The Osceola times., 1882-03-04
A DUEL FOR DOLLARS.
tSan Francisco Call. ]

Itfltps tue must luuitiour anh iNN-'oh'N
duel ever fought in this state was the one in
which the principals were Billy Mulligan
and Jimmy Douglass, in the early fall OF 1901
At Coyote Hill, within mile of Mokelumne
Hill, on a sultry, hot afternoon, with acrowd
Of sports and roughs, and sprinkling of
more respectable citizens, as interested or
curious witeesses. 1t was, individually, a
battle between the North and south--be-
tween champion of the "chiyalry," who
never recognized the man himself or his
claim to the championship, and the cham
pon of the class who admitted the distinc-
ton, because the wearer had won it, and
would admit il only SO long as he maintained
IL. In size and nature, but not in figure or
face, the two were equal and much alike,
and either was ready at fighting, although
Douglass was more in the habit Of using
deadly weapons than Mulligan, and he had
killed his man--an escaping Mexican horse
thief, whom he shot dead at a single fire
from horseback while in the pursuit OF the
wretch near stockton. II had established
his reputation as II desperate man, and
he bore the distinguished honor as Roman
warrior wore the laurel. Mulligan had no
doubt killed men in battle, but no human
blood was yet upon his hands in personal
encounter. Under Colonel Jack Hays, In
his famous Texas Rangers, during the war
with Mexico, Mulligan had
PERFORMED pRoDIGIEs OF yALoR.
often volunteering for expeditions which
promised certain death unless something
akin to miracle interposed TO save here and
there A man, and with equal galantry and
H., no hu a cd IN, al har commands
in that memorable war which gave Califor-
MIA TO the victors. lie had no conception
OF fear, and was apparently thoughtless oi
life when his impulse or his passion impeiled
hin TO act so as to jeopardiZe IL. Small as
he was in stature and light of frame, he was
as young David, in proiane way, TO ev-
cry boastful Goliath, nevertheless, and II VIII
remain TO his credit that he never exercised
his vehemeuce or his violence upon inofen-
sive, respectable persons. lie was simply u
"roughr to the "roughs." 1t has been re-
marked of him, since his tragic death in this
city, in the summer of 1863, after he had, in
u 1T of delrium tremcns, shot dead an inof-
tending young man and one OF his own
chums, that he was the only one OF his class
the Vigilance Committee ever hsld in dur
ance who exhibited no signs of fear, or who
did not quail or weaken. And il is true that
his exploits in the hghtug line were against
men much his superior in size aud strength.
But he had the pluck and fighting qualities
of bull terrier, and his features plainly be-
tokened this similarity of nature. Douglass
was all bulldog, and no match for Mulligan
in fist fight. The exact cause of the quar-
rel between these two human gamecocks Is
not known, nor does it matter. They had
agreed to settle it, at all events,
UPON THE FIELD on HONOR,
so-called, according to the code--littlc as
,l.fe thamsaINns know nf what
the code consisted, or what II required, ms
the meeting itself aud the conduct of all IL
involved clearly showed. They were TO fight
with navy iiye-shooters, at twelve PAGES dis
tanee, but the word was TO be given ut each
fire. The pair came on the ground in the
spirit of men 10 be rewarded Tor some good
deed more than as two to risk life In trying
10 take that of the other. Little time was
lost in prcliminaries, n the principals were
alike admonishing their seconds TO hurry
up, now, boys, aud let's finish the thing
quick, so as not to keep the crowd waiting"
Each meantime walked in apparent high
glee about the ground, shaking hands with
their friends, and exchanging with them
rough pleasantries and ribald Jokes. At
length "Timev' was called, and the two
were assigned their respective places, across
the sun, with the shade Of the steep high hill
almost reaching the battle ground. The
pistols were handed 10 them and the order
of firing explained. At the moment the sec
ond of Douglass. who had won the word,
asked were they ready Mulligan spoke,
directing his speech to his adversary, in n
loud bantcrng tone, at the same time draw
ing from his leit-hand pantaloons pocket
one of the
oCrAGoN FIrrY-DoLLAR GOLD PIECES
then in circulation, and holding it out
towards Douglass, said :" I'll bet youa 'dobe
, hat DON'T bit mn - fEla - 'Iobg'
the gold piece. Douglass ut once expressed
his readiness to take the wager, and also
drew from his pocket-changing his pistol
TO his left hand to do sO-a similar coin. The
two stepped forward to u chosen stakehold-
or aud put up the money. Then, rcsumlng
their places they awaited the word. The
lire was nearly equal in time--neither was
hit. Again, while waiting for the word,
Billy bantcred Douglass for anotherbc and
changed the terms thus: "l'll bet you an
other 'dobe that you don't hit me, and hit
you.n Again it was miss on each side,
and repeating the bet each fire, in the form
given the second time. the two put up iifty
dellars on each succeeding fire until the NTH
aud last shot, when the ball from Douglass's
pistol passed through the ileshy part of Null
ligan's shoulder, inflicting wound that
caused him merely to vince, but which he
declared was nothing but scratch with q
scratch shot" lie had won one of his bet,
and lost four. and he remarked that he would
like to have
ANOTHER CHANCE foR HIS MONEY.
The question of life or death did not seem
TO occur to him or concern him. Ii was with
evident dissatisfaction he submitted to the
decision of the seconds, aftera surgeon who
was present as n spectator, had examined
the wound and advised no more shooting
that the duel should cease. Both were com
plimented by the crowd for their nerve, and
Mullgan received the most and warmest OF
| these congratulations, together with con
dolemonts. He and Douglass were brooghi
to shake hands and "make it all up :" and
as the winner OF the day in shooting rs wei
as in money, Jimmy expressed himself sat
isdcd. declared Mulligan had proved himself
"a regular gentleman" and announced &c
the crowd that he intended to "spend every
- cent of the money in big blowout In
town" that night; to which he then ano
there extended au "opcn invitation to every
------o on the ground" lnafew
minutes down the hill into town the whole
party marched, Mulligan, bandaged by the
surgeon-one of the crowd having given bis
"biled shirt while two others gave theil
handkerchiefs tor the purposc--and support
ed on one side by Douglass and on the othel
| by his own second, over the rough and tor