Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-08-07
A sANGUINARY CONFLICT.
How Texas and Kansas DespernnOes Settle
Their Quarrels.

1t occurred on the evening of July
4, in no Indian Territory. at Medi-
cine Lodge, point which is a great
resort for hunters during the colder
months. The parties engaged in
this desperate fight were Hugh An.
derson, of Texas, and Arthur Nc.
Cluskey, of Kansas, both despera-
does we'll known on the frontier for
their recklessness of life. Anderson
had killed q brother of MeCluskey
In dance house fracas, and the lat
ter sought him out for the express
purpose of taking vengeance upon
HIM. A Texan guide named Rich
ards acted as second for McCluskey,
a huge Kentuckian of the name OF
Harding fulfilling a similar office for
Andersons
BY the terms agreed upon be-
tween Richards and Harding the an
tagonists were to fight with revolt
vers and bowie>knives to be plac-
ed back to back at an interval of
twenty PAGES, Ito wheel and fire at
given signal, and after the first
interchange of shots to conduct the
fight as each one should deem it best
to his advantage. The spot select
ed for the encounter was in the open
prairie. The grass had been closely
cropped by the cattle, leaving tho
turf firm, yet elastic, and just the
thing for rough-and-tumble business.
The men met long after sunset in
the presence of a crowd of hunters,
trappers, railroad surveyors, gamb.
lers, and Indians. The combatants
were duly placed, and the crowd
awaited with breathless interest the
result.
The giving of the signal had fall
len by lot to Harding. Stating to
the principals, who by this time
show signs of impotence, that this
would be The report Of a pistol, he
drew his own weapon and discharg-
ed it, first asking the question and
receiving the usual answer that both
were ready.
McCluskey was the first to fire,
wheeling as he did so, though the
smoke had scarcely curled up from
his pistol before the report of Ander-
sons weapon followed. A momen-
tary pause eusued, each of the antag-
onists closely scanning the other to
note the effect of the shot. Across
Anderson's cheek a deep furrow,
from which the blood slowly began
to triekle down, told the work of
his antagonist, while McCluskey re-
NAMED standing in his original pos
tnre, 10 al appearance unharmed.
But this was not the fact Those
nearest to him fancied they saw a,
death~like pallor, but just where the
ball had taken effect they could not
tell At the second fire McCluskey
again anticipated his opponent, and,
taking q moro deliberate aim, sue
ceeded in breaking his left arm. An
derson uttered 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 away with it several of the
clenched teeth and portion of the
tongue, finally lodging in the base
Of the skull. McCluskey staggered
wildly forward few steps,
and made desperate efforts to steady
himself. The blood poured in tor
rents from the wound. and stained
his hunting-skirt and drlpped from
the muzzle of his pistol; but with
heroic courage he continued to adj
vance, splitting out mouthfuls of
blood and teeth at every step.
During the interval thus gained
Anderson, who in his crippled state
had every reason to shun a hard-to
hand encounter, had not been idle,
but fired another well,aimed shot
which broke McCluskey's left shoul-
der. 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 McCluskey was
now MORALLY wounded and momen>
tary growing weaker from the loss
of blood. Tearing open his shirt in
his agony, a crimson spot in his left
side Indicated the place where An
derson's first shot had taken effect.
He still, however, retained his grasp
of bis pistol, and by an effort super
human in its GOODNESS and delibera-
ton fired at his antagonist his third
shot. The latter had been closely
watching for this, and endeavoreS.
to save himself by suddenly drop
ping on the ground. 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 heav-
Ter by Colts pistol ball. A scream
of pain followed, and the spectators
saw the figure of man clutching
wildly with his hands at the grass
and writhing and twisting in horri-
BILE contortions. The bullet bad
struck him full in the abdomen, and,
like his antagonist, Anderson was
now fast-dying man.
AT this juncture it seemed as if
the crowd would interfere, but
Harding sternly babe them keep
back and leave the men so 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, q
number of whom were the engineers
and attaches of our own par y. Still,
horrible as was the scene, no one
thought of leaving the spot. An ir-
resistible fascination to see it out
bound one and oil alike to theblood-
stained locality. But the finale was
at hand-the curtain almost ready to
drop.
McCluskey, summoning by q su'
preme effort his remaining strength,
drew his knife and began to crawl
feebly in the direction of his antago-
MIST. The latter, who bad raised