The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-08-27
4 Fight TO The Death.
s,SGUlNARY HAND-To- HAND CONFLICT.

most fcrociOus duels ever fought. 1t
,nY on the evening of July 4, in
the Indian Territory, at Medicine
1"U a point which is great resort
for hunters during the colder months.
Tbe parties engaged in this desperate
6abt were Hugh Anderson Of Texas,
nd Arthur McCluskey of Kansas, both
desneradoes well known on the frontier
fnr their recklessness of life. Ander-
anr had killed brother of McCluskey
in a dance-house fracas; and the latter
soncht him ont for the express purpose
oftakipg vengeance upon him. A Tex
on guide named Richards acted as sec
"ni for McClnskey, a huge Kentuckian
nv the name of Harding fulfilling sim
liar office for Anderson.
THE AGREEMENT.
Rv the terms agreed upon between
Richards and Harding the antagonists
were to fight with revolvers and bowie
knives-to be placed back to back at an
interval of twenty paces-tO wheel and
fire. at a given signal, and after the first
interchange of shots to conduct the fight
"a each one should deem it best 20 his
advantage. The spot selected for the
encounter was in the open prairie. The
Grass had been closely cropped by the
cattle, leaving the turf firm yet elastic,
and lust the thing for rough and-tum-
lie 5usiness. The cOmbatants were
dulv p|aced, ard the crowd awaited
with breathless interest the result.
The giving of the signal had fallen by
Int to Harding. Statingto the princi-
nails who by this time began to show
signs of Impotence, that this would be
the report of pistol, he drew his own
weapon aud discharged it, first asking
tbe question and receiving the usual
answer that both were ready.
THE FIGHT.
McCluskey was the first to fire, wheel
ING as he did so, though the smoke had
scarcely curled up from his pistol before
the report of Anderson's weapon follow
ed. 4 momentary pause ensned, each
of the antagonists closely scanning the
other TO note the effect of the shot,
Across Anderson's cheek deep furrow,
from which the blood began to trickle
down. told the work of his antagonist,
while McCluskey remained standing in
his original posture, to all appearances
uuIarmcd But this was not the fact.
Those nearest to him fancied they saw
a sudden spasm, as of pain pass through
his frame, and his face certainly blanch
ed to deathlike pallor, but just where
the ball had taken effect they could not
tel. At the second fire McClnskey
again anticipated his opponent, and
taking more deliberate aim succeeded
in breaking his left arm. Anderson
uttered a sharp cry and sank on one
knee, but, quickly recovering himself,
returned the fire, and this time with
horrible effect. The ball passing
through McCluskey's mouth carried
with it several ofthe clenched teeth and
q portion of the tongue, fually lodging
in the base of the skull. McCluskey
staggered forward wildly few steps,
aud made desperate efforts to steady
himself. The blood poured in torrents
from the wound, and stained his hnn-
ting-shr, and dripped from the muzzle
of his pistol; but with heroic courage
he continued to advance, splitting out
mouthluls of blood and teeth at every
step.
During the interval thus gained An
derson who in his crippled state had ev-
cry reason to shun a band-to-hand en-
counter, had not been idle, but fred an
other well-alned shot which broke Nc
CIuskey's left shoulder. AS if this was
not enough, he sent still another ball
after him, which, striking him in the
pit of the stomach, caused him to fall
forward heavily on his face. McClns-
key was now mortally wounded and
momentarily growing weaker from loss
of blood. Tearing open his shirt in his
agony, crimson spot in his left side
indicated the place where Anderson's
first shot had taken effect. He still,
however, retained his grasp of his pis-
tol, aud by an effort superhuman in its
GOODNESS and deiiberatiou, fired at his
antagonist his third shot. The latter
had been closely watching for this, aud
endeavored to save himselfby sudden
ly dropping on the ground. Too late
however. McCluskey's finger was al
! ready on the trigger and his eye along
the sights, and when his adversary's
body reached the earth it was heavier
by Colts pistol ball. A scream Of
pain followed, and the spectators saw
the figure of a man clutchipg wildly
with his hands at the grass and with
ing and twisting in horrible contortions
The bullet hau struck him full in the
abdomen, and like his antagonist, An.
dersoD was now afast dying man.
AT this juncture it seemed as if the
crowd would interfere, but Harding