Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-08-09

ball after him, which, striking him in
the pit of the stomach caused him to
fall forward heavily OH his face. Nc
Ciuskey was now mortally wounded,
and momentarily growing weaker from
loss of blood Tearing open his shirt
i'll his agony, crimson spot in his lett
side indicated where Anderson's first
shot had taken effect lie still. howey-
er, retained his grasp of his pistol. and
by an effort, superhuman in It's GOODNESS
and delibera,ion, fired at his antagonist
his third shot. The latter hal been
closely watching for this, and cndeayor-
cd to save himself by suddenly drop.
ping to the ground Too late, howey.
er; McCluskey's finger was already on
the trigger and his eye along the sights.
and when his adversary's body reached
the eartL it was heavier by Il Colts pis.
tol ball. \ scream of pain followed,
and the spectators saw the figure Of
man clutching wildly with his hands
at the grass, AMI writhing and twisting
in horrible contortions. The bullet had
struck him full in the abdomen, and like
his antagonist, Anderson was now
fast diving man. At this juncture it
seemed as if the crowd would interfere.
but Harding Sternly babe them keep
back and leave the men TO settle tho
matter in their own way. AS none car
cd to dispute with the gigantic hunter,
the mandate WAS obcyed, though uni
yerSal expression of horror ran through
the spectators. number of whom were
the engineers and attaches OF our own
party. Still, horrible rs was the scene.
no one thought oil leaving the spot An
Irresistible fascination 10 see il ont
bound one and all alike 10 the blood
stained locality. But the finale was at
hand-the cartain almost ready 10 drop.
McClu>key.Summoning by Il supreme
effort his remaining strength, drew his
knife and began to crawl iecbly in the
direction of his antagonist. The latter,
who had raised himself TO u sitting pos
ture, saw the movement and prepared
TO meet it. Both had dropped their re-
yolverS, 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 combatants required the closest at
tcnton. Anderson was clearly unable
move amy portion of his body save his
right arm. With this he raised his
knife aloit, and as McCluskey crawlcd
up 10 within reach, dealt him terrible
blow in the neck, cutting muscles, ten
dons and veins, and half scvcring The
head from the body. But the effort
was TOO much for bin, aud leaving tho
weapon sticking in the wound.he pitch
ed heavily forward on his face. Every
one supposed that this blow wonIdha,e
instantly killed McCluskcy, but strange
to say, it did not, but so great was his
vitality that before falling, he twice
plunged his own knife into the body of
Anderson. The tale is soon told. Me
Cluskcy lived n 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 10y side on the gaming-tahlc. \
crimson trail marked the path of those
who carried them indoors, and pools of
blood indicated the scene OF the late
conflict
There was no gaming that night.
The hunters and Indians appeared Ia
find excitement enough in talking over
the events Of the day without having 10
resort to the usual pastimc. About II
o'clock the moon rose, and the bodies
were taken ont for burial There were
no funeral ceremonies, but job Harding
remarked rs the nuillcd forms were
lowered into the grave {: There go
two rs brave men az ever liSd." They
were buried deep TO keep the wolves
and coyotes from digging them up, aud
the earth was heaped up in little
mound to mark where they slept. And
then, with the night wind whispering
soft requiem over the dead mcus graves,
and the moon shining sadly from her
distant sphere in the upper ether, the
crowd slowly dispersed, and each man
sought his couch.