The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-08-18
Zen McCulioch's only Duei-Death of
CoiOnei Reuben Ross, Etc, Etc.
he Editor OF the Dallas Herald;

10 the Editor OF the Dallas Herald;
have been requested to write the
facts in regard to the only duel in
which General Ben McCulloch was
ever involved.
AS u premise, let ii be understood
that Ben McCuloch, n youth from
west Tennessee, came TO Texas ut the
close Of 1889, part of the way with CO.
lionel David Crockett. On the way,
McCulOcli became 50 i'll as to stop,
while Crockett went on and persisted
IN the Alamo on the 9th of March,
1886.
McCulloch, however, was in the bat
tie Of San Jacinto, ON the 2lst Of April
and commanded one of the guns 80
successfully used on that occasion.
After that battle Captain a. Is.
Sweitzer arrived in Texas In conf
mand OLA fine company from Ohio,
and composed II part of the army COM
manded SUCCESSFULLY in 1896 and 1897
by Generals Felix Houston and Albert
Sidney Johnston.
When the army was disbanded In
1887, both Sweitzer and McCulloch set
tied Ia Gonzales. In lS3SSweitzer was
elected to congress from Gonzales, but
failed to give general satisfaction. In
the election of 1889 the dissatisfied por-
ton OF the people united upon Ben
McCulloch and elected him to congress
over Swetzer. A feud sprang up, and
finally SweitXer sent u challenge to Nc
Culloch by Colonel Reuben Ross, gal
liant but rash man. McCulloch refused
to meet Sweitzer, ON the ground that
no was not II gentleman. Ross de-
manded TO know If McCulloch consid-
cred him Ross II gentleman, and Nc
Culloch promptly answered yes! Ac-
cording to the "coden of those days,
Ross became the challenger in lieu OF
Sweitzer, and McCulloch accepted.
The met, attended by their seconds,
near the town of Gonzales, and fought
with rifles. McCulloch was terribly
wounded in the right arm, the ball
passing from the wrist to and through
the elbow, tearing the nerves asunder.
Soon after, Ross joined an eXpedi-
ton to Mexico rs captain of n compa-
ny in aid of the federal or liberal party,
in the then pending or civil war of
that country. In November he per-
formed gallant and conspicuous part
in what has since been known as the
battle of Mier-- not that famed battle
of Mier of Christmas, 1872, where the
Texans surrendered--bu twelve miles
west of Mier, where Colonel Xapata, u
Mexican patriot, commanded his own
people, with Texas achievements
against the central commander, Colonel
Pabon, in which, after bloody con-
test of many hours, the patriots were
victorious.
But the central power was too strong
and soon after the Texan volunteers
returned home. Colonel Ross reached
Gonzales in December and took up his
abode with friend in that town. Ben
McCulloch was then in attendance at
the first congress ever held in the city
of Austin, his arm yet in sling from
the wound received the previous Sep
TENDER at the hands of Colonel Ross.
The events narrated had begotten two
local parties in Gonzales, known as the
"Ross or Sweitzer party" and the "Nlc-
Cullough party" Good citizens be.
iohSeu W eacii sue, Onu tne best OF
citizens on each side deplored the con-
dition OF things, for they had n high
respect, IN some sense, for Mccullough,
Sweitzer and Ross. The great differ
ence was that Ben Mccullough never
drank liquor and was always cool
well poised man, while Sweitzer and
Ross both INDUCED In that dangerous
cup which, when adulterated by pois-
ON, makes honorable men madmen.
Thus matters stood on Christmas
day, ls3e, when several couples of
young ladies' and gentlemen had pass
eu aihight under the hospitable roof of
Judge bartlett ID. Mcclure, on Peach
creek, ten miles east of Gonzales Dur
ing we "ay 'hey agreed to 90 into
1onAaieS ana nave Christmas eve
ualice ~ me mouse OF friend, In the
eastern SubtlrDS Ot The Town Tho hpna-