Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-01-31
THE ILIAD OF SANDY BAR.
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Before niGe O'clock it was pretty
well known all along the river that
thetwo partners ofthe "Amity" claim
had ouarreled and separated at day
break. AT that time the attention Of
their nearest neighbor had been at
tracted by the sound Of alterations
and two consecutive pistol shots.
Running out, he had seen, dimly, ia
the gray mist that rose from the riv-
err, the tall form Of Scott, one Of tho
partners, descending the hill toward
the canon moment later, York.
the other partner, had appeared from
the cabin, and walked in an opposite
direction toward the river, passing
within a few feet of the curious
watcher, Later, it was discovered
that serious Cinnamon, cutting
wood before the cabin, had witnessed
part OF the quarrel. But John was
stolid, indifferent, and reticent "Me
choppee wood-me no fghtee," was
his serene response to all anxious
queries But what did they say,
John ~ John did not 'sabe' Col.
Starbotto deity ran over the various
popular epithets which a generous
public sentiment might accept as
reasonable provocation for an assault.
But John did not recognize them.
"And this yer's the CATTLE" said the
Colonel, with some severity, chat
some thinks oughter be allowed to
testify agin white man. Git-you
heather"
Still the quarrel remained inexpli-
cable. That two men, whose amia-
bility and grave fact had earned for
them the title of"The Peace-mak ers, I"
in community not greatly given to
the passive virtues-that these men,
singnlarly devoted to each other,
should suddenly and violently quar-
rol, might well excite the curiosity
of the camp. A few Of the more in
quisitive visited the late scebe of
conflict, now deserted by its former
occupants. There was no trace of
disorder or confusion in the neat
cab n. The rude table was arranged
as if for breakfast the pan Of yellow
biscuit still sat upon that hearth
whose dead embers might have typ
flied the evil passions that had ragged
there but an hour before.
But Col. StarbottIe's eye-albeit,
somewhat bloodshot and rhcumy-
was more intent on practical details.
On examination, a bullet-hole was
found in the door-post, and another
nearly opposite, in the casing Of the
window. The Colonel called at
tention to the fact that the one
agreed with the bore of SCOTS re-
volver, and the other with that of
York's Derringer. "They must hev
stood about yer" said the Colonel,
taking position; mot morn three
three feet apart, and-missed."
There was a fine touch Of pathos in
the falling infection Of the Coloners
voice, which was not without effect.
A delicate perception of wasted OPP
portunity thrilled his auditors,
But the bar was destined to ex-
perieuce greater disappointment.
The two antagonists had not met
since the quarrel, and it was vague
| is rumored that on the occasion Of
a second meeting, each had deter
mined TO kill the other 'on sight
There was, consequently, some eX-
citement-and, it is to be feared, no
little gratificatiOn-when, at ten
o'clock, York stepped from the Mag
nolia saloon into the one long, strag-
Cling street of the camp, at the same
moment that Scott left the black
smith shop, a. the forks Of the road
1t was evident, at glance, thas q
meeting could only be avoided by
the actual retreat OF one or the other.
In an instant, the doors and win
dows OF the adjacent saloons were
filled with faces. Heads unaccount-
ably appeared above the river banks
and from behind bouIders. An emp
~ wagon at the cross-road was sud.
denly crowded with people, who
seemed to have sprung from the
earth. There was much running and
confusion on the hillside. On the
mountain road, Mr.. Jack Hamlin had
refined up his horse, and was stand
ing upright on the seat of his buggy
And the two objects of this absorb