The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-08-21
from India and gave him hand.
some fortune, and he married my
pretty sister and is very happy.
A SANGUlNARY CONFLICT,
now Texas and Kansas Desperadoes
Settle ttheIr QuarreIs.

A correspondent of the New Y orl
'p0rt6 gives an account of one O
the most !erocious duels ever fought
ltoccurred on the evening of July 4
IN lhs Indian Territory, at Medicine
Lodge, point which is great re
sort Tor hunters during the colde,
months. The parties engaged IN
this desperate fight were Hugh An.
derson, OF Texas; and Arthur Nc
Clusky, OF Kansas, both desperadoes
well known on the plains, for their
recklessness of human life. Ander-
son had killed brother of McClus-
key in dance house fracas, and the
latter sought him out for the express
purpose of taking vengence upon
him. A Texas guide named Rich
ards acted as second for Nc cCluskey,
while a huge Kentuckian named
Harding fulfilled similar office for
Anderson.
By the terms agreed upon between
Richards and Harding, the antagon-
lists were.to fight with revolvers and
bowie knives, to be placed back to
back at an interval of twenty PAGES,
and to wheel and fire at given sig.
nal, and after the first interchange of
shots to conduct the fight as each
one should deem best to his adyant.
age. The spot selected for the en-
counter was an open prairie. The
grass had been closely cropped by
the cattle, leaving the turf firm, yet
elastic, and just the thing for rough.
and-tumble business. The men met
long after sunset In the presence
OF crowd of hunters, trappers,
railroad surveyors, gamblers and
Indians. The combatants were duly
placed, and the crowd awaited with
breathless interest the result.
The giving of the signal had fall
en- by lot to Harding. Stating to the
principals, who by this time began
to show impatIence, that this would
be a report of pistol, he drew his
own weapon and fired 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 moment
ary pause ensued, each of the antag-
onists closely scanning the other to
note the effect of his shot. Across
Anderson's cheek was deep furrow,
from which the blood began to trick
lie down, told the work of his antag-
onist, while McCluskey stood in his
original posture, to all appearances
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 op-
ponent and taking o more deliberate
aim, succeeded in breaking his left
arm. Anderson uttered a sharp cry
and sank on one knee, but quickly
recovering himself returned the fire,
and this time with horrible effect.
The ball passing through McC.u
keys 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 few steps,
and made desperate efforts to steady
himself. The blood poured in tor
rents from his wound, and stained
his hunting shirt and dripped from
the muzzle OF his pistol but with
heroic courage he continued to ad
vance, splitting out mouth fuls of
blood and teeth at every step.
During the interval thus gained,
Anderson, who by his crippled state,
had every reason to shun hand-to
hand encounter. had not been idle,
but fired another we'll. aimed shot
which broke McCluskey's shoulder.
AS If this was not enough, he sent
still another ball after him, which
striking him in the pit of the stom.
ach, caused him to fall forward heavi-
ly on his face. McCluskey was no
mortally wounded, and momentarl.
| ly growing weaker from loss of blood.
Tearing open his shirt in his agony
crimson spot in his left side indicat
ed the place where Anderson's ball
had taken effect. H. still, however
retained his grasp on his pistol, and
by an effort superhuman in GOODNESS
and deliberation fired his third shot
The latter had been closely watch
ing for this, and endeavored to save
himself by suddenly dropping on the
ground. Too late, however. Nc
Cluskey's finger was already on the
trigger, and his eye along the sights
and WREN his adversary's body reach
ed the earth it was heavier by s
Colts pistol ball. A scream of pair
followed, and the spectators saw tht
figure of a man clutching wildly witt
his hand at the grass and writhine
and twisting in horrible contortions
The bullet had struck him full in tn,
abdomen, and, like his antagonist
! Anderson was now fast dying man
/ At this jGncture it seemed as
the crowd would interfere, but Hard
ing sternly bade them to keep bacl
and leave the men to settle the mat
ter in their own way. AS none care,
to dispute with the gigantic hunter
the maudateEwas obeyed, though
univ versal expression of horror ra
through the crowd of spectators,
number Of whom were the engineer
and attaches of our own party. Still
horrible as was the scene, no on
thought of leaving the spot. An il
resitible facination to eeit out, boun
one and all alike to the bloc d stair
ed locality. But the finale was 6
hand-the curtain almost ready t
, drop.
McCluskey, summoning by a 81
preme effort his remaining strength
drew his knife and began to crav
: feebly towards his antagonist. Th
latter who had raised himself to 81
ting posture, saw the movement an
prepared to meet it. Both had dro,
ped their revolvers, leaving to tn
cold steel the completion of th
work. ss asH 81 -g5o8oa
9 BY this time it had grown quit
dark, aud to distinguish the NOV,
ments of the combatants require
the closest attention. Anderson W.
d clearly unable to move and porto
q of his bodyisave Ibis right arr
!, With this he raise his knife aloft, an
!. as McCluskey crawled up to with
l reach dealt him a terrible blow in Il
q neck. emitting fha-nlnscIes tanao,