New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-07-27

to Harding. Stating to the principals, who
BY this time began to show signs Of impa
tience, that this would be the report OF &
pistol, he drew his own weapon and dis
charged it, first asking the question and re
ceiving the usual answer that both were
ready.
THE DUEL.
McCluskey was the first TO FIRE, wheeling
as he did SO, though the smoke had scarce
~ curled up from his pistol before the re-
port of AndersOn's weapon followed. a
momentary pause eneued, each Of the an
tagoniste closely scanning the other to note
the effect of the shot. Across Anderson
cheek deep furrow, from which The blood
slowly began to trickle down. told the work
of his antagonist, while McCiuskey re-
manned standing IN his original posture, to
all appearances unframed. But this was
not the fact. Those nearest to him fancied
they saw q sudden spasm, as of pain,
pass through his frame and his face GER
tain]y blanched to a deathlike palor. but
just where the ball had taken effect they
could not tell. At the second fire McCluskey
AGAIN anticipated bis opponent, and takin &
a more deliberate aim succeeded in break
ing his left arm. Anderson uttered sharp
cry and sunk on one knee, but quickly re-
covering himself returned the fire, and this
time with horrible effect. The ball passing
through McCluskey's mouth carried away
with it several of the clenched teeth and q
portion of the tongue. finally lodging in the
base OF the skull. McC,uskey staggered
forward wildly few steps and made despe-
rate 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 monthfuls of blood and teeth at every
step. During the interval thus gained An
derson, who in his crippled state had every
had not been idle, but fired another we'll
aimed shot, which broke McCluskey's left
shoulder As if this was not enough, he
sent still another ball after him. which,
striking him in the pit of the stom.
ach. caused him to fall forward
heavily on his face. McCiuskey was
row motaily wounded and momenta-
rlly growing weaker from loss Of
blood. Tearing open his shirt in his agony
a 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 pistol, and by an effort super
human in its GOODNESS and deliberation,
fired at his antagonist his third shot. The
latter had been watching for this, and en-
deavored to save himself by suddenly
dropping to the gOund. Too late, how
ever. McCluskey's finger was already on
the trigger and his eye along the sights,
and when his adversary's body reached the
earth it was heavier by q Colts pistol ball.
tors saw the figure of q man clutching
wildly with his hands at the grass and
writing and twisting in horrible contor-
tions. The bullet had struck him full in
the abdomen, and like his antagonist, An
derson, was now a fast dying man. At
this juncture it seemed as if the crowd
would interfere, but Harding 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 universal expression of horror 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 CT leaving the spot. An ire
sistible fascination to see it out bound one
and al! alike to the blood-stained locality.
But the finale was at hand-the curtain a.
most ready to drop.
McCiuskey, summoning by supreme
effort his remaining strength, drew his
knife and began to crawl feebly in the d-
rectioD of his antagonist. The latter, who
had raised himself to sitting posture saw
the movement and prepared to meet it.
Both had prOpped their revOlvers, leaving
to the cold steel the completion of the work.
BY this time it had grown quite dark,
and to distinguish the movements of the
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
McCluskey crawled up within reach dealt
him q terrible blow in the neck, cutting
and tendOns 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 his face
Every one supposed that the blow would
have instantly killed McCluskey, but
strange to say it did not, for so great was
his vitality that before falling he twice
plunged his own knife into the body of An
dersOn. The tale is soon told. McCluskev
lived minute longer than his antagonist.
The dead bodies, firmly locked in each
others embrace, were taken to the house
of Harding and laid out side by side on
the gaming table. A crimson trail marked
the path of those who carried them in
doors, and pools OF blood indicated the
scene OF t le late conflict.
There was no gaming that night. The
hunters and Indians appeared to Il I'd ex-
element enough in talking over the events
Of the day without having to resort to their
usual pastime. About eleven o'clock the
moon rose, and the bodies were taken out
Tor burial. There were no funeral cere.
monies, but Job Harding remarked as the
mutfled forms were lowered into the grave.
There 60 two as brave men as ever lived
They were buried deep to keep the wolves
and coyotes from digging them up, and the
earth was heaped up in little mound to
mark where they slept. And then, with
he night wind whispering soft requiem
over the dead mems graves. and the moon
shining sadly from her distant sphere in
he upper ether, the crowd slowly dispers.
I'd, and each one sought his couch.
Early the next morning our party Of en-
yineers turned it's back upon Medicine
Lodge, and on the evening of the fourth
lay took passage on eastern bound trains
rom Wichita. Kansas.
A more horrible affair than this jou;Ie
murder it would be difficult to imagine.
Both men were well known in Wichita and
llong the great cattle trails, and both to
ertaln degree, we're popular. While looked
m as desperadOes and bad characters their
lndOubted pluck won for them a FEELING
Il admiration, which, if not akin to friend
hip, at least secured them friendly treat
nent; and have no doubt but that in the
minds of many of their own class thew left
'ehind them recollections quite az favor
bic as would have been the case had they
instead of being ruffiaas. lived virsuous and
eaceable lives.