Sharp County record., 1880-02-19
A Duel to the Death.

Mr.. H. Thomas has just arrived IN the
CITY from Hot Springs, and, having been
a witness of the desperate encounter
which recently occurred between Col.
Robert Alexander and CO.. Smiley, at
that place. cives the facts which we
spread before our readers. Col. Alex
ander and Col. Smiley were prominent
claimants of mining lands at Silver City.
Some dispute arose as to a claim. Be
ing unable to settle it satisfactorily, the
dispute augmented into quarrel, and
the quarrel into violent threats. 1t was
well known that both parties were men
of nerve. Smiley had won a reputation
of being desperate in a personal en-,
counter. Alexander, though he had
never been credited with shedding blood,
was considered a man with whom 1t
would not be safe to trifie. All efforts
to settle the misunderstanding failed,
and those who were acquainted with the
circumstances expected that bloOds he'd
would be the ultimate result. Several
DAYS ago, the day when the encounter
took place, Smiley came to Hot Springs.
Alexander was in the town. Smiley
went to the bank and asked OF the
Cashier: -......
"Have you seen Alexander"
The Cashier replied that he had not
seen him, but understood that he was in
town.
81 am going to kill him before 4
o'clock" exclaimed Smiley, and, turn
inc, left the bank. After leaving the
bank, he had not gone far when he met
Alexander. The furious aspect imme-
diately assumed by each man illustrated
the fact that violence would ensue.
Alexander drew a large revolver, and,
rushing upon Smiley, struck him over the
head. Smiley staggered back, and drew
q French self-cocking revolver, and, with
a rapidity almost beyond the capacity OF
enumeration, fired six shots at Alex
ander. Three shots took effect, ball
striking each arm and another going
through his lungs. Alexander's pistol
dropped from his hand. He attempted
to recover it, but his right arm had been
paralyzed by the ball. He grasped it
with his left hand, but the left arm hav-
ing been also wounded, he was unable
to cock the weapon. Smiley was upon
him. With a cool, desperate presence
of mind, Alexander kicked his pistol in
to saloon, near which the encounter
occurred. Then entering, he stopped
and caught the muzzle of his pistol with
his left hand, raised it up, and cooked it
with his foot. He lifted the pistol from
the floor. Smiley stood outside, peep
ing around door-post, with only part
of his head exposed. Alexander nerv-
ously lifted the weapon, took deliberate
aim and fired. The ball plOwed along
the post behind which Smiley stood,
half burying itself, and, striking Smiley
in the forehead, went through his brain.
Smiley fell dead, and Alexander, turn
ing, sank from loss of blood.
a large crowd witnessed the encount-
er, and the greatest of excitement pre-
vailed. The wonder is that several
men were not killed, for when Smiley
fired the six shots the sidewalk was
crowded with people. The weapons
used were not parlor pistols, but the
brand intended to kill, almost regard
less of distance. One of the balls from
Smiley's pistol went through sign
board and buried itself in another. The
mark on the door-post, made by the
ball which killed Smiley, is full six feet
from the sidewalk. Nine men out Of
ten would have escaped, as the deadly
missile would have passed harmlessly
over.
Alexander, at last accounts, was suf-
fering greatly, and is not expected to
live.-LtttIe Rock (Ark.J J Gazette.