San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-10-12
THE COWBOYS DUEL.
ma, killed In Two MInutes-A Remarkable
foA Fight.
Denver Republican.

There arrived in this city yesterday
young man who has a wonderful his
.o,v even for the wild western country,
and is destined to rank at no distant
dav with Cody and Hickok, sy slocum
~ Carson. His name is John Kelly,
~ while the name is not a familiar
ano 10 lovers of literature treating Of
lid adventure, it will at no distant day
BECOME a household word. Kelly was
pupil of Buffalo Bill and Capt. Bur-
ION on the old Pawnee reservation in
Nebraska, where he herded cattle and
mas known as "Kid Frank"
He brings in the first news of a ter
rible tragedy in which he took part Just
three weeks ago. The story is one Of
wonderful romance and thrilling inter
est. and is perhaps the most remarkable
affair of the kind ever known.
Kelly married a well-to-do Mexican
woman and secured a fine ranch forty
miles square in Old Mexico, on the San
pedros river, close to the line. He be-
came known far and wide by his skill in
shooting, and was generally avoided by
men DESTROYS of killing some one for
the sake of notoriety. 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 $500 head, and
gathering up 1900 head more, he
started to drive to Denver, a distance
of nearly 1900 miles. His outfit con-
sisted of 80 cowboys, and Frank took
command of the expedition. The trip
was long and severe one, but by using
GREAT care the losses were small. The
party started May %, and made very
slow march across the burning plains
and trackless wastes of Arizona and
New Mexico, until September 8 found
them fifty miles north of Trinidad and
an equal distance east of Cucharas.
The Kelly outfit went into camp for
the day near the camp of George How
ard, large cattle grower. The latter
had a herd of 5000 cattle, and COM
handed % cowboys. The two herds
became mixed up while travelling to-
gether, and Howard made claim for cat
tie which Kelly considered unjust and
refused it. This angered Howard, and
words followed. Kelly claimed Howard
had some of his cattle, and offered to
exchange, but the latter refused, and
the quarrel became very dangerous.
The cowboys on each side gathered
around and began to handle their
weapons in a manner which Indicated
they meant business. Kelly saw the
danger. He knew if fight should &C.
cur between such deadly marksmen
there would hardly bea man left to tell
the tale, and in addition to loss Of hui
man life, the huge herds 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 cowboys, the best shots
in their outfits, and placing them in line
fifty yards distant on horseback, to
GIVE THE WORD "FIRE!"
and let them settle the dispute.
This novel method of settling diff
ference was hailed with delight by the
men of each side, and volunteers were
numerous. Kelly selected six men who
had been with him a long time, and
been tried and proved in many des-
perate 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 to their camp and ceolly
made preparations for the feast OF
death. They groomed their horses,
oiled and cleaned their revolvers, and
putting their saddles on with care, rode
out to the fight. Kid Franks men
we're armed with Winchester revolvers,
9S and A caliber, long barreled, and
Howard's six carried Colts improved.
Each man knew his weapon and his
horse, and were fully aware of the fact