The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-08-08
A sANaUINARY CONFLICT.
The FerOciOus Flight between o"s''
A,,deruon ana Arthur MeCluskey.

life Anderson had killed a brother OF
McCluskey in n dance-house fracas ana
the latter sought him out for the ex-
press purpose Of taking yengance upon
him. A Texan guide named Richards
acted as second for McCluskey, and
huge Kentuclian of the name oil har-
ding fulfilling a similar Office Tor An
deraon.
THE AGREEMENT.
Rv the terms agreed upon between
Richards and Harding the antagonists
we're 70 fight with revolvers and bowie
knives. to be placed back 20 back az an
interval of twenty PAGES, 10 wheel and nre
at given signal, and after the first inter-
change of shots to conduct the hght as
each one should deem it best 10 his ad-
vantage. The spot selected for the en-
counter was in the open pralrle: Inc
GRASS had been closely cropped by the
cattle. leaving the turf firm, yet elastic,
and lust the thing for rough and tum-
bile business. The men met long after
sunset in the presence OF a crowd OF
hunters, trappers, railroad surveyors,
gamblers and Indians. The combatants
were duly placed, and the CROWD
awaited with breathless interest the
result. u
The giving of the signal had fallen by
lot to Harding. Stating TO the primer
pals, who by this time had began 70
show signs of impatience, that TINS
would be the report of pistol, he u%FeW rev
| his own weapon and discharged 1t, hrst
asking the question and receiving the
usual answer that both were ready.
THE FIGHT.
McCluskey was the first 20 fire, wheel
| ing as he did so, though the smoke had
scarcely curled up from his pistol be-
| fore the report of Andersons weapon
| followed. momentary pause ensued'
each of the antagonists closely scanning
the other to note the effect of the shot.
Across Andersons cheek deep furrow,
from which the blood slowly began to
trickle down, told the work OF his antago-
mist, while McCluskey remained standing
in his original posture, to all appear
ances unharmed. But tins was not inc
face. Those nearest 10 him iancled
thew saw n sudden spasm, az of pam,
mass through his frame, and his face
ceYtainly blanched to death-llke pal
Ior but inst where the ball had taken
effect they could not tell. At the Sc
cond fire McC Cluskey again anticipated his
opponent, and taking more dellber-
ate aim succeeded in breaking his left
arm. Anderson uttered n sharp cry
and sank on one knee, but quickly re-
covering himself returned the hre, and
This time with horrible effect. The ball
passing through McCluskeys mouth
} carried away with it several of tho
: clenched teeth and n portion OF the
tongue, finally lodging in the base oi the
J skull. McCluskey staggered forward
J wildly n few steps, and made desperate
efforts TO steady himself. The blood
J poured in torrents from the wound,
} and stained his hunting shirt and drip
ned from the muzzle of his pistol but
p with heroic courage he continued To- ad-
vance. splitting out mouthfuls OF blood
. and teeth at every step.
1 FEARFUL WOUNDS.
During the interval thus gained An
8 derson. who in his crippled state had
q every reason TO shun hand-to-hand en-
q counter. had not been idle, but fired an
!, other well aimed shot which broke Nc
y Cluskev's left shoulder. As If this was
Z not enough, he sent still another ball
) after him, which, striking him IN the
k nit of the stomach, caused him To tall
forward heavily on his face. McClus-
o kew was now mortally wounded and mo-
d mentarially growing weaker from loss oi
e blood. Tearing open his shirt IN his
y agony a crimson spot in his LETT side IN.
le dicated the place where Anderson's hrs'
b" shot had taken effect. He still, how
a ever, retained his grasp OF his pistoi
l, and by an effort superhuman IN It's cool
ness and deliberation fired at his antag
a onist his third shot. The latter haC
a baen closely watching for this, and en-
M deavored 20 save himself 10y suddenly
w droppinp on the ground. Too late
n however. McCluskey's finger was al
ifF ready on the trigger and his eye alonl
40 the sights, and when his adversary
body reached the earth IL was heaUe
A. bv a Colts pistol ball. A scream o
40 pain followed and the spectators saw th
~ figure of n man clutching wildly VIII
a. his hands at the grass and writhing am
~ twisting in horrible contOrtions. IN
~ ~ bullet had struck him full in the abdo
~ men and like his antagonist, Anderso
#" was now
= A FAsT-DY1SG MAN.
,sS S Az this iuncture IL seemed as If th
m mus crowd would interfere, but Hardin
w wav sternly bade them keep back and leay
~ the men to settle the matter IN thei
S own way. As none cared 20 disput
with the gigantic hunter, the mandai
was obeyed, though a universal expreI
rg sion of horror ran through the specti
'ch tors n number of whom were the eng
JP neers and attaches of our party. stu
his horrible as was the scene, no OF
IA; thought Of leaving the spot. An rr
lot sistible fascination 10 see IL out bOun
one and all alike TO the bloCd-stain,
eth locality. But the finale was at hand, u
an curtain almost ready TO drop.
ut McCluskey, summoniDg by supren
she effort his remaining strength, drew !
ops knife and began TO crawl feebly in q
direction of his antagonist The. latte
the who had raised himself 10 a sitting pc
aw- ture. saw the movement end prepar'
ure 20 meet il. Both had dropped their
Not volyers. leaving TO the cold steel Z
the completion of the work.
By this time it had grown quite dai
We and TO distinguish the movements oi I
ute conbatants required the closest ate
em- tion. Anderson was clearly unable
inst move any portion of his body save
right arm. With this he raised
;orn knife aloft, and as McCluskey crawl
- up to within reach dealt him terri
.ybo blow in the neck, cutting muscles 2
test tendons and veins, and hall sever
the head from the body.
am, THE LAST EFFORT.
and But the effort was too much for hi
lave and leaving the weapon sticking m
Ito wound, he pitched heavily forward
his face. Every one supposed that !
roma blow would have instantly killed J
M Cluskey, but, strange 10 say, II did y
,aro- for 30 great was his vitality that bel
light falling he twice PLu1geu NE III al,
%, soon told. McCluskey lived n min
ie longer than his antagonist. The d
ms bodies firmly locked in each 9th
hhg embrace were taken 30 the house
Harding and laid out side by side
liver tba earning table. A crimson 4
E on marked ma the path of those who carr
have tbaro indoors. and pools Of block II
neat. Gated the scene of the late conflict.
f It There was no gaming that MI