Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-08-15

lookers-on in state of GREATNESS ex poct-
ancy. Like statues the figures of the
two men who were to fight poutrance
doomed up against the Western sky, each
with the muzzle of his weapon pointed to
the earth, the intention clearly being to
make "rising" shot; this is, to fire,
catching the aim while the weapon is
being raised. In this way the practiced
hand rarely wastes his ammunition III
the air by shooting over his adversary's
head, as so often happens when the fall
ing shot is adopted
The giving Of the signal had fallen by
lot to Harding. Stating to the princi-
pals, who by this time began to show
signs Of Impotence, that this would be
the report of apistol. he drew his own
weapon and discharged it, first asking
the question and receiving the usual an
swer that both were ready.
TIE DUEL.
McCluskey was the first to fire, wheel
ing as he did SO, though the smoke had
scarcely curlcd from his pistol before the
report Of Anderson's weapon followed. a
momentary pause ensued, each of the an
tagonists closely scanning the other to
note the effect of the shot. Across An
derson's check deep furrow, from which
the blood slowly began to tricklc down,
told the work of his antagonist, while
McCluskey remained standing in his orr
ginal posture, to all appearances I'M
barp KIT g.,
Those nearest to him fancied they saw a
sudden spasm, as of pain, pass through
his frame, and his face suddenly blanch-
ed to a death-like pallor; but just where
the ball had taken effect they could not
tell. At the second fire McCluskey again
anticipated his opponent, and taking
more deliberate aim, succeeded in break
ing his left arm. Anderson uttered
sharp cry, and sunk on one knee, but
quickly recovering himself, returned the
! fire, and this time with horrible effect
Tue ball, passing through McCluskcys
mouth, carried away with it several of
the clcnched teeth and portion of the
tongue, finally lodging in the base of the
skull. McCluskey staggered forward
wildly a few steps, and made desperate
efforts to steady himself. The blood
poured in torrents from the wound, and
stained his hunting-shirt and dripped
from the muzzle Of his pistol but with
heroic courage he continued to advance,
splitting out mouthfuls of blood and teeth
at every step.
During the interval thus gained An
derson, who, in his crippled state, had
every reason TO shun hand-to-hand en-
counter, had not been idle, but fred an
other wcll-aimcd shot, which broke Nc
Cluskey's left shoulder. As if this was
not enough, he sent still another ball af-
ter him, which, striking him in the pit of
the stomach, caused him to fall forward
heavily on his face. McCluskey was now
mortally wounded, and momentariy get
ting weaker from loss Of blood. Tearing
open his shirt in his agony, a crimson
spot in his left side indicated where An
derson's first shot had taken effect. He
still, however, retained his grasp Of his
pistol, and by an effort, supcrhuman in
its GOODNESS and elaboration, fired at his
antagonist his third shot. The latter had
been close watching for this, and en-
deayored to save himself by suddenly
dropping to the ground Too late, how
ever, McCluskey's finger was already on
the trigger and his eye along the sights,
and when his adyersary's body reached
the earth it was heavier by Colts pis-
toll ball A scream Of pain followed and
the spectators saw the figure Of man
clutching wildly with his hands at the
grass, and writing and twisting in hors
riblc contortions The bullet had struck
him full in the abdomen, and like his an
tagonist, Anderson, was now fast dying
man. At this juncturc it seemed as if
the crowd would interfere, but Harding
stcrnly babe them keep back and leave
the men to settle the matter in their own
way. AS none dared to dispute with the
gigantic hunter, the mandate was obey
ed, though universal expression of hor
ror ran through the spectators, number
of whom were the engineers and attaches
Of our own party. Still. horrible as was
the scene, no one thought of leaving the
spot. An irresistible fascination to see
it out bound one and all alike to the
blood-stained locality. But the finale
was at hand-the curtain almost ready
to drop.
McCluslzey, summoning, by supreme
effort, his remaining strength, drew bis
knife and began to crawl feebly in the
direction Of bis antagonist. The latter,
who had raised himself to sitting pos
ture, saw the movement and prepared to
meet it. Both had dropped their reyol-
vers, leaving to tho cold steel the COM
pletion of the work.
BY this time it had grown quite dark,
and to distinguish the movements Of the
combatants required the closest attention.
Anderson was clearly unable to move
any portion Of his body save his right
arm. With this he raised his knife aloft,
and as McCluskcy crawled up to within
reach, dealt him terrible bow in the
neck. cutting muscles, tcndons and veins,
and half-severing the head from the body.
But the effort was too much for him, and
leaving the weapon sticking in the wound,
he pitched heavily forward on bis face.
Every ono supposed that this blow would
have instantly killed McCluskey, but
strange to say, it did not, for 50 great
was bis vitality that before falling, he
twice plunged his own knife into the