Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1880-08-12
MURDER UNFINISHED.
A Coward's Act---An Old Time Cal
ifornia Renaissance.
Nevada Transcript. |

The duel between Major Dib
bic, of the navy, and Jim Ludny
the gambler, which occurred a
Industry Bar, on the main Yuba
in this county, has been a fruit
less theme for numberless com
pliers Of pioneer history. S. S
Crafts, a merchant of Allegheny
who called at the Transcript of
fee day before yesterday, say
that in all the accounts yet pub
lished the principal points wert
wrongly stated. He was in tn,
camp at the time, and relate.
the circumstances of the bloody
incident as follows:
On the evening of October "a
1851, number of men were sit
ting around the table after sup
per, Willing away the time spin
ming yarns, cracking jokes anc
singing songs.
"When was it that fruit frs
'swore?' suddenly interrupted
Major Dibble, who had takel
but slight part in the proceed
ings 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 Kissed, ats
no such a thing!''
The color left Dibble's cheeks,
and his eyes blazed like two
suns. It looked for a moment
as though he was going to tackle
his insulter right there. Then
by a powerful effort he controll-
ed himself, and his face began
to assume a scarlet hue.
"You must not contradict me
in such a way" he said in low,
determined tone. "You have
done it too often already"
Lundy gave expression to a
contemptuous sneer.
"You are a lying, thieving
land / am a bigger
mark to shoot at than you are!"
These words came from the gam
bier with a ring that showed he
wanted them to strike home.
every well, sir" responded
the outraged trooper; eve will
try it on when General More
head comes over from Nevada
City"
Both men were crack shots
and had plenty of moral courage.
The pioneers at the Bar knew
there would be at least one fu-
neral in their midst before many
hours elapsed.
Dibble and Mr.. Crafts slept
together that night, and Lundy,
taking his blankets, camped out
alone on a side hill. The first
named spent part of the night in
writing letters to his friends in
the East. He indited several
epistles, one being to the
faithful and highbred sweetheart
who was anxiously awaiting his
return from the land of gold, and
another to his aged father and
mother. I6 q
The antagonists met at sun
rise. Major-General Morehead
was Dibble's second, and Char
.ey Morse was Lundy's.
Fifteen PAGES were measured
ofl, and the challenger and chal-
enged took their places.
Just as the God Of Day peep
ID over pine-fringed hill to
east the preparations were de-
;lared complete.
"Gentlemen, are you readyY
Before the echo of the sem
;ence had died away, and while
was in the act of raising
lis weapon, there was a sharp
'eport from the others pistol.
A momentasy look of conster-
lation fitted over Dibble's hand
iome face. "You---, you
ired before the word. You have
lcarly killed me, "he cried. Then,
PRESSING one hand to bis breast,
yhirled around like mad once or
vice, and fell dead in his tracks.
The bullet found its resting
,lace in the young mans heart.
Lundy was indicted, tried, ,and
ound guilty. The proceedings
we're shown to have been irregu-
ar, and he was granted a new
rial. The matter dragged a
ong a year or two, some OF the
witnesses disappeared from the
country, and finally nolle pros
.qui was entered.
When a fond parent sees a