River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-10-26
THE COW BOY DUEL.


Most Remarkable Fights ON RECORD
Denver Republican
John Kelly, one of the participants
in the famous "cow boy duel" arrived
here yesterday He is remarkable
man. Born in Buffalo about thirty years
ago, and became pretty well know as
"Kid Frank" After leading on acven-
turous life he married wellto do
Mexican woman, and by her secured a
fine rancho forty miles square in cid
Mexico, ON the San Pedros River, close
to the line. He became known far and
wide by nj skill in shooting, and was
generally avoided by men DESTROYS of
killing some one for the sake of motor
iety. His herd grew rapidly until about
four months ago, when he found his
brand on 5000 head of cattle, worth
nearly 100000. He determined to sell
2 500 head, and gathering up 800 head
more, he started to drive TO Denver, q
distance of nearly 1000 miles. HIS
outfit consisted of thirty-two boys,
and Frank took command of the ex-
petition. The trip was very long and
severe one, but by using great care the
losses were small. The party started
MAY %, anu made slow march across
the burning plains and trackless wastes
of Arizona and New Mexico, until
Sept. s found them fifty miles north of
Trinidad and an equal distance east of
Cucharas. The Kelly outfit went into
camp for a day near the camp of
George Howard, a large cattle grower.
The latter had heard of 5000 cattle,
and commanded twenty-eight COW boys.
The two herds became mixed up
while travelling close together, and
| Howard made claim for cattle which
Kelly considered unjust, and refused it.
| This angered Howard, and words fol-
| lowed. Kelly claimed Howard had
some of his cattle, and offered to ex-
change; but the latter refused, and the
quarrel became very dangerous. The
COW BOYS on each side gathered around
and began to handle their weapons in
manner which indicated that they
meant business.
Kelly saw the danger. He knew if
| fight should occur between such deadly
marksmen there would hardly be
man left to tell the tale, and in addition
| to the loss of human life the huge
heard of cattle would be scattered and
all hands ruined. Just as the cloud of
war was about to burst he conceived
plan to avoid bloodshed, and preached
| it to Howard, who agreed TO it. The
plan was as follows: Each was to select
six COW boys, the best shots III their
outfit, and placing them in line fifty
yards distant on horseback to give the
word "Firei' and let them settle the
dispute. This novel method of settling
a difference was hailed with delight by
the men on each side, and volunteers
| who had been with him long time,
and been tried and proved in many a
desperate situation. Howard selected
six of his best men, There was no time
lost in preparing for the duel, which
was to be the greatest affair of the kind
ever known. The men of the opposing
sides retired 10 their camp and coolly
made preparations for the feast of
death. They groomed their horses, oiled
aEd cleaned their revolvers, and, put
ting their saddles on with care, rode
out to the fight. "Kid Franks, men
were armed with Winchester revolvers,
So and A calibre, long barrelled, and
Howard's.six carving Colts improved.
Each man knew his weapon and his
horse, and all were fully aware of the
fact that the men standing SO grizzly
in front Of them we're equally well
equipped.
The opposing duellists were drawn
up in line facing each other at o'clock
In the afternoon. The sight was one
which few men have looked upon.
Fifty yards apart stood like statues two
| lines of men, horse and rider almost
one, every duelist graspiDg a huge gilt
tering revolver in each hand, with the
reins in his teeth or hanging loosely,
| for these daredevil riders OF the South
| guide their horses with their knees, as
the scarcely more savage Indian do 8.
Around about, carelessly in the range
of stray bullets, were the friends of
both parties, mounted on their horses,
watching the fight and 10 see that no
advantage should be taken. At either
side was the chief, who had sent these
men out to die. Over I'll brooded a
death-like silence, while Ger the swell
ing, rolling, silence plain shone the
gold of the bright September sun. The
man who w-s detailed to give the
word which was destined to create
whirlwind of death started forward. At
he first move there was a shiver Of
life along both lines, but it was not
shiver of fear. Each man Strengthened
himself, grasped his pistols the firmer,
and singled out his opponent. The
umpire lifted his hand, and suddenly
on the still air came the cry of doom,
"Firep At the word twelve horses
bounded forward, and twelve pistol
shots rang out. Three of Howard's
men threw up their hands and fell
| from their horses, while one of Kelly's,
men fell. Kelly's men, not hesding
their comrades death, sped straight
toward the three men in front Of them.
The latter dropped their pistols in their
| bride hands and pulled their horses up,
while their five enemies came riding
swiftly on, pouring a hail of bullets in
from pistol in every hand. The How.
ard men saw the odds, They were too
great, and, turning swiftly, they ran,
turning in their saddles as they flew.
and bravely returning the fire. In three
brief minutes the duel was fought and
won, and four dead men lay upon the
ground. Frank rode up to Howard and
said, "Now you and | viii settle with
each other"
'No," replied Howard, as he looked
sadly at the dead men; 81 am salts
fed"
"Very WE'LL said Kelly, and orders
were given to exchange the cattle.
Very strangely, no news Of the 6gh.I
was received until yesterday; but this
perhaps, was due to the fact that nf
towns were passed by the Kelly cuff
Only he himself has arrived, bis hal
not being due for two weeks yet. Kelly
himself is q sun burned, manly lQoxsy
ing young fellow, and told the Story ia
o matter-of-fact way which WouNl
hardly attract attention. d
The Bunker Hill Monuinknf
The work Of repairing Bunker Fl
monument, which had been 1I0iDg4 II
| for six weeks, was completed eafis4 Oh
torily few days ago. without an g fac
dent ofany kind. When Che exau& cc
ton which led to the repairs ,jns
made, il was found that THE IL wa
about the top of the monument cam!
been almost completely waAhef# had
and that moss was growing ih 81 out,
creviccs. If the monument fIa many.
neglected only short time N3fd Deea
would have suffered irreparablH l igg;ary
from the action Of frost, whichf had al
ready begun to show its effecE around
some of the horizontal joints