Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-20
BRASS KNUCKs VS.. REVOLVER
A Cory Midnight Duel without
Seconds.
A Nan OF Iron, Shot Three Times, Gem
Iinues the Cembat-Hts Antagonist
HDrefI,fSr llaffared


-&s-
A Nan Of Iron, Shot Three Times, Com
IInues the CSmbat-Hts Antagonist
Horribly Battered.
Columbus CGa-) Enquirer, Aug. 1s.
a very brutal fight occurred over the
river Monday night about II o'clock be-
tween two young men, each about twenty
one years Of age and stCutly built. One,
| Tom Bowen, is 4 machinist at the South
western railroad shops; the other AsbRry
Miller, the proprietor Of a smaH store up
town. Bowen is perhaps the strongest.
They previously had some misunderstood
ing and were not on very friendly terms.
Monday night about IL o'clock, Bowen
was standing on A. L. Harrison's corner,
Thomas and Broad streets, when Miller
came across and asked him if he had not
made certain remark to a woman Of the
delRi monde about him. B. replied he
had, but stated it was simply a matter Of
fact which did not injure him and which
was not told with harmful intent. Other
words ensued when N. desired an apology
which B. refused to give when thus de-
manded. Miller proposed that they cross
the river and fight their difficulty out, that
now was as good time as any to settle it,
they would be undisturbed there, and he
felt confidence in his proves. Bowen
agreed in reference to time and place to
test their respective manhood, aud they
started across the Chattahoochee alone,
with the intention to fight it out.
They entered on the Mobile and Girard
railroad bridge. The Waterman was a.
his post, but knew not who they were.
Bowen was in front. He says that Miller
insisted on his entering the bridge first,
and then for the first time the though.
came that Miller might be armed and ne
was not. We have not heard Miller's
narration on this point. Anyhow Bowen
was ahead. Lonely walking and sensations
il must have been on the planks across
that bridge-no sound save ones f ot-falls
and the rush of the swift waters below,
moving on TO a darkened shore. Then,
too, know there is to be hard fight ahead,
with no seconds or friends-no one 70 call
on for help. Nearly midnight, lights all
out, big fight ahead. Pluck and nerve
there. Silently the stream was crossed,
and Bowen kept ahead, following the track
into the deep cut beyond the structure,
when Miller called out,
HAVEN'T YOU GONE FAR ENOUGH"
Bowen thought he had, and turned back to
meet Miller, and was distant few yards
when Miller fired at him. He had no
weapon, and thought he would hurry up
and grab his opponent before he could
shoot again, but as be was advancing, he
was greeted by two more balls. Then
Miller TUNED, ran a little, and fred
again, and so on with another. This last
fifth shot struck Bowen in the gsoin. He
had previously received shots in the mus
Gle OF the right arm and on The finger.
As Bowen ran up TO Miller be caught him by
the neck, and both men went down together,
Miller face foremost. His features were
terribly scratched by gravel. Bowen, ac-
cooling TO his own account, got on Miller
and beat him terribly, first breaking Nil
ler's pistol over his own body in three
places. (The handle has not yet been
found He tried to gOuge out Miller's
eyes when he had strength for no further
beating, so Infatuated had he become title
attempt to lure him of and kill him. Find
ing himself
WEAKENED BY BLOOD,
be, too, sought aid. The last words he |
heard Miller say were: tom, are you
going TO leave me here TO die? Take me |
lOme.n Two negroes were ahead Of |
Bowen. He hailed them, but they seemed |
afraid to assist him Finally they came |
pack, as lie was about falling, and assisted
nina across the bridge and home, where be |
row is. His condition is critical. The
escue Of Miller was made by the watch
nan, assisted by Captain John FoTan Of
lie police force and Miller's father.
MILLER's ACCOUNT
4 the fight is about what We have stated.
That as Bowen was coming up tc tie
Cratch to have, as he supposed, a far
ght, be struck him ( M .lleT) square in tie
ace with a pair Of brass knuckS, knock
ng him down and disfguring him horri-
Iy. After he was thus struck he drew his
istOl ana defended himself as best he
OUld against brazen blows. His body IS
srribly bruised, and he too is in his bed
Ot in a dangerous condition Strange |
ombat it was. We have given both sides
5 they have been reported by lheir friends.