Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1873-08-14
A Fight to the Death.

correspondent writing from Medicine Lolg
Indian Territory, gives lengthy account of u
terrible and deadly conflict between two motor
ious frontier characters, Hugh Anderson Of
TeXas, and Arthur McCluskev CT Kansas. The
Latter burning to ayenge the murder of a friend
Challenged Anderson to mortal combat Both
We're despcradoes and beth celebrated pistol
shcts. The affair was a horrible one through
out, both men being literally shot and hacked
to pieces, and finally dying locked in each
others embrace. Omitting the Introductory
remarks of the correspondent, we give his full
account of the duel. which may be said to he
without parallel even in bloody Western an
mails: ,.,.,-,.
The twenty PAGES were quickly stepped off and
| the principals placed in their respective posi-.
| tons. The sun had long since set, and the
dark pail OF evening was rapidly settling on the
| spot, so that neither could be 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, aftei moments consultation
| apart, advanced to give the signal. The inter.
| est at this moment of the proceedings was of
an intense nature, and served to keep the look
erS-on in a state Ct breathless expectancy. Like
| statues, the figures of the two men who were
| TO hight toutTdnce, doomed up against the
western sky, each with the mllzzle of his wea-
pom pointed to the earth, the intention clearly
| being to make a ''rlsing shot, that is to fire.
catching the aim while the weapon is being
| raised. In this way the practced hand rarely
wastes his ammunition in the air by shooting
| over his adrersarys head, as SO often happens
when the falling shot is adopted.
The giving of the signal had fallen by lot to
Harding. Stating TO the principals, who by
this time began to show signs Of Impotence,
that this would be the report of pistol, he
drew his own weapon and discharged ii, fir2
asking the question and receiving the usual
| answer that both rpalu
Il TIE DUEL.
McCluskey was the first to fire, wheeling as
he Cid so, though the smoke had scarcely curl.
, ed up from his pistol before the report Of An
, derson's weapon followed. A momentary pause
ensued, each of the antagonists closely scan
ming the other to note the effect of the shot,
| Across Anderson's cheek deep fnrrow, from
= which the blood slowly began to trickle down
| told the work OF his antagonist, while McClus
+. key remained standing in his original posture
y to all appearances unframed. But this wa,
a | not the fact. Those nearest TO him fancied they
saw sudden spasm as Of pain pass through hi
# frame and his face certainly blanchd to dealt
like pallor, but just where the ball had taker
" effect they could not tell
B" AT the second fire McCluskey again an!ici
IA pated his opponent, and, taking a more DELHI
~ crate aim, succeeded in breaking his lett arm
a.. Anderson uttered sharp cry, and sunk on ont
knee, but quickly recovering himself returne,
"A the fire, and this time with horrible effect. Tn
~ ball, passing through McCuskey's mouth, car
- fled away with il several of the clencheu teetl
y and portion Of the tongue, finally lodging il
, the base Of the skull.
49, McCluskey staggered forward wildly 4 fe,
80 steps, and made desperate efforts TO stead
" y, himself. The blood poured in torrents froi
III the wound, and stained his hunting shirt an
l., dripped from tho muzze of his pistol; but wit
ru heroic courage he continued to advance, spi
VI ting ont mouthfuls of blood and teeth at ever
~ step. During the interval thus gained Ande
~ son, who in his crippled state had every reaso
IT. IL to shnn hand-to-hand encounter, had nc
~ been idle, but fired another well aimed sho
which broke McCluskey's left shoulder. As
gu this was not enough, he sent still another ba
Ut after him, which, striking him in the pit of Ii
~ stomach, caused him TO fail forward heavily o
~ his face. McCluskey was now mortally wount
III ed and momentariy growing weaker from los
ofblood. Tearing open his shirt In his agony,
50 crimson spot in his left side indicated the plac
III where Anderson's first shot had taken effect
u He still however, retained his grasp of his pistc
and by an effort superhuman in its coolnes
~ and deliberation fired at his antagonist his thr
ID shot. The latter had been closely watching fc
10 this, and endeavored to save himsefby sudIlcr
al ly dropping to the ground. 100 late, however
McClnskey's finger was already on the triggc
id add his eye ain the sights, and when his a.,
versary's body lthed the earth il was heay..
by a Cots pistol ball. a scream of pain to
lowed and the spectators saw the figure of
4 man ciulclIing wildly with lis hands at II.
grass, and writhng and twisting in hor11bl
contorlons. The bullet had struck him full i
Id the abdomen, and, like his antagonist, Andcl
o. son was now a ia.t-dying man.
u AT this junclure it seemed as il the crow
would Interfere, but Harding sternly babe thei
id keep back and leave the men TO settle the mai
ter i'll their own way. As none cared to ,li,
10 pute with the gigantic hunter the mandate wa
10 obeyeJ, though universal expression Of horro
ran through the spectators, a large number {
ID whom were the engineers and attaches Of on
T. own party. Still, horrible as was the scene, n
one thought ofleaving the spot. An irresistibl
{. fascination TO see it out bound one and all /
+ the blood stained locality. But the finale wa
C at hand-the curtain almost ready to drop
rs McClusheJ, summoning by supreme eiloi
'e his remaining strength, drew his knife aud be
lie gan TO crawl feebly in tie direction Of his anita
gonist. The latter who had raised himse
T. to sitting posture, saw The, movement an
y ps'faIcd to meet it. Both had cropped thci
lie revolvers, leaving to the cold steelNt tue compile
y ton Of the bloody work.
Of BY this time it had grown quite dark, aud l.
pf distinguish the movements Of the cohIbatant
at required the closest attention. Anderson wa