Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-08-07
A sAsoUINARY CONFLICT.


How Texas anA Kaesas DespereAoss
settle their 4uasFc1s.
A correspondent Of the New York
World givss an accsunt Of ono of the
most ferocious duelsever tonight. 1t
occurred on the evening Of July 4, in
the Indian Territory, ct Medicine
Lodge, point which Ia 3 great resort
for hunters during tie colder months.
The parties engaged IN this desperate
fight were Hugh Anderson, OF Texas,
and Arthur Met luskg, of Kansas both
desperadOes well known on the frontier
for their recklessness OF life. Ander-
son had killed q brother Of McCluskey
in dance.house fraca, and tho latter
sought him out for thteIpress purpose
Of taking vengence upon him. A Tex
as guide named Richards acted as Sec
ond for Met luskey,a huge Keptuckian
Of the name of Harding fulfilling q
similar Office for Anderson.
By the terms agreed upon between
Richards and Harding the antagonists
were TO fight with REVIEWERS and bowie
knives,-to be placed lack to back
an interval OF twenty lsces,-to wheel
aud fire at giyes signal, and after the
first interchange Of shots TO conduct
the fight "a each one should deem Il
best to his advantage, The spot sslse.
ted for the eno0untlr was an open
prairie. The grass lad been closely
cropped by the cattle leaving the turf
frul, yet elastic, and INST the thing for
roukh-and-tumblO business. The men
met long after sunset In the presence
Of . crowd Of HUNTERS, tr1ppers, I'll.
road surveyors, gamblers, and Indiaui.
The combatsnts were duly placed, and
the crowd awaited. with breathleas IL.
terest the result.
The giving Of thesignal had fallen
by lotto Harding. Stating to the prip-
cipals, who by this tine began 70 show
signs Of Impotence, hat this would be
the report Of pistol he drew his own
weapon and discharged Il, Arst asking
the question and receiving the usual
answer that both wee ready.
McCluskey was The first to fire,
wheeling as he did 90, though the
smoke had scarcely c1rled mp from his
pistol before the report of Anderson's
weapon followed. A momentary pause
ensued, each of the antagonists closely
scanning the other TO note the effect Of
his shot. Across Anders0n's cheek q
deep furrow, from which the blood
began to trickle down, told the work Of
his antagonist, while IcCluskey re-.
manned standing in hii original pos
ture, to all appearances unharmed.-
But this was not the fact. ThoAe near
est TO him fancied they saw . DEATH
like pallor, but Just where the ball had
taken effect they could not tell. At
the second fire McCluslpy again antic-
ipated his opponent and taking . moro
deliberate aim, succeeded in breaking
his left arm. Anderson altered sharp
cry and sank on one knee, but, quickly
recovering hmself, returned the fire,
and this time with horrible eject. The
ball, passing through McClusksys
mouth, carried away with It several Of
the clenched teeth and . portion Of the
tongue, finally lodging II the base Of
the skull. McCluskey saggered for
ward wildly . few stsps, and made
desperate efforts TO steA1y hmselE-
Tho blood poured IN tog1snts nom his
wound, and stained biz luntlng shirt
and dripped from tho nu8zle OF his
pistol but with heroic courage hecon.