Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-31
DUEL WITH KNIVES
Interesting Experience OF a From
tiersnan.
a Tong search for the E<fiow Who Caused
hLs Fathers Bankruptcy and Dszthr-
The Tragedy al a sIin-
iDE Saa4p.
lSt PauiDayI

register Of the Merchant last night and
headed for the check-room 70 deposit his
leather grip and bear-skin oyerc0at, he
struck a reporter a. a character ia frOnsier
history. He Was tall and angular. swaFthy
Of complexion, dark Of hair and wore full
beard lightly tinged with gray his close
set lips betOkened resolution, his dark
brown eye alertness, his 1.-the Int muscular
limbs activity. His natural dilidence was
soon overcome by the reporter pc suasion
and be gave the following story OF his life:
my father was "a manufacturer in Mass
achgsetts, aud was considered IN easy cir
oumstances. I was bis only son, and was
gr.atly favored both ia and out OF school.
IL was ia the beginning OF 1870 that re-
turned home late one nj ght from ball, and
was surprised ID see a l>-at ia my fathers
library. / was greatly attached 10 him,
and felt that ii he was in trouble must
share it with him. 80 raped at his door.
but he did not answer. Becoming impa-
tlent, burst il open, and was shocked to
see him lying on the i'Ocr unconscious,
with a lot OF papers strewn about. | awoke
the household, end soon had him cared for.
The next morning the factory did not open
my father was bankrupt.
''He did not survive the disaster for he
died before the next evening. On his
death bed be told me MS book keeper had
swindled him out OF fortune of nearly
S55,0)O and had He'd, no one knew where. I
swore 10 avenge the wrong that had been
done him, and | am pleased % say l have
succeeded. The gold fever in California
was aging then, and after settling up my
fathers affairs and seeing that my mother
and sisters were provided for, started for
the 'diggin's.'
at was a rosy morning in July when
arrived in San Francisco, and as | walked
np the streets men were grouped together
everywhere talking of the mines. Luck
appeared TO be with me i'm the start, for a
party OF ruidy miners called me to them
and asked whether | would like to join a
party going out 10 the mines in the Big
Tree district. They appeared very pleas
ant and | at once assented. They seemed
TO be grati6ed at my readiness and grasped
me heartily by the hand They were pre-
possessed with my appearance. | was
then little over twenty. We started on
our way next day, and soon reached the
diggin's. You never saw such a scene,
shacks, canvas tents, crowds of burly
men, gathered in groups-but ! won't
worry you with details. During the
six years that ensued | had got to-
gether $4,000 which | considered a very
fair stake, for number of others who
were there as long as |, had nothing. One
day | was told that a stranger had come to
the diggin's with the intention OF buying
up some claims and operating them by
machinery. did not pay much attention
to the news, but went out walking. As /
was leisurely pacing along through piece
of timber about ten in the morning, heard
two men talking. do not know why, but
something induced me TO listen. So, get
ting closer. the first distinct sentence I
heard was: 1t matters little how it is done
We Dlust get rid of Campbell, or we will
have TO operate in some other part of the
country.
what could IL mean: ! did not have an
enemy in California that knew Of They
talked on for some time; the one man with
a sharp, shrill voice at last agreed to paw
the other 300 to kill me. and gave him
half the amount there. They then separ-
at0d and followed the principal who was
so eager 20 rid himself Of me. He went to
the saloon kept by a Frenchman, who was
0afting wealthy by selling bad whisky and
ing money on nuggets to the miners
.or drinks. There was something about the
stranger that appeared familiar to me, SO
/ sat down in a dark corner and kept
watch. He went up to the bar and began
talking with the Frenchman in low tone.
A number of the miners were sitting
around telling stories. when, after one had
been finished. Charles Wilson. a reckless
sort of a fellow, jumped up and ordered
drinks. Seeing me in the corner. be said:
"COme, Campbell and join US" had nv
eye on she stranger when my name was
called. and | noticed that he started and
grew pale. Wilson invited him also to have
a drink, but he declined. This did not suit
Wilson, and he told the stranger that he
had to drink. The latter then complied.
and as he put the glass 10 his trembling
lips / recognized him. The little finger of
the right hand was Cone, and knew then
shat Il was my fathers old book keeper,
Burton. My first impulse was to shoot him
down without further notice. Hemust have
felf sure that did not know him. as he had
grown n fui heard. fairly screamed
whom I told the miners 10 stand back; that
I had an old score 70 settle with that man.
Walking up 70 him said: DO you know
meY
So, 10 not know you nor DO | wish to-
be replied hotlv.
then told him vi, was and what I
meant TO do. The miners insisted on nv
telling tbem what he had done 20 me. and
when bad reisted his villainy they agreed
with me and said You must avenge your
father For suly an instant I took my
eyes of him. hut during that time hs
pulIed his pistol and would have shot me
hat for my partner. who shrs~ his arm
NJ. and the ball whirzed hprml ssslv past
my heal. Burton saw there was M escape
frsn fikhfinx, - he cane up boliiv II
was decided among The miners that is
would be more like avsngiax mv father n /
I Killed him with = knife So - formed In