Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-10-21
DUEI. I'm TIE DARK.
\ THRILLING ROMANCE FROM A TEXAS
MINING CAMP.

~ ihIlsl.lNG lbOhANNL tAOh - LNNS
MINING CAMP.
A letter from Csrrizo Pass, six hun
dred miles west of Dallas, Texas, gives
an account OF fatal duel between two
miners in the Pecos Mining Ccmpanys
camp last Monday night The dueists
were George Hollenbeck and William
Stratton, both born and raised near
Palmyra, New York. They were edu-
Gated at Cambridge, and the former
had graduated as lawyer, and the lat
ter rs a physician, and had served to
gether, during the war, in New York
regiment. Subsequently they went
West, but not together, as a quarrel had
occurred, which would have ended in
bloodshed but for the interpostion OF
friends. Though they both became
miners, they never met till they en-
countered one another in the PCcos
mining camp Hollenbeck was over
ioyed to meet Stratton, who repelled
him and said that they would settle that
little unfinished difficulty which arose
between them at their last meeting.
Hollenbeck said he had forgotten all
about the difficulty referred to, and en-
tertained oil feelings whatever against
him. S:ratton insisted on settlement
according to the code. Hollenbeck
said if nothing short of that would do,
he would accommodate. Accordingly,
arrangements were consummated tor "A
duel. They were to fight with pistols
in a dark room. All the arrangements
being made, they met in room as dark
as Egypt.
They announced themselves ready,
and, after the words "One, two, tbree!
from an outsider, the firing commenced.
Stratton had fred twice, but the only
..oponsU from IIollenbeck WAC a p UaIl.
S,ratton, believing he had wounded
Iollenbeck, fired third shot in the di-
rection OF the groaning. The report Of
pistol came from corner directly op-
posire from where the groan appeared
TO proceed, and Stratton fell. No more
shots being exchanged, the miners
opened the room and entered. A light
revealed the fact that Stratton had been
killed, while Hollenbeck was unhurt.
Hollenbeck is a ventriloquist, and, on
entering the room took his stand in n
diagonal corner from his adversary, and
to make him believe he was in the op-
posite corner, threw his voice in that
quarter of the room, where the bullets
of his adversary's pistol harmlessIy
buried themselves in the wall. The at
fair has caused great deal of excitment
throughout the camp; but as anything is
called fair in such business, no fault is
found by the miners with the strategy
employed by IIollenbeck.
FACTS. Most of the grnmbling in
the world is done by those who do the
least work
1t is almost as difficult to get pleas
ant word from some people as it is tofly.
The average tramp is mealy mouth.
ed fellow at the best OF times.
The minister that talks common sense
to his congregation understands human
nature.
The secret of being happy lies in the
ability 10 make the best OF everything.
The trifer with the affections of 9TH
ers will come TO grief sooner or later.
You might as we'll try to catch the
devil with prayer book on hook as
to keep back the hand of time
The influence Of good women saves
more men than all the preachers in the
world.
a baulky horse has been the cause OF
many a good deacon shattering the third
commandment.
a base ball game without quarrel
would be as insipid as love without
kisses.
The family that makes the longest
and loudest prayers is not always the
one which pays the highest prices to
its washerwUman.