The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-08-05
A COward's Act---An 0ld-Time CalIfOr-
MIA Keniniscence.

The duel between Major Dibble, of
the Navy, and Jim Nundv, the gambler,
which occurred at Industry Bar, on the
main 1uba, in this county, says the
Nevada Transcript, has been fruitless
theme for numberless compilers of pio-
neer history. S. S. Crafts, merchant
of Allegheny, was in the camp at the
time, and relates the circumstances of
the bloody incident as follows:
On the evening of October 81, 1851,
a number of men were sitting around
the table after supper Willing away the
time spinning yarns, cracking jokes and
singing songs
"When was it that fruit first swore?"
suddenly interrupted Major Dibble, who
had taken but slight part in the pro-
ceedings until now.
Tue listeners made one or two efforts
to guess the answer and then gave it
up. r..
" When the apple damned the pair,
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, " It's
no such thingr'
The color,left Dibble's cheeks and his
eyes blazed like two suns. 1t looked for
a moment as though he was going to
tackle his insulter right there. Then by
a powerful effort he controlled himself,
and his face began to assume a scarlet
hue.
You must not contradict me in such
way" he said in low, determined
tone. You have done it too often
already"
Lundy gave expression to con-
temptuous sheer. 90 You are lying,
thieving and L am a big
ger mark to shoot at than you aren'
These words came from the gambler
with ring that showed he wanted them
to strike home.
Very 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 at least
one funeral in their midst before many
hours elapsed.
Dibble and Mr.. Crafts slept together
that night, and Lundy, taking his blank
cts, 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 lengthy
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.
The antagonists met at sunrise. Ma
or-General Morehead was Dibble's sec
ond and Charley Morse was Lundy's.
Fifteen PAGES were measured off and
the challenger and challenged took
their places.
just as the God of Day peeped over
a pine-fringed hill to the east the prepa-
rations were declared complete.
Gentlemen, are you readyp"
Before the echo of the sentence had
died away and while Dibble was in the
act of raising his weapon there was a
sharp report from the other s 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 disappeared from the
country and finally noIIe prOSequt was
entered