Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-03
THE DUEL IN 'FIFTY-TWO..

THE DUEL IN 'FIFTY-TWO.
Hugh Humphrey in San Francisco Golden Era. Il
Rap! rap! rap!
/ shook off the slumber that rested
heavily upon me, and listened. could
hear nothing; only the sound Of milk.
wagons and butcher-carts in the street
and the heavy tramp of some late travel
er on the wooden sidewalk beneath. ]
dozed off to sleep again.
Rap! rapl rap!
Some one below at the Office door, sure
~. / opened the small window at the
head Of nay bed and looked down into
the street. A burly form stood at the
Office door, leaning with one hand against
the casing.
who's there?' / demanded.
"Git up, an gil me 'orsep said a
thick, inebriate voice.
"What do you want with horse,
Mulligan?" asked.
"Goin' ter ic- Hunters Pint; sum
fun thar. Git up, git up! ! wan a
'orse."
"The old score is too long Billy. Can't
do it, 6
"Can't do it, eh9 Yer inserlent, young
man."
'sIt's no use, Mulligan. You owe me
large bill now, with no prospect of pay
ing it. You'd better leave; I'm going to
sleep" and closed the window.
"You' n-hic- hear from me in the
mornin', young man. he threatened and
Billy Mulligan the desperado, reeled
away down the street.
| dropped to sleep again. Rap! rap!
rap! | sprang to my feet. It is morning
thought /, and the hostler is at the door.
Again opened the window and looked
down. saw at a glance it wasn't the
hostler.
"Who's there?"
81 Garland. Get up, Moulton, and
saddle two horses quick? There's duel
comming off at Hunters Point this morn
ing at sunrise. We've Just time to reach
there"
I hastily dressed, descended from the
loft and admitted my friend. In two
minutes the horses were saddied. I
awoke the hostler, directed him to look
after the stable and in five MINUS more
we went dashing down Kearney street on
our way to the Point.
"What time is it, Garland?"
ssThree o'clock. The road is heavy and
the mud fearful at Islais Creek. We
have barely time to reach there with good
luck"
"Who are to fght?"
1.-TWO gamblers. They quarreled at the
Eldorado last night over a faro game"
"You know them?'
emo"
A cold fog swept in over the Mission
Hills. The darkness was deep, scarcely
permitting us to make out the road.
Nevertheless, we dashed 1ecklessly along,
out Brannan street and over the San Bru-
no Road. It was scarcely day break when
we arrived at the Point, our horses quite
blown and covered With mud and foam.
Not soul was on the ground. A cold
mist hung over the bay, and now and
then drizzling shower came sweeping
down from the hills. We tied our horses
to stunted oak, and walked along the
sand, ten minutes, perhaps in one direc-
ton, and then returned. There had been,
meantime, another arrival. A tall form,
in heavy storm cloak, was pacing sol
emily back and forth on the sands. His
head was bent low, his head upon the
ground. He seemed entirely oblivious to
everything about him. He took no no
tice OF our presence, but kept up his slow,
measured march, to and fro, between a
jagged rock and piece Of driftwood
which lay half buried in the sand
A half hour passed in the cold fog,
drilling mist and semi-darkness. Our
horses champed their bits impatiently,
and occasionally neighed their unrest.
Garland and strobe back and forth on
the beachg,looked at our watches every
three minutes, and wondered if the duel
lists were ever to arrive. :,
It grew lighter at last, and as the sun
rising above the distant mountains near
~ succeeded in breaking through the
heavy fog, a close carriage came dashing
along the muddy road, followed by half
a dozen men on horseback. The driver
drew up his horses at the tree, sprang to
the ground and threw open the carriage.
Three men alighted. One was medium
sized man, with sandy hair and beard,
and with the most villainous face had
ever looked upon. He commenced a
shambling walk on the beach, his hands
thrust into his pockets, and his hat tipped
back from his forehead. The occupants
Of the carriage judged to be his second
and surgeon. They consulted together
moment, when the second approached
me and demanded if either of us was the
"friend of the other party pointing to
the tall figure who still kept up his sol
emn marcn.
We assured him we were totally un.
known to him, having come here merely
as spectators to witness the duel. He
then advanced to the tall figure in the
cloak and addressed him. We were not
near enough to catch the words. Pres.
emily the second returned to us. .
s'This is cursed rough!'' said he. 0Here
he is out here alone; ready to fight, he
says, but has no second with him. Curse
me if ever I heard of such a thing
'TWQn't do, no how. Wouldn't one o.
you entlmen be kind enough to act2'
Garland instantly declined, and so die
I. I had no intention of being party
to what considered little better than /
murder. Inquired, however, what were
the weapons and the distance. His an
swer Mortified me.
swell, stranger, it's pretty rough,
said the second. otis his arrangement
though pointing to the figure in til,
storm-cloak. :sThey hold each other b,
the left hand, shoot at the word-nav
pistols. Both will be killed, sure. Tha
amt my business, though. If men vii
De such fools faint my affair"
| "Sir!' answered, 'scan you be part,
to murder like this? for murder it is
and nothing else. In Heavens name lie