The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-02-05
1 DUEL no THE DEATH.


Ia p Deadly Desperation OF ESouthern
vaIor when b BLOOD Ii Heated
-s- ma uistle Rock ask e~ases.s.l aigaH
MrsH. Thomasthas just arrived in the
city from bot Springs. and having been
a witness of the desperate encounter
which recently occurred between Col.
Robert Alexander and Col. Smiley, al
that place; gives the. facts which we
spread before our readers. COL Alex
ander and Col. Smiley were. prominent
claimants Of mining lands atSlver City.
Some dispute arose as to a claim. Being
unable to settle it satisfactorily, the
dispute ~argumented into a quarrel, and
the quarrel into violent threats. 1t was
well known that both parties were men
of nerve Smiley had ttch a Reputation
of being DESPERATE in apersonal encoun-
ter. Alexander, though he had never
been credited with shedding blood, was
considered a man with whom it would
not be safe to trife. ALI efforts to settle
the misunderstanding failed, and those
who were acquainted with the cireum-
stances expected that bloodshed 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. z Smiley
went to THE bank and asked of the
cashier: - sEd q ~.s4eg9sBa srnl y
R"Have you seen Alexanderf1 -sz.
The cashier replied that he had not
seen him, but understood that be was in
town. sgE8 ,3 oj as ,1aid4& ga
~ ain going to kill him before 4
O'clock" exclaimed Smiley, and, turn
ing, 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 tiblence wonld ensue.
Alexander dreW,a large revolver and
rushing upon Smiley, struck him over
the head. Smiley staggered back, and
drew a French self-cocking revolver,
and, withea rapidity almost beyond the
capacity of enumeration, fred six shots
at Alexandefso Three shots took effect,
u ball striking each arm and another
going through the lungs. 7Alexanders
pistol dropped from his hand. He at
tempted, to recover it, but his right arm
had been paralysed by the ball. He
grasped it With his left hand, but the
left arm having also been wounded, he
was unable to, cock ths weapon. Smiley
was upon him. With a cool, desperate
presence Of mind, Alexander kicked his
pistol into a saloon, near which the en-
counter occurred, Then cheering, he
stopped and caught the, muzzlef Of his
pistol with his left hand, raised it up,
and cooked it #ith,his foot. He lifted
the pistol from the floor. Smiley stood
outside, peeping around a door post,
with only a part of his head exposed.
alexander nervonsly lifted the weapon,
took deliberate aim and fred The ball
plowed along the post behind which
Smiley stood, half buryihg itself, and
striking Smiley IN the forehead weni
through MIS- brain. Smiley fell dead,
and Alexander, turning, sank from los
| of blood. t0ftgIssaa9 {ifHta 5Gl hfeFs =
A large crowd Witnessed the encoun
ter, and the greatest of excitement pre-
vailed. The wonder isthat several mer
were not killed, for. when Smiley fired
the six shots, the sidewalk was crowded
with people. The iweapons used were
not the parlor pistols, but the brand in
tended to kill, almost regardless of dis
lance. One of the balls from Smiley,
pistol went through a signboard ani
buried itself in another. Themark OF
the door post, made by the ball which
ElledISmileY, is full six feet from tn,
| sidewalk Il Nine men out of ten woulC
have escaped, as the deadly missil,
would have passed harmlessly over. ~.
Alexander, at last accounts, was sui
fering greatly, and is not expected t.
AAsS. yaf.sIaaa -aEI SHIRE s4fff