Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-01-15
eve will fight without any"

|
"On horseback, in the little prai
RE west of the village, one, half
hour from this, each armed with
as many pistols and knives as he
can procure, or sees fit to carry
said Evans, apparently passionless
as if defending a motion in court.
No one but the chief actors
in this extraordinary scene ut
tered a word, or offered to inter-
fere, for all saw that such at
tempts would be uhavailing,
perhaps dangerous to. the med
dler. One half hour afterward
the parties met in the little prai-
rie which was circular in form,
and about 300 yards in diane
ter. By tacit consent, both ac-
tuated by the same purpose,
they assumed their stations in
the edge Of the timber on oppo-
site sides. Both wore strong
belts, literally stiff with knives
and pistols. Both were noun
ted on powerful steeds, but of
opposite colors-that Of the
Judge being as white as a snow
cloud, while the ColonePs was
black and as glossy as the wing
of a raven. The features of
the riders i'll that race of death
presented very different types
of expression. The ColonePs
brow looked dark as the gloom
Of Il tempest-stern, lowering,
awful; but the handsome face
Of the Judge was gay, smiling,
ioyous-brilliant as the sun
beam that kissed it. The null
titude stood around in the grove,
epeechlCsS almost terrified at the
scene that was about to open.
Suddenly the Colonel waved a
white handkerchief as the sig
nal that he was in the act Of
starting; and as swift as the ar
row from the bow, terrible as
balls from the cannon's mouth,
the two horsemen, with pistols
cooked and fingers firm on the
trigger, shot toward each other.
When within fifty steps of his
enemy the Colonel halted with
amazing dexterity, and crying
in loud tones, "Now, take care
OF Jour eyesl" leveled and fired.
At the instant the Judge
urged his horse to an evolution,
as if bounding a wall, and the
bullet intended for his eyes hit
the silver pommel Of his saddle, |
and glanced off without harm.
Continuing his former velocity,
he passed the Colonel within
three feet, discharging his weap-
on at the others bosom, but in
ficting only a slight wound;
ard then both proceeded to op- |
posite sides of the prairie and |
renewed their headlong course.
This time neither halted, but
passed, almost touching each |
other, and both fred as they
passed, each drawing from the
other stream of blood. The
same charge was repeated with
like results half a dozen times, |
till their firearms were exhaus-
ted, save small pistol in the
pocket of the Colonel; and yet
both kept their saddle.
The last sweep of all was ter
rife. The horses were bathed
in foam, the riders were covered
with blood, and both reeled in
their seats; yet they rushed on
ward madly as ever, while two
terrific cries, as they started |
warned the appalled, spectators
that this shock would be final. !
Some desperate thought seemed
to have occurred to each at the
same instant. uttering itself in
those wild cries-yells, like
nothing earthly, but shrieking,
savage demoniac. On they
fiew-they kept straight on
ward they swerved not to the
right nor to the left-and they
met like the collision. of adj
verse comets. Down went the
strong steeds' down the furious
riders. All! surely this must be
the end of all! Not yet. See,
the Judge rises, tottering. slow
ly to his feet, and his face still
wears that indescribable smile,
unquenchable by all its BLOOD
unconquerable by all its brul-
ses. The Colonel cannot stand,
Yet he issnot dead--he writhes
in his agony like a crushed
worm. The judge approaches,
crippled, hating, to his enemy
-stoops. and plunges the sharp
knife into his heart. He is the
victor in the field of death
Not vet! Hark!a crack, roar.
a fall--the Colonel musters alsC
his expiring encrg ics-fres hi'