The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-08-27
MURDER UNPUBLISHED.
A Coward's Act An O,d-Time California
"Reminiscences.
Nevada Transcript i

Nevada Transcript
The duel between Major Dibble, of the
navy, and Jim Lundy, the gambler,
which occurred mt Industry Bar, on the
main Yuba, in this county, has been a
fruitless theme for numberless compilers
of pioneer history. s. 5. Crafts, mer-
chant of Allegheny, who called at the
Transcript Office day before yesterday,
says that in oil the accounts yet pub
hshed the principal points were wrongly
stated. He was in the camp at the time,
and relates the circumstances OF the
bloody incident as follows:
On the evening of October "a, 1851, a
number of men were sitting around the
table after supper, Willing away the time
spinning yarns, cracking jokes, and sing
ing songs.
"When was it that fruit first swore?"
suddenly interrupted Major Dibble, who
had taken but a slight part in the pro-
ceedings until now.
The listeners made one or two efforts
TO guess the answer, and then gave it up.
"When the apple damned the pear, of
course" explained the joker.
All laughed but Jim Lundy, between
whom and the Major there had never
been any love lost. He glanced at
the latter in an ugly way and Missed,
cts no such thingw
The color left Dibble's cheeks, and his
eyes blazed like two suns. 1t looked for
II moment us though he was going to
tackle his insulter right there. Then by
powerful effort he controlled himself,
and his face began to assume scarlet
hue.
You must not contradict me in such
way" he said in low, determined
tone. "You have done it too often al
ready"
Lundy gave expression to a contempt
nous sneer.
"You are lying, thieving
-, and | am bigger mark to shoot at
than you are!" These words came from
the gambler with ring that showed he
wanted them to strike home
Every well, sir" responded the out
ragged trooper; "we will try it on when
General Morehead comes over from Ne
vada City"
Both men were crack shots and had
plenty of moral courage The pioneers
at the Bar knew there would be Mt least
one funeral i'll their midst before many
hours elapsed
Dibble and Mr.. Crafts slept together
that night, and Lundy, taking his blan-
kets, camped out alone on n side-hill.
The first named spent part of the night
in writing letters to his friends i'll the
East He indited several lengthy epis-
ties, one being to the faithful and high
bred sweetheart who was anxiously
awaiting his return from the land of gold,
and another to his aged father and
mother.
The antagonists met at sunrise. Major
General Morehead was Dibble's second,
and Charley Morse was Lundy's.
Fifteen PAGES was measured off, and
the challenger and challenged took their
places.
Just as the god of day peeped over
pine-tiringed hill to the east the prepare
tons were declared complete.
Gentlemen, are you ready?"
Before the echo of the sentence had
died away, and while Dibble was in the
act of raising his weapon, there was
sharp report from the others pistol.
A momentary look of CONSERVATION
fitted over Dibble's handsome face.
You - -, You fired before
the word. You have nearly killed me,
he cried. Then, pressing one hand to
his breast, he whirled around like mad
once or twice, and fell dead in his tracks.
The bullet found its resting place in the
young mans heart.
Lundy was indicted, tried, and found
guilty. The proceedings were shown to
have been irregular, and he was granted
a new trial. The matter dragged along
a year or two. some of the witnesses dis
appeared from the country, and finally q
nOlte 21rOsequi was entered.