Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-09-25
The Sturw Teller.
MENEFEE, THE FIGHTING. DOCTOR.

MENEFEE, the Fl6hIlN6,DU DUCIuk'
The hero of the following sketch was ma.
tive of Kentucky. His father was farmer
in moderate circumstances, living few miles
from Louisville, who managed, by great Ia
Dor and scrupulous economy, to give his favor
ite and 6rst-born son an excellent education,
embracing the degree Of doctor OF medicine:
Young Menefee had young and beautiful
sister, who was betrayed by fashionable
villain of Louisville, one James Murray, a
LAWYER, and universally regarded as the most
desperately brave duellist that Kentucky, the
land so prodigal of such heroes, ever pro-
duced.
While the father and mother Of the ruined
girl were weeping tears of despair, John then
aged twenty years, armed himself and pro-
ceeded in search of his enemy. He found
him in the courthouse, Immediately after an
adjournment, and, without uttering a single
word, attacked and belabored him dreadfully
with cowhide. Murray, on his part, fought
like 6end, but in vain, for the fiery despera'
ton of fierce and concentrated wrath appear
ed to have given young Menefee the strength
of dozen men. He blinded his antagonist
with quick and countless blows, dashed from
his hand every pistol the other succeeded IN
drawing from his pocket, and aagellated him
till he was literally covered with blood.
A challenge was the consequence Meme
fee accepted on these condition: That the
meeting should take place at certain spot
the ensuing morning, directly after sunrise.
Three pistols we're to be loaded each was to
take one and fire by turns at mark ten
PAGES distant. Whoever hit nearest the CEN
tire should then have the remaining pistol,
and shoot at his adversary's head. III he
missed, the other should be entitled to shot,
and so on by alienation till one OF them
should fall dead These ferocious terms
were mutually settled, and the principals and
their seconds met accordingly Oh the banks OF
the Ohio River, six miles below the falls.
The seconds measured off ten PAGES, and
then made black spot with moistened gun
powder, about as high as mans heart, on
slender oak tree. They then loaded the three
pistols, handed one to each principal, and
retained the third to be given to the success
full marksman. The antagonists then cut
pack of cards for the first shot. Murray
drew the queen of diamonds, Menefee the ace
of spades, and so won the first tire. he I'm.
mediately took his stand, turned his right
side to the tree, let the hand which grasped
the weapon, now at full cock, fall until the
muzzle reached below his knee, fixed his
flashing blue eye steadily, moment, on the
mark, and then, swift as q thought, raised
and pulled the trigger. Unfortunately, the
pistol chung fire." as it is called in the back
woods-that is. the fash in the pan was seen
first, and then the explosion of the load in the
barrel, sounding long, like double report:
Under such circumstances most persons would
have missed the tree; but as it was, Menefee's
bullet barely cut the upper edge of the mark
An excellent shot
Murray now took his position. He was
famous 'level shooter" having previously
slain three men in as many duels, sending his
ball directly through their brains. he raised
slowly, poised deliberate aim, stood several
seconds motionless as the tree at which the
nuzzle of his pistol was pointed, and fired.
The crack was short and sharp as the peal OF
bell, and when the blue wreaths of curling
smoke were cleared away, the black spot on
the oak was not to be seen-the white bullet
hole, bored into the splintered wood, occupied
its place.
The seconds then gave Murray the third
pistol, and he stationed himself ten steps from
his unarmed adversary, who in the mean
while seemed calm and fearless, as if an un-
concerned spectator, without the slightest
symptoms of either alarm or surprise. Accord
ing to the terms stipulated, Murray might
choose his own time, after the elevation Of his
weapon, to Ere; and the thought appeared
to cross his mind to torture his antagonist by
a cruel and unnecessary delay. He raised his
right hand gradually, and fixed mortal aim
at Menefee's head, in which posture he con-
tinued for more than two minutes. But Men
efee still betrayed no emotion. Not nerve
shook-his face paled not shade. A bitter
smile of scorn writhed his purple lip, and his
cleaning blue eye, gazing 6ercely into that
of his deadly foe, seemed to the wondering
seconds like a ball of fire, so intense and
vengeful was its glare. At length he called
out in voice, piercing and shrill as the
shrek of a trumpet -. :al.el...4.s
Murray, you id coward, why don't you
shoot? Are you afraid to shoot2"
And whether it was that the position of
Murray's arm, so long extended, affected the
nerves, or that he became excited by the
mocking taunt, or was surprised at the terri
BILE tones of his enemy's voice, or quailed with
preternatural dread before the lightning ofhis
burning blue eye, it is impossible to say; but
at least, whatever might be the cause, re-
markable change passed over his features.
His cheek grew pal-id-his pale lip quiver:
ed-his hand shook. He fired. The ball
merely grazed Menefee's left temple without
injury.
Then the seconds reloaded the pistol and
placed it in the hands of Menefee, and the
parties again assumed their proper stations.
The youthful avenger of sisters shame
waited not an instant. He was in too great a
hurry to finish his work, for suspense Quick
as the fash of sunbeam, he elevated his
weapon and fired. With the roar Of the ex-
plosion, without sigh or groan, Murray
dropped dead in his tracks. His right eye
had been shot out
Menefee fed the country, and settled in
Conway county, Arkansas. Thenceforth the
whole current of his thoughts and passions
appeared to be changed. The earthquake Of
mortal wrath, which had burst up from the
profound abysses of his soul, had ploughed
out new passage for the march Of ambition,
a passage stained with ineffaceable blood
Before, his heart had burned with unquench-
able enthusiasm to excel in knowledge, in va
riety, depth, and extent of attainments but
now he coveted superiority only in desperate
deeds-bloody achievements of brute brave
ry. Riots, affrays. and deadly rencounters
by chance medley, were weekly, and some
times daily, occurrences. DR.. Menefee took a
hand in all, and yet escaped from each with