Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1878-09-07

HAMeCAce 1AAN FESbOI-A leFfIBIe
Battle with mo Asking for Quar-
ter Between Terry Mcmahon and
II. johnson.
A desperate battle was fought last eve
ming, about $3.50, in the hall and hose house
of the Knickerbocker's, on Spring street.
Four or five shots aroused the immediate
neighborhood, instanter; but as the re-
ports were deadened by the walls, and no
n was to be seen on the street, people
stared in every direction in establishment.
The ~thronging masses, who had congre-
gated on and about the Clark street bridge
did not have long to wait, however, when,
staggering from the hall into the hose
house-which is located in front Of the
hall we're two men closed in O struggle,
that looked like that Of death to one or
both. They were both powerful men /;
they were literally red with blood, from
the crowns OF their heads to their knees ;
they alternately struck at each other they
grabbed at every conceivable weapon that
was in sight they endeavored to throw
each other they we're among the wheels
Of the hose carriage and then up against the
walls. Involuntary they appeared to be
working their way out Of the door, but it
didn't look as il either was trying to get
out that he might get away. When fairly
on the street they sprang from the rough
and-tumble style, and though the blood
was flowing in streams from gunshot
wounds, cuts and bruises, they squared for
knock-downs, Terry Mcmahon leading off
with a terrible blow at the head of his an
tagonist, which was lodged, and Just here
Justice Cromer ran into the arena, got be-
tween the parties, md ended what the
SENTINEL reporter, with hundreds Of 9TH
ers, saw Of the battle.
cnAs. O. KENNY,
The only man who was in at the com
menccment, made the following statement
to a SENTINEL reporter last evening: II
have known Terry Mcmahon for years !;
he was a member Of a fire company
in Sacramento +; I also belonged to q
fire company in San Francisco. Last
evening stepped into the sitting-room Of
the hose house and there found Mcmahon
reposing on q robe Mac said he didn't
feel very we'll and asked me il | would go
over TO some restaurant and get some beer
and sandwiches l replied that | would
and he gave me the coin to get it with. /
had procured the articles and was return
ing, when a drunken %loafer, famed John
son Or. johnson, the other party to the
fight, hailed ma and asked what | was
going TO do with that beer ! replied that
it was none Of his business and kept on my
way. AS l was going into the hose-house
door he rushed upon me, with insulting
remarks, and acted as IL about to attack
49, =. t...lx4 - Tc.1 I -.I1.t -
and just then Terry Mcmahon appeared at
the doer leading from the hall into the
hose room and stopped further advances
on the part Of Johnson by telling him he
must SO elsewhere to fight. Mac and |
then passed into the sitting room and were
followed By Johnson he was snllcn and
not much was said for a few minutes !;
finally Mcmahon says to me, Why don't
you offer johnson some of the beer?' /
replied, It's your beer you bought it =
whcreupon Terry offered him some and he
drank heavily. When the beer and lunch
was gone, Terry says to johnson, Well,
pass out now l nave charge Of these
things here and don't wait to be dis
turbed.' Johnson, who was moving about
the room, stopped, and looking at me,
said, Il can whip yoa, you son OF a d..
Mcmahon remarked that there could be no
fighting there and that he must set out as
he was apparently in u bad way. Johnson
then turned upcn Terry, called him every
thing he could lay his tongue 10, and
finally grabbed a heavy spittoon and
hurled it at Terry's head, advancing at the
same time. Terry backed q trifo and thea
| saw that he had a pistol. | then grabbed
Terry's arm, bnt he shot, and then him
and Johnson clinched, and still the shoot
Ing was going on; | was continually trying
to get johnson oil and ont as he threatened
to kill and boosted Of having a knife; / got
hold Of a spanucr to break his hand If he
raised a knife. The last Of it you saw"
EXTENT CT DAMAGE.
Immediately after the combatants were
separated the reporter endeayored to pros
pect the damage lone to both. When
washed up they showed but little harm;
but the excavations, holes, grooves, tnn-
nels and protruberaEces were in reality
numerous, and may be moro serious than
IL ut present anticipated. There are scalp
wounds from the rapid use OF various inn
plemonts Of war-the pistol, after being
emptied, having been used as a club. and
johnson certainly carries u gunsiot wound
close in by the knee
THE SCENE OF BATTLE.
On the door of the sitting room, as soon
as admittance could be gained, was discov-
cred blood. hair. broken furniture-every-
thing donated a terrible fight. Pools Of
blood were all over the floor and extended
ont upon the street; stains were upon
everything; the print of a hand dipped in
gore was upon the walls, upon the hose
cart, on the benches-all around; the cell
ing was stained as from an artery; pictures
were daubed with. 1t. The room was full
OF g~unpowder smoke; the walls were dented
from the effects Of flying missiles. pistol
ball holes were in the ceiling and south
wall, and 10 on to the end Of this chapter.
Excitement ran high and all manner of
reports were ailoat. but it will take the
Court examination to bring out anywhere
near the truth. That they could fight SO
long, such powerful men, with such in
struments Of death, and one not gain adj
vantage over the other enough to end the
war with the loss OF life on the spot, is a
marvel to every ono.
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