Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1882-11-16
ne Cow Boy pusl.

EAs OoW boy D1el.
John Kelly, one Of the participant,
Ia the famous ''cow boy duel, recent.
iy arrived at Denver. He Is a re-
markabie man. Born in Buffalo about
thirty years ago. he came West at an
early age. and became pretty well
known as kid Frank" After lead
ing an adventurous life he married a
well-to-do Mexican woman, and by
her secured fine rancho forty miles
square IN old Mexico, on the San Pc.
dros River, close 20 the line. He be.
came known far and wide " his skill
IN shooting, and was generally avoid
ed by men desirous 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, xorth nearly
Sl00.UOO. He determined to sell
1000 head. and gathering up | 500
head more, he started to drive to Dem
yer, distance Of nearly 500 miles
His outfit consisted Of thirty-two cow
boys, and Frank took command CT
expedition.
The trip was very long and se-
we're one, but by using great care the
losses were small. The party started
May %. and made a slow march
across the burning plains and track
less wastes of Arizona and New Mex
icos until Sept. found them so miles
north of Trinidad and an equal dis
tance east of Cucharas. The Kelly
outfit went into camp for day near
she camp Of George Howard, q large
cattle grower.
The latter had herd of 8, 900 cat
tie, and commanded twenty-eight
COW boys. The. two herds became
mixed up while travelling close to-
gether, and Howard made a claim for
cattle which Kelly considered unjust
and refused it. This angered How
ard, and words followed. Kelly
claimed Howard had some of bis cat
tie, and offered to exchange; but the
latter refused. and the quarrel be-
came very dangerous. The COW bows
on each side gathered around and be-
gan to handle their weapons in a man
ner which indicated that they meant
business.
Kelly saw the danger. He knew
1t a 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 human life the
huge herds Of cattle would be scat
tered and all hands ruined. Just as
the cloud Of war was about to burst
ne conceived a plan TO avoid blood
shed, and broached it to Howard. who
agreed to it. The plan was as fol-
lows /: Each was to select six COW
boys, the best shots in their ouGfits.
and placing them in line fifty yards
distant on horseback, to give the
word Fire p and let them settle the
dispute. This novel method OF set
ting difference was hailed with de-
light by the men on each side, and
volunteers were numerous. Kelly Sc
iected six men who had been with him
a long time, and been tried and proved
IN many q desperate situation. How
ard 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 camp and coolIy made preparations
for the feast Of death. They groomed
their horses, oiled and cleaned their
revolvers, and putting their saddles
on with care, rode oilt to the fight.
Kid Franks" men were armed with
Winchester revolvers, aS' and A cali |
bre. long bsrrelled. and Howard 3 six |
carried Colts improved. Each man |
knew his weapon and his horse, and |
al were fully aware Of the fact that
the men standing 50 grimly in front |
Of them were equally well equipped. /
The opposing duslist were drawn |
up in line facing each other st 8 |
o'clock In the afternoon. The sight |
was one which few men have looked |
upon. 1uty yAEos apart STOOD like /
statues two lines Of men. horse and |
rider almost one, every duslist grasp
ing . huge. glittering revolver 10 |
each hand, with the reins in his teeth |
or hanging loosely. for these dare |
devil riders Of the South guide their |
horses with their knees, as the scarce
II more savage Indian does. Around |
about, carelessly nthe range Of stray |
bullets. were the friends d both par- |
ties mounted on their horses. watch |
ing the fight and TO see that no ad-
vantage should Be taken. At either
side was the chief. who had sent these |
men out to die. Over all brooded . /
death-like silence. while on all the
swelling, rolling. silent plain shone
The gold Of the bright September sun. |
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