The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-08-01

the CGdIltiiSG stb iGtlot SS'CAbS SISSSftOCAo
had gathered at the appointed spot.
THE TERMS AGREED UPON.
Meanwhile the two principals had retired !
apart with their seconds to prepare them
selves and their weapons. BY the terms
agreed upon between Richards and Hard /
ing, the antagonists were to fight with III le
vulverS and bowie knives-to be pi''oeu
back to back at an interval OF twehly P"Cs5 P,s5
to wheel and fire at given sl9H'.i @ "liu
after the first Interchange of shotS 10 coI-
dttct the fight as each one should deem IL
best to his advantage
ON THE FIELD.
MrCluslley had recovered his equanlmity
;,,,,pediateIy On receiving the notlhcatlon
rT,u Anderson of the acceptance of his
challenge. As he emerged from the house,
where he had made his brief stay, he looked
a picture of manly strength and vlgor a
tiCht-fitting buckskin shirt and leggings,
tastsfully embroidered, set Oft his robust
form to great advantage, and 1T was appa-
rent TO all that, i'll the event of close en-
counter, he would prove n terrible antago-
mist to his rival. His revolver, of Colts
make. he carried in his right hand, while
his bowie, cncased in a sheath of untanned
deerskin, rested on his left hip within easy
reach
Anderson wore his usual dress, save that
n broad belt, i'll which was stuck a knife,
confined his coat at the waist and he had
changed his sumbrero for military fatigue
can He passed by close TO where l was
standing and our eyes again met. Save
that the look on his face hardened little
and hc contracted his brows to visible
sCowI, there was nothing to indicate the
presence of any unusual excitement, not
even when to take the position assigned him
he had to pass within an arms length of
( McCluskey...
DUELIsTs IN POSITION
4
ries. The twenty PAGES were quickly step
ped off and the principals placed in their
respective positions. The sun had long
since set, and the dark pail of evening was
rapidly settling on the spot, so that neither
could he annoyed by the rays of the sun,
nor could either side complain of holding
an inferior position. The crowd drew back
to what was deemed safe distance, and
the seconds after moments consultation
apart, advanced to give the signal.
The giving of the signal had fallen by lot
to Harding. Stating to the principals, who
by this time began to show signs of impa-
tience. that this would be by the report of
a pistol he drew his own weapon and dis
charged it, first asking the question and
receiving the usual answer that they were
ready.
THE DUEL.
MCCIuskey was the first to fire, wheeling
as he did so, though the smoke had scarce
ly curled up from his weapon before the
report of AndersUus pistol followed. y
momentary pause ensued, each OF the An
tagonists closely scanning tEe other TO note
the effect of the shot. Across Anderson 5
cheek a deep furTOw, from which the blood
slowly began to trickle down, told the work
Of his antagonist, while McCuSkey re-
mained standing in has original posture. to
all appearances unharmed. But this was
not the fact. Those nearest to him fanc:ed
they saw sudden spasm, as of pain, pass
through his frame, and his face certainly
blanched to a death-libe pallor, but just
where the ball had taken effect they could
not tell. At the second fire McCluskey
again anticipated his opponent, and taking
I. more deliberate aim succeeded in break
ing his left arm. Anderson uttered a sharp
cry and sank on one knee, but quickly re-
covering himself, returned the fire, and this
time with horrible effect. The ball passed
through McCluskey's mouth, carried away
[ with it several of the clenched teeth and a
portion of the tongue, finally lodging in
the base of the skull. McCluskey stagger-
ed forward wildly a few steps and made
desperate efforts 10 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, Anderson, who, i'll his crippled
state, had every reason to shun hand to-
hand encounter, had not been idle but
cred another well-aimed shot, which broke
McCluskes'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 heav-
, lily on his face. McCluskey was now NOR
/ tally wounded and momentarily growing
weaker from loss of blood. Tearing open
his shirt i'll his agony, a crimson spot in his
left side indicated the place where Ander-
son 5 first shot had taken effect. He still,
however, retained his grasp of his pistol,
AMI by an effort superhuman in its deliber-
alton and GOODNESS, fired az his antagonist
! his third shot The latter had been close
ly watching for this. and endeaVored tn
save himself by suddenly dropping to the
ground. Too late, however; McCluskey's
finger was already on the trigger and his
eye along the sights, and when his adver-
sary's body reached the earth it was heav-
ier by Colts pistol bail. \ scream of
pain followed and the spectators saw a
figure of man clutching wildly with his
hands at the grass and writhing and twist
ing i'll horrible contortions. The bullet
had struck him full in the abdomen, and
like his antagonist, Anderson was now a
fast dying man. At this juncture it seemed
as if the crowd would interfere, but Hard
ing sternly bade them keep back and leave
the men to settle the matter in their own
way. As none cared to dispute with the
gigantic hunter, the mandate was obeyed,
though a universal expression of horror
ran through the spectators, a number of
whom were the engineers and attaches of
our party. Still, horrible as was the scene
no one thought of leaving the spot Amir
Tesistble fascination to see ii out bound
one and all alike to the blood-stained local
ity. But the finale was at hand-Che cur
tain almost ready to drop.
McCluskey, summoning by supreme
effort his remaining strength, drew his
knife and began to crawl feebly in the di-
rcction of his antagonist. The latter, Who
had raised himself to a sitting posture,
saw the movement and prepared to meet
leaving to the cold steel the compIetio,1 of
the work.
BY this time it had grown quite dark,
and TO distinguish the movements Of tbe