West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-10-21
THE COW RoY DUEL.
Kid Trook's Account oT one Of ,ne
Moss HCmorkUbie Fights ora Bec-
ord.

Denver (Col) Republican, arrived here
yesterday. lie ia remarkable man.
Born 10 Buffalo about thirty years ago.
he came West at an early sge, and becsme
pretty well known as "Kid Frank" At
ter leading an adventurous life he married
well-to do Mexican woman, and by her
occurred fine ranch forty miles square IN
old Mc&ico, on the Gan Pedros River,
close to the line. lie became known far
and wide by his skill in shooting, and was
generally avoided by men deslrous Of kill
ing some one TOR the sake Of notoriety
His herd grew rapidly until about four
months ago, when be found his brand on
5000 bead Of cattle, worth nearly $780,
/ coo. lie determined 20 sell 900 head.
| and gathering up 500 head more, ne
started 10 drive to Denver, a distance OF
nearly 500 miles. His outfit consisted
Of thirty-two cowb boys, and Frank took
command of the expedition. The trip
was very long and severe one, but by
using great care the losses were small
The party started May %, and made
slow march across the burning plains and
trsckless wastes Of AuzOna and New
Mexico, until Sept. g, found them fifty
miles north of Trinidad and on equal dis
| lance east of Cucharas. The Kelly outfit
went into camp for a day near the camp
of George Howard, large cattle grower.
The latter had a herd Of 8, 600 cattle, and
commanded twenty-oisht cow-boye The
two herds became mixed up while travel.
ling Z lose together. ard Howard made
claim for cattle which Kelly considered
unjust, and refused it. This angered
Howard, aud words followed. Kelly
claimed Howard bad some of his cattle,
and offered to exchange; but the latter
refused, aud the quarrel became very dan
gerous. The cowboys on each side gath.
cred around and began 20 hauGle their
weapons in manner which indicated
that they meant business.
Kelly saw the danger. He knew il
fight should occur between such deadly
marksmen there would hardly be a man
left to tell the tale, and in addition to the
loss Of humlu life the huge herds OF cat
tie would be scattered and all hands ruin
ed. Just as the cloud of war was about
10 burst he CONCEIVED plan 10 avoid
6loodshed, and broached Il 10 Howard,
who agreed TO It. The plan was as fol-
lows: Each was 10 select six COW boys,
the best shots ia their Outiits, and, plGo-
ing them in line fifty yards distant on
horseback, 10 give the word "Fire!" and
let them settle the dispute. This novel
method OF settling difference was hailed
with delight by the men o1 each SIDE, Gu5
val1l'c ,rs were nun T'as. Kelly Sc
lectcd SIX men who had Ieen tried and
proved in many a desperate situation.
Howard selected siI of his hest mon.
There was no time lost in preparing for
! the duel, which was TO be the greatest al
fair OF the kind ever known. The men of
! the opposing sides retired to their camp
and coolly made preparations for the feast
! OF death. They grOOmed their horses,
! oiled and cleaned their rCvolvers. and put.
| ting their saddles on with care, rode ont 20
| the fight kid Franks" men were armed
! with Winchester revOivers, % ud AZ cal
! ibre, long bArreled, and Towards six car
! ried Colts improved. Eacn man knew bic
/ weapon and his horse aud an were fully
aware of the fact that the men standing So
/ grimly in front Of them were equally well
/ equipped.
Tue 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 duelli5t
| gTasplng a huge, gliitering revolver in
/ each hand, with the reins i'm his teeth or
/ hanging loosely. for these dare devil riders
/ OF the South guide their horses with their
| kuees, Rs the scarcely more savage Indian
! does Around about, carelesslv in the
\ range of stray bullets, were the friends IF
! both parties, mounted on their horses,
watching the fight and 20 see that no ad
vantage should be taken. At either side
| was the chief, who had sent these men
| out 10 die Over all brOO1ed n death like
/ silence, while on all the swelling rolling,
silent plain shOnc the gold Of the bright
! September sun. The mau who was de-
| tailed 10 give the word which was destin-
ed 10 create q whirl wind Of death started
! forward. AT the first move there was q
| shlver of life along both lines, bat 10 was
! not a shiver of fear. Each man straight
! ened himself, grasped his pistols the firm
/ or, and singled out his opponent. The
| umpire lifted his hand. and suddenly on
/ the still air came the cry Of doom. "Fire'
! At the word twelve horses bounded for
]
| Of Towards men threw up their hands and
/ tell from their horses. while only one OF
/ Keliy's men fell. Kenys men, not heed
| ing their comrades death, sped straight
/ toward the three men ln front Of them.
/ The later dropped their pistols in their
| bride hands and pulled their horses uC,
! while their five enemies came riding swift
/ ly on, pouring hail Of bullets IN from
% pistol IN every hand. The Howard mru
saw the odds. They were too, great, ond
/ turning swiftly, they ran, turning iu their
saddles as they few and bravcly returning
the h;e 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, CHOW you and will
settle with each other"
"N0,' replied Howard. as he looked
sadly 40 The dead men am satisfied"
Every we'll" said Kelly, aud orders were
/ given % exchange The cattle.
Very strangely, 100 news of ilc fgbt
was received until yesterday b1f this.
I perhaps, was due tu fue fact tltt no. towns
/ were ps.s.1 1y the rs lIy Outfit. Only he
. HImsn.f n1s auivCd. bia herd NOT being
/ Que ior iWJ weeks yct Kelly himerf is
/ a suu burned, manly iousmF you fI-
. low, and i1li 'be n'Dry in maucr-Ji-lact
way which would haid.y attract attention.
. Thought SIC rvus "a Grain Wobbor.
lie ~as Sleeping peacefully in b.- sest
/ in atfsio aa tae Nuoe Central RaHosa