Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-11-10
Duel TO the Death.

The Iuyo independent tells OF a singular ana
bloody ehooting affair which occurred recently
between Gordon Ellis and Pat shea, at BEN
uett's Ranch, Lincoln County, New, out to-
ward Colorado. A short time before the tight
Ellis sold some borax locations to the Coleman
Borax Company, receiving 5000 therefor. On
the day before his last he got into dispute
with Mexican with whom he was gambling.
He notified the Mexican that he would then
and there shoot him, but only through the leg,
as a warning what would happen it he the'
Mexican) did not conduct himself In q proper
manner. Thereupon he did shoot the Mexican
through the leg, aud things went smoothly un-
Ill the following day
Ellis then had some difficulty with Shea, with
whom he was gambling, and told Shea that
he meant to shoot him through the leg, as
he had the Mexican the preceding day, if
Shea did not mend his ways Shea dared
him to shoot an unarmed man, as he then was
Ellis blazed away at Shea's leg, sending a ball
through it below the knee. Shea began abus-
ing Ellis, whereupon, after due notice, Ellis
perforated Shea's other leg. During the shoot
ing some men present had started to their
camp, a short distance away, to get their Hem
ry rifles, whether merely TO protect their own
legs or with view of interfering in behalf of
the wounded man, can only be surmised-
While returning with their rifles they met
Ellis, and with drawn guns compelled him to-.
go back. Coming up to where Shea was, the
latter, applying a foul epithet to one of the
men with the rifles, added: You cowardly-
seoundrel, you want TO shoot an unarmed
man, too. do your" At this the man addressed
replied: If you think lam coward, come
out here. you cursed fool" concluding his.
remark by throwing his gun down on the
ground near Shea and brandishing his fists.
Shea, though with pistol shot through each
leg, advanced In threatening manner toward
the man, but got no further than the rifle,
which he immediately snatchcd up.
UD to this point Ellis had rem aired sitting
on his horse, apparently disnterested specta-
tor; but when he saw Shea pick up the gun he
instantly slid Off his horse on the side
furthest from Shea The latter then cried to-
ELLIS: Nov. If you want to shoot at my legs
any more, step out from behind that horse
and blaze away" Ellis held his position be-
hind the horse. Shea told him that he did not
want to shoot the horse but that if he did not
come out at once, and "come a shootin'," h6s
would drop the horse so that he could shoot
the man. Ellis saw there was no help for it.
and, lodging under his horses head, 'came
shootin sure enough, his first shot striking
Shea (already twice wounded) in the groin and
elancing upward. Shea, however, remained
standing long enough to fire two shots at Ellis,
the first with tritiing effect, but the second
knocking him in death throes to the ground.
Shea falling at the same instant Recovering,
Shea rose 10 sitting posture and called to the
men who had in the meantime rushed in to.
"Stand out of the way till give the scoundrel
another shot. The dying man hearing the re-
got enough. Shea was assured there was no
need OF another shot, and lay down satisfied.
Fills almost Immediately breathed his last De-
ceased had 500 on his person, which was used
to defray burial expenses. The Independent
does not say whether Shea survived or not.