Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-10-25
The ROgers.Rush RencOntre.
West Union Gazette, 18th.

1t is feared our town will gain an I'M
enviable reputation, if we are compelled
to chronicle many more melees, battles,
duels, or whatever they may be termed,
such as occurred here on Tuesday. At
about noon, when nearly everybody was
at dinner, or on their way there, pis-
tol shot brought all within hearing to
the street, finding j. w. Rogers and
Henry Rush in front of the U. S. House
firing revolvers at each other The ope-
ming OF hostilities occurred in front of
Werners restaurant, Judge Rogers
standing at the post office and Rush ap-
preaching from the north. Who fired
first we cannot determine, as no one APP
pears to know positively. 1t is said
Rush's pistol was in his hand as he
passed the hotel, and that as he neare d
the south end of the porch and discov-
cred Rogers he stopped, half turned,
slightly bent forward Whether he drew
and fired is not stated, but Rogers drew
his revolver, aimed and snapped one or
more times, when he lowered it and 1T
went off, burning his hand Then, as
the cylinder refused to turn, he put it in
his pocket and drew another. In the
meantime Rush had fired two or three
shots. Rogers then advanced upon him,
and they soon reached the middle of
the street, where three shots were ex-
changed, G. +. Babcock appearing in
time to fire one shot, when Rush fled
INTO Freers grocery, stopping long
enough after getting inside to send
bullet through the window and into
Searle's dummy, standing in front, when
he sought the cellar and out the back
way, bringing up at Whitney's hard
ware store. Deputy Sheriff German
having arrived, an armistice was de-
clared, Rush reaching home under his
escort. He was Sill htly hurt in two
places, once in the arm and once in the
back, and one ball penetrated his hat.
DR.. Darnall extracted the ball that en-
tered the arm, the other yet remaining
in Rush's person. He was riding out
two hours afterwards Rogers was not
struck.
j. Fl. German filed papers before
Squire Lakin, charging all parties with
an assault, intending to commit MUIR
der" Rogers and Babcock Immediate
ly gave themselves up, giving joint
JULIUS Ill llc Suil vi Twelve uuuurcQ uOl-
lars for appearance at District Court.
Rush started soon after for Brush
Greek, when warrant was issued for
his arrest.
While almost the entire sympathy of
this community is with Judge Rogers,
arising from the two attempts made up
on his life, and the well-known charac-
ter OF Rush, yet all deprecate so VIC
lent disturbance of the peace, not on
ly for the good name and honor of our
town, but because of the danger to in
nocent persons who might be within
reach of the flying pistol balls.
In the fracas described, spent ball
struck a young man on the leg, and to
one who witnessed the ARRAY the only
wonder is that others were not more
seriously hurt.
What will be the end? is the query in
the minds of all Has the the state of
affairs between these men reached the
point that there can be no peace till
Judge Rogers is dead by the hand of an
assassin, or Rush slain in an open fight on
the street? The community seems pow
erless to prevent the tragedy that day
by day is felt drawing nearer. Yet it is
ardently hoped by all that the courts
may reach terminus of the suits of
Mrs. Rush against her husband, out of
which has grown this personal warfare,
in time to avoid the bloodshed that
now seems imminent.