The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-09-28
EST VA. THURSDAY. MORNING. sEPTENB
A DUEL IN THE DARK.
A Thrilling Romance From n Texas
-.- y Mining Ghmn. IL ~ y.

.t.e ,.r MINING CAMP I..aeIH
DALLAS, TEX, September o7.-The Ern
ing Tims publishes n letter from Carrie
Pass, 600 miles west Of Dallas, giving an nc
count Of hostile meeting between I've
miners In the Pecos Mining Company.
camp, twenty miles north Of the Mexican
border, last Monday night. The duelists
were George llollenbcck and YIN. STRAIT.
ton, both New Workers, born and raised
near Palmyra; they were Of rich descent ol
the early IlolhndeB. They were educated
Mt Cambridge; tho former graduated rs a
lawyer and the latter as physician. They
came out oil college about the same time Of
Lineolns first call for volunteers to sup
press the Southern rebellion. They en-.
listed and went through the war,
serving in Colonel Gordon's One Hun.
dred and Forty.fourth New York Regi.
ment. At the close Of the war they re-
turned home, but finding professional pur.
suits TOO tame Tor them they concluded to
60 West Before they left home a diHi.
Guilty arose between them which was pre-.
vented from ending in, bloodshed by the
Interruption OF mutual friends. Before
they had chance to meet again Stratton
sought bis fortune in the Far West. lie
wandered to California, where he went to
work rs miner. Ilollenbeck went in the
same direction, but stopped at Colorado,
where he also became u miner. They
never heard Of each other after this. They
have since followed the business OF mining,
but have never become US rich as they nj
first expected. A few days ago they
met in the Pecos mining camp and
recognized each other. The school and
social polish had been rubbed oil by
the trial and hardships incident to life
in /. the mining camps. Hollenbcck was
oyerjoycd to meet Stratton, who repelled
him and said they would settle that little
unfinished difficulty which arose between
them at their lust meeting. Hollenbeck
said.he had forgotten al about the difficulty
referred 10, and entertained to ill-feelings
whatever against him. Stratton insisted on
q settlement according 10 the code. IIollen.
beck said il nothing short OF that would do
he would accommodate him. Accordingly
arrangements were econsummated for duel.
They were to fight with pistols in dark
room. Each was to announce ready, after
which q third party was 10 count three,
when they were to fire. The room was ass
dark as Egypt. They went in and m.
nounced ready from opposite corners.
Zone, two, three, and Stratton fired. STRAIT.
ton fired q second shot, but the only 70.
sponse from Ilollenbeck was groan. Strut.
ton believing he had wounded Hollen.
beck fired third shot in the direction
Of the groaning. The report OF pistol
came from corner directly opposite from
where the groan appeared to proceed from
and Stratton fell. No more shots being ex-
changed the miners opened the room and
entered. a Light revealed the fact that
Stratton had been killed, while Hollenbeck
was unhurt. 1lollenbeck is venlriloquist,
aud, on entering the room, took his stand
in diagonal corner from his adversary,
and TO make him believe he was in the
opposite corner, threw hi' voice in that
quarter OF the room, where the bullets OF
his adversary's pistol harmlessly buried
themselves In the wall. 1t had been so
long since they had seen each other that
dollenbeck's ventriloquism had entirely
escaped the memory OF Stratton. The affair
has caused great deal OF excitement
throughout the camp; but as anything is
called fair in such business, no fault is
found by the miners with the strategy EN-.
ployed by Holenbeck.