The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-06
A FIGHT FOR LIFE.
DESPERATE STRUGGLE BETWEEN A SALOON
KEEPER AND SOLDIER FRENzIED WITH

DESPERATE STRUGGLE BETWEEN SALOON
KEEPER AND SOLDIER FRENzIED WITH
RUN
sThc Grapevincr saloon, on tho corner of Sixth
snuc Eleventh s,rooi, was early Yesterday morn
ing tho scene OF deadly encounter, In which nted
States soldier fresh IRON Governors Island attempted
in his drunken frenzy to take the lie OF tho pro-
prctor Alexander McClelland. IL was shortly after
midnight when two men sauntcrcd into the place.
Ono . tall athletic fellow; tho other dumpy and
lquat sort OF man, who seemed tho embodiment OF
good nature played the part OF iooKcr-on through
tho morning with infinite placdity and great show
OF Interest," Behind the bar Was Mr. McClcland, a
gentleman well known to the sportug comm unity as
an amateur athlete Mr. McCleland's stranger
patrons did bciray their avocation by their attire
MS both were clad IN citizens drcss They seemed in
the pcst oil humor anu were admit,et 10 rear apart
ment, where tbcy desired 10 drink aoucl
A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER.
Soon after Mr. McClciland Was startled by the noise
Of struggle IN this apartment, and hastcning insuc,
he discovered tnat tue taller oil the Two strangers had
knOcSea MS companion down ana was raining blows
upon hts head and face. Tho struggle between them
had been a desperate one. Tables ana CHAIRS wers
overturned ADD the noor was covered with broken
glasses. Mr. McCciiand al once intcfiercd and with
nculty succeeded In separating Tho pair. The
as.ailant IN thc case seemed sui.n and dissatisfied
with the APPEARANCE Of third party. anu lac lett
tho room he muttercd 70 himself and looked
,enac,nrly nj Tho PROPRIETOR llis r.auesl lar
another ur.nk was refused, anu when Mr McJicliaDd
oracrcd HIM out he turned upon him threatcnilIly
aud babe HIM oocy him or trouble would cnsuc. A.
TINS Mr. MeCleliand went behind tne Tor the pur.
rose getting CLUB, aud VAS Engaged ia drawing
IRON receptacle when word IRON tue other Drought
him AROUND. There within loot OF ms head the tall
Stranger was hoidns huge army revolver aud the
pair looked cacn utncr IN the iacu the smiled
cruelty ana muttcrcd that amovement now was worth
n lie.
here was pause u lev moments and then the
sou,er said ."Comc, now, get out IRON behind mat
bar or therein be little lett OF you Y
MARROW ESCAPE fR0M DEATH.
McClcllaud, cvwrd 90 Tue moment by tho immi-
ncDcc Of MS pert, Que, cd anu out followed NIL
mo time by STRANGER who hcd pistol Goose TO
ms head an this way ne was driven back to tue
Of me sasoon where no was TOLD TO nut M, bo,n
hands IN western fashion, or suner tn con
Tue aruuken icer IA Tho strangers eyes showed
mat lie was indifferent to results anu Tor uy quar-
ter OF an hour he Kept ms prisoner Ia that posvn,
threatening every moment 10 blow his brains out,
and by turns warning niin 10 oe quiet anu ,auntiDg
HIM ny queries as 10 The plensabtness OF refusing
gentleman "a drink.
Meantime tho small, dumpy man had been moving
about the ea,oon WIN an uncertain step aud bcwit
dercd eye Ohcc or twice he ossayed TO Interfere but
each limo Was held M check by The thfeatcnng appear
succ Of his colleague Atcngb alter Numbering about
Tor Whine, he stumbled anu ie to the floor. Inc sud
aen crash caught the attention OF Nee GLANDS oppo-
ncnt. He turned his mead Tor moment Ia look upon
his iaivn comrnde. The instant Of time was made vi
good avail by the man whose hic was IA Jeopardy.
lie bounded upon The stranger, seized one arm
aud ciutcncd for Tue other when the latter turned
upon MIN anu discharged the pistol TO MS lace.
Luckily the snot Was fired hurricdly anu without aim
ANA Inc ball whIzzcI past MI McCIcIIand's ear ana
buried itself iu the walL Then tue twv cliuchcd anu
n oreauiul struggle cnsucd between them, IN which
the revolver the aim oil both. Once the stranger
liberated MS arm, ana again tho weapon DIS
charged; but Mt that moment Mr. McDicIiand dealt
hts adversary blow which fclcu MN TO the ground,
aud tue bali wont crashing through the ceiling. The
moment tue arts ui tue amateur atnlvte wefo
put fyrtn they sedom had been before ami IN the
struggle nc soou mastered tho other ana wfcsted tho
pistol from his grasp
by thus ime the double report had brought several
people TO tho door, aud they now burst nto tho apart
me ut aud seized the soldier In the impulse OF tho
moment some OF the new corners proposed UnchinR