Richland beacon., 1873-08-16
A sANGUINARY CONFLICT.
The FerOciOus Fight between Hugl
Anale rSon ann Arthur McCluakeY.


A sANGUINARY CONFLICT.
The FerOciOus Fight between Hugh
Anderson ana Arthur McCluskey.
\ CORRESPONDENT of the World gives
an account of one of the most ferociOus
duels ever fought. It occurred on the
evening of July 4, in the Indian terrific.
ry, at Medicine 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 McCluskey
of Kansas, both desperadoes we'll known
on the frontier for their recklessness OF
life. Anderson had killed brother of
McCluskey i'll dance-hOuse fracas and
5he latter sought him out for the ex-
press purpose of taking vengeance upon
him. A Texan guide named Richards
acted as second for McCluskey, and a
huge Kentuckian of the name of Har-
ding fulfilling similar Office for An
dersOn.
THE AGREEMENT.
BY the terms agreed upon between
Richards and Harding the antagonists
were to fight with revOlvers and bowie
knives, to be placed back to back at an
interval of twenty PAGES, to wheel and fire
at a given signal, and after the first inter-
change of shots to conduct the fight as
each one should deem it best to his ad-
vantage. Tie spot selected for the en-
counter was in the open prairie. The
grass had been closely cropped by the
cattle, leaving the turf firm, yet elastic,
and Just the thing for rough and tum-
BILE business. The men met long after
sunset in the presence of q crowd of
hunters, trappers, railroad surveyors,
gamblers and Indians. The combatants
we're duly placed, and the crowd
awaited with breathless interest the
result. .-..
y The giving of the signal had fallen by
lot TO Harding. Stating to the princi-
pals, Who by this time had began to
show signs of impatience, that this
would be the report of pistol, he drew
his own weapon and discharged it, first
asking the question and receiving the
usual answer that both were ready.
THE FIGHT.
McCluskey was the first to fire, wheed
ing as he did %, though the smoke hal
SCARCELY cufled up from his pistol be-
fore the report of Andersonfs wespon
followed. A momeptary 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 McC Cluskey remained standing
in his original posture, to all appear
ances unharmed. But this was not the
face. Those nearest to him fancied
they saw sudden spasm. as of pain,
pass through his frame, and his face
certainly blanched to q death-like pal
lor, but inst where the ball had taken
effect they conld not tell. At the Sc
cond fire McC Cluskey again anticipated his
opponent, and taking q more deliher-
ate aim succeeded in breaking his left
arm. Anderson uttered a sharp cry
and sank on one knee, but quickly re-
covering himself returned the fl e, and
this time with horrible effect. The ball
passing 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 staggered forward
wildly-a few steps, and made desperate
efforts to steady himself. The blood
poured in torrents from the wound,
and stained his hunting shirt and drip
red from the muzzle of his pistol; but
with heroic courage he continued to ad-
vance, splitting ont mouthfuls of blood
and teeth at every step.
FEARFUL, WOUNDS.
During tn interval thus gained An
dersan, who in his crippled state had
every reasontO shun hand-to-h and ell
counter, had not been idle, bat fired an
other well-aimed shot which broke Nc
Cluskey's left shoulder. As If this was
rot enough, he sent still another ball
after him, which, striking him in the
pft Of the stomach, caused him to fall
forward heavily on his face. McClus-
key W. now mortally wounded and mo-
mentsfialiy growing weaker from loss of
blood. Tearing open his shirt in his
agony a crimson spot in his left side in
dicatcd the place where Anderson's first
shot had taken effect. He still, how
ever. retained his grasp of his pistol,
and 10y an effort superhuman in its cool
ness and dellberation fred at his antag.
onist his third shot, The latter had
beep closely Watching for this, and en-
deatored to save himself by suddenly
dropping on the ground. Too late,
hOweves., McCluskey's finger was al
JsAdy on the trigger and his eye along
N sights, and when his adversary's
.hoat roaohed the earth it was heavier
b. 3Oolt's pistol hall. A scream of