The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-11-19
Fuformati0n.
a Marvellous battle.
From the Nex York Times. Nov. =; cdi,

From tie Nex York Times, Nov. =; cditora'.l
Some wears ago, among other strange incidents.
there occurred at San Francisco combat 30
amazing that the tidings of it were at first re-
ceived with general incredulity. The story.
however, was subsequently, confirmed, and it is
certainly one of the most memorable ON record.
Succrnstly told it was follsws: A certain
man had the misfortune while in the interior to
offend a gang of noted desperadoes, five of whom
pursued him with murderous purpose down to
San Francisco They found their prey sitting
quietly. a Sunday morning. in little shop,
having his boots blacked. Without wasting
time they announced their intention OF killing
him, whipped out their pistols, and Immediately
began firing. Now. considering the surprise
aud relative numbers, the chances were At least
twenty to one that the assassins would accom-.
plish their purpose. All had revolvers, aud all
were accustomed to their USE Yet, astonishing
to relate, the hunted man eontrived to shoot
down all five OF his enemies He was sorely
wounded to be sure, and lying on the ground
he fred his last shots. Indeed, seeing that the
last of his assailants who showed fight was still
stirring, he dragged himself up to the wounded
wretch, shot him through the heart, and with
the uncouth expression, 1--WE cooked him." fell
back insensible The whole scene forcibly illus
trated the fact that in encounters of this sort the
chances are infinite, and that superior steadiness
of nerve NAV get the better of almost any nu.
merical odds. When the Three Guardsmen of
Dumas win their victories over whole battalions
of foes, the reader SMILES with incredulity and
yet there is hardly anything in the pages of the
most horid romances to exceed the exploit of
this hardly frontiersman who, We believe, still
survives to tell his adventure.
By the waters OF Ii stream called Warner river,
in Southeast Missouri, a tragedy was enacted on
Friday last different from this but almost as re-
msrkable The hero, Anderson Sheppard. is
well.known old hunter of the neighborhood, who
from the accounts, night sit for a portrait OF
Leather Stocking. He is sixty-hve years Of age
but pow erful and elastic still, and man of noted
courage and resource Between Shepherd and
some troopers who frequented the river, old
feud existed. On Friday, three of these persons,
occupying 1. boat approached the old hunters
skItf and apparently without warning, one Of
the party raised his rifle aud fred. Shephards
right arm iell, broken, by his side. With most
men this would have decided the contest, aud
among men of sixty.fve perhaps not one in a
million would have continued it, But Sheppard
grasped his rifle rested it the side Of his boat,
aud in the twinkling of an eye shot his assalant
dead. The two others then opened fire briskly
upon him, he having discharged his only barrel.
With his teeth aud left hand he managed, not.
withstanding, to load his weapon and reply.
The battel lasted some time, but it ended by the
old man killing both his enemies and reaching
the shore after receiving seven bullets in his
limbs and body. He is now lying, according to
telegraph, in critic, condition. but it ia believ.
ed he may recover. The pluck and endurance
of man, at sixty.five. with his best arm broken,
thus successfully struggling with three @be-bod-
led foes, is perhaps unparalleled. Cooper makes
Natty Bumpo do great things, but certainly
none more surprising than this feat OF Anderson
Sheph ard: aud we have heard OF no Indian war;
rior who, eithe- III fact fiction, has displayed
more heroic fortitude and resolution