The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-07-23
A FIGHT FOR SUPREMACY.
An Authentic Incident of Travel in
the Southwest.
Iv'cksburg (Miss.) Herald.l

An Authentic Incident or Travel IN /
the Southwest.
Ty'cksburg (Miss-) Herald-l
A gentleman residing in this city had
occasion few DAYS since to take a jour
ney down the river and several miles
back from Il, using a saddle horse.
Darkness overlook him in a sFarsely
settled district, and as the roads were in
bad condition and the evening looked
threatening, he halted before a forlorn
hut. and asked if he could find lodging
II reckon We mought," replied the
long haired. sorrowful-eyed squatter, af-
ter hesitating a moment.
Th. Vicksburger found little to eat,
and his horre found still less. The
squatter and his wife were all alone. and
they had but a few words for the s'ran-
ger, and scarcely spoke to each other.
When the evening grew old the traveller
camped down on the floor on a blanket,
and being very tired he fell asleep,
while host and hostess were smoking
their black clay pipes at the other END
of the room. He had slept about two
hours, when the squatter shook him by
the shoulder and said:
Stranger, I'm powerful sorry TO dis
turb ye, but / want 10 ak a favor"
g "Yes-yes-what is it?'' inquired the
Vicksburger, as he rubbed his eyes and
sat up.
"Ye like to see far play, don't ye
stranger?''
Eyes of course
wall, men the old woman can't
agree, somehow she's cross and tetchy,
and ! guess I'm trifle ugly. Least
wise we don't hug up worth old boots.
We've fit and fit; Pm old and she's
chuck full o. grit, and it's about an ev-
en- thing"
well, Pm sorry" put in the Vicks-
burger, as the squatter hesitated.
We've been a balkin' since ye cum,
stranger, and we've made up to ask ye
to hold the candle and to let us go in
for an old ronser OF fght,-a reg'lar
old sockdologer, which shall settle our
fuss! if lick, she'll go; if she licks
III travel!"
"I'm sorry if there's any trouble, and
/ hope yen won't fight"
"We've got to do it, stranger" replied
the woman, 81 won't live with a man
who kin lick me, and he's just as high
born. Sans as good as the run o. men,
but he's lazy and sassy, and he wants to
wear his hat on his carp
''She's right, stranger" said the squat
ter, "and this cabin can't hold both of
us any longer. It's to be sqnar' fight.
no kicking or clubbing, and we won't
go back on yer decision"
The Vicksburger protested, but the
woman placed a lighted candle in his
hand, and posted him in the door. and
man and wife stepped ont on the
ground.
"Snke, I'm going to wallop ye right
smart in just four boots and holler!"
said the squatter, as he pushed up his
sleeves.
"Sam, We don't weigh 'nuff into three
tons!" she replied in grim voice, and
the battle commenced.
The Vicksburger mentally bet twenty
to one on the man at the start, but in
two minutes he had reduced the odds to
ten, and in two minutes more he was
betting even. The wife was like wild
cat, springing, lodging. striking, and
clawing, and pretty soon her husband
had to stand on the defensive.
'Look out for the Bengal tiger, Suke!"
he warned as he clawed the air.
II can whip the boots off'n ye, Sam!"
she replied, and the battle grew fiercer.
One of the woman's sharp nails
struck the husbands eye and binding
him for an instant. AS he threw up his
arms she seized both her hands into his
h air, yanked him down, and in another
moment had the "gouge" on him.
"Sam, do We cave?" she asked as they
lay qniet.
"That's the dead-word, Snke, end I'm
a licked manr' he mournfnlly answer
ed.
She let him up, and he turned to the
Vicksburger and inquired;
"Stranger was it far Fought"
81 guess it was"
-"Then I travel r'
He entered the hut, put on his coat
and hat, took up his rife, and as he
came ont he reached his hand to his wife
and said:
Goodbye, Suke! We agreed far and
Squar'. and I gol'' Then, turning to the
traveller he added:
"Much obleeged, stranger-ye held
the candle plumb far, and ye didn't
holler for either one of u.s."
And he walked down to the fence,
leaped over, and was soon lost to sight.
"Good nuff on the shoot" mused the
wife as she gazed after him, "but his
| fighting weight is clar run down to
nuthinT'