string Bigger's pony, but succeeded
only in infiicting a severe wound.
This style of fighting was then aban-
doned, and both men and horses APP
pcarcd to become Infatuated at the
sight of blood. AS they neared each
other the fifth time, Bigger suddenly
struck Watrous with his left fist in
the face, at the same moment cutting
a fearful cash, WatrOus succeeded i'll
driving his knife into Bigger's shoul.
|. dcrs. The combatants and horses
were becoming weak from loss OF
, blood, when Watr0us determined, il
|, possible, to end the combat by riding
down his adversary, which he thought
the superior weight of his horse
: would enable him to do. According
", on the sixth round, he made di'
{ rcctly upon Bigger's pony, and Big
| ger, in attempting to avoid the col
; lision. was severely cut in the arm
and face. The pony, however, was
, game, and, although very lame, seizct
/, the roan by the check, laccrating il
, in a fearful manner.
/ Attic seventh encounter tho horse.
: came together with a fearful shock
The pony, being thrown, fell upon hi:
: rider, but both Immediately regainet
f themselves. Watrous' horse was fas
, bleeding TO death from the stab il
i. neck, and Watrous himself coult
I scarce keep his seat from the wount
: in the thigh. Bigger succeeded il
, again sticking Watrous in the thigh
and was struck in return i'm the side
I Several blows were interchanged and
i evaded or fell only upon the horses.
|. The fight had now lasted more
, than q half an hour, when DIR. Law
renee rode up in time to witness thu
, final round. AS they came together
Watrous endeavored to rise up in hi
I stirrups and throw himself upon Big
ger, but neither horse could stand
{ the encounter, and both fell. Bigger
was streaming with gore from thu
! cuts i'm the face, back and arms, bu'
! was able TO cxtricate himself, ant
: rushed upon Hatrous, who coulC
! not rise on account of the wounds il
: his thigh. Bigger threw himself up
, OH Watrous with the fury Of a fiend
and almost i'm a moment his knif'
: had reached the unfortunate gam
. bler's heart, and Bradford, seeing thu
, fate Of his friend, raised his pistol
; fired. and Biggers fell dead across TIN
corpse of WatrOus.
A free fight at once cnsucd, Char
! ley Bigger, Norton and Jackson fiIin:
:. upon Bradford and Allison. Bradfort
was killed in the melee, and Charlie.
Bigger and jackson severely wound
, ed were taken TO 4 cabin about hal
. a mile from the battle field, and thei
wounds dressed by DIR. Lawrence
who pronounced them in a fair wa.
otrccovery.
: This is one % tic most remarkabl
fights that has eve occurred, eve
/, among the lawlcss adventures of th
: border. Ii sounds like romance, bu
! the source of my information will nc
: admit of a doubt of its truth.
4 The Iowa Homestead has been il
n formed by President WEIGH that du
: ring the present Winter, three Or fou
!. Farmers institutes will be held !
IS different localities, under the auspi
cics Ofthe State Agricultural Colleg
i. each occupying about a week. Th
object will be to give lectures on til
le various branches of agriculture. Z,
dar Falls has already applied for on
y of these institutes.
IL