Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-20
STATEN ISLAND DUELISTS.
A Furious Encounter with Bowie
Knives.

On last Sunday afternoon John Con-
nor, known also as Red Leary, met
James Brady, alias California Jim, in
saloon in Clifton, not far from the Sea-
mems Retreat Hospital. The men were
old acquaintance, the greeting between
them was warm, and they enjoyed nu-
merous drinks together. Nothing I'M
pleasant occurred until the evening was
far advanced, when, it is alleged,
wordy war took place. Each charged
the other with being his secret deadly
enemy.
"Chin music" said Red Leary, bring.
ing the discussion to a head, sis the
amusement of boys. You and are
men; let us settle our differences like
men,"
"That suits me-" replied the Califor-
MAN, as he shook Leary's hand.
''How will we settle it2" asked Leary
I'm willing to try it with bowie
knives, was the reply, and these weap.
ons were agreed on.
The men took another drink together
IN an apparently friendly manner, and
left the saloon. Both were considerably
under the influence of liquor, but their
language was coherent and their gait
steady. Their conversation in the sa.
loon was overheard by several persons,
but nobody imagined that they had any
intention of entering on a deadly con-
tiict, especially as it was known that
word quarrels were matter of frequent
occurrence between them. Both were
runners for rival sailors boarding houses
in this city, and they relied on securing
4hafx IL
while off the boarding station, near Cliff
ton.
When they left the saloon they were
followed at respectful distance by
few young men, who thought they might
possibly be serious in their agreement
to fight duel, and such proved to be
the fact They proceeded to a secluded
spot on the deserted road known as Cliff
street, and entered on their deadly work
in thoroughly business-like manner
They removed their outer clothing, and,
shaking hands, each pledged his word to
the other that, no matter what the result
should be, neither man would make
charge or give any evidence before a
court of justice They were stationed
ten feet apart, with the knives cleaning
aloft in the right hand of each. Every
thing being ready, Leary gave the word:
Gone, two, three"
The echo had not rebounded from the
trees above when they were embraced in
deathly grip. Their curses and fierce
cries could be distinctly heard at dis
lance of quarter of mile. The youths
who had kept on their trail rushed in all
directions yelling aloud for the police.
Several minutes elapsed before an officer
could be found, but finally two of them
arrived and separated the combatants.
At the time, Brady was underneath, his
antagonist on his throat, and both strug
Cling like grim death Both had received
several wounds, the most dangerous
being those in Brady's breast and alb
domen.
Leary was arrested and taken to the
station house at Stapleton, and Brady
was removed in wagon to his home in
Clifton, where he was attended by DR..
Feeny, who had little hopes of saving
his life, as the steel had penetrated the
lungs and intestines. Toward midnight
he grew weaker, and a Catholic priest
and Coroner Ambrose were summoned
to his bedside. He admitted to the
Coroner that he had received his wounds
at the hands of Leary. The priest then
administered the last rites of the church
He was still alive on Monday; but little
hopes were entertained of his final re-
covery.