Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-07
THE DUEL IN 'FIFTY-TWO.

Hugh Humphrey in San Francisco Golden Era.
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! r.
Iy. opened the small window at the
head Of my bed and looked down into
the street. A bury form stood at the
Office door, leaning with one hand against
the casing.
"Who's there?" demanded.
''Git up, an gil me a 'orse!" said a
thick, inebrlate voice.
"What do you want with a horse,
Mulligan?" asked.
"Goin' ter-hic-Hunter's Pint; sum
fun thar. Git up, git up! l wan
orse.'
THE old score is too long Billy. Can
| do it, a.
Cant do it, eh9 Yer inserlent, young
man"
tits 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'll-hic-hear f:om me in the
mornin', young man. he threatened and
Billy Mulligan the desperate, reeled
away down the street.
dropped to sleep again. Rap rap!
rap! sp1ang to my feet. 1t is morning
thought l, 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 there9"
"I-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"
| ] hastily dressed, descended from the
loft and admitted my friend. n two
minutes the horses were saddied. l
awoke the hostler, directed him to look
after the stable and in five minus more
we went dashlng down Kearney street on
our way to the Point.
"W at time is it, Garland?"
| ''Three 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 quaTeled at the
Eldorado last night over faro game"
"You know them9"
enc"
/ o0l1
Hills. The dark ness 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. 1t was scarcely daybreax 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 and
then driZzling shower came sweeping
dowl from the hills. We tied our horses
to stunted oak, and walked aloIg the
sand, ten minutes, perhaps in one direc.
ton, and then returned. There had been.
meantime, another arrival. A tall form,
in heavy storm-cloa Nas pacing SOL
EMMY back and forth on the sands His
head as 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 slo",
measured march, to and fro, between a
Tagged rock and a piece of driftwood
which lay alfburied in the sand.
A half hour passed in the cold fog,
drizzling mist and semi-darkness. Our
horses champed their bits impatlently,
and occasionally neighed their unrest
Garland and I strobe back and forth OF
the beach, looked at our wat hes 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
ly succeeded in breaking through the
heavy fog, close carriage came dashine
along the muddy road, followed l,y halt
a dozen men on horseback. The driver
drew up his horses at the tree, sprang to
the ground and threw open the carriag.
Three men alighted. One was medium
sized man, with sandy hair and beard,
and with the most villainous face l had
ever looked upon. He commenced a
stumbling 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 he his second
and surgeon. They consulted together
a moment, when the second approac ed
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 march. ~
We assured him we were totally un-
known to him. having come here merely
as spectators to witness the duel. Ell
then advanced to the tall figure in tn.
cloak and addressed him. We were moi
near enough to catch the words. Pres
ently the second returned ia us.
"This is cursed roughl'' said he. "Here
he is out here alone; ready to fight, he
says, but has no second with him. Curse
me if ever / heard of such a thing
'Twont do, no how. Wouldn't one of
you gentlmen be kind enough to act?"
Garland instantly declined, and so did
I. / had no intention of being a party
to hat 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. ats his arrangement,
though pointing to the figure in the
storm-cloak. :sThev hold each other by
the left hand, shoot at the word-navy