Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-11-23
A DUEL IN PROSPECT.
Col. Atkins Says That Rucker and
Blackburn Will Fight.
THEY BOTH WANT BLOOD.
Judge Ferriirs Connection with the At
fair Shows That RuciSer Means Busi-
ness-Terrill's Record as an All
Around Fire Eater.

NEW YORK, Nov. 2s The Mail and Elk
press says
Editor John Atkins, OF The Rocky Noun
tain News, of Denver, Colo, was asked at the
Fifth Avenue hotel if he thought Judge
Fuckers open letter to Senator Blackburn
would result in duel He said:
81 confess that did not think there was
anything serious in Judge Fuckers attitude
toward Senator Blackburn until Judge w. G..
Ferrill was brought into the matter. see
by the papers that Judge Ferrill said Judge
Rucker wanted to meet Senator Blackburn
on the field OF honor. Ii Judge FerrilI Is
quoted correctly, and believe he is, have
no doubt that duel is contemplated Judge
Ferrill is not the man to engage in any affair
of honor Unless business is meant. Whatever
have said about Judge Rucker will do him
the justice now of saying that his connection
with Judge Ferrill shows he intends TO fight
Judge Ferril has a remarkable record for
courage and daring and Judge RuclSer Is well
aware that il he is backed by him there Is no
retreat from square, open fight on the field
of honor
I" Then you think there will be a duelr
g II know there will be If Judge Ferrill still
con sinues to be Judge Fuckers friend Judge
Ferrill is one Of the most remarkable men in
the west, and his history is the record of the
bravest pioneer, Kit Carson not excepted.
He is six feet three inches high, and proper
toned like young Hercules. There never
was cooler man under fire and a better
shot Just before the Sand creek massacre,
and indeed before the Hungate family were
cruelty slain by the Indians, Judge Ferrill had
started TO hold court in a distant settlement
He aad heard the Indians were on the war
patti, but that did not deter him from going
In a lonely part of the country, not far
from canyon, the Indians attacked him.
He heard them coming, and knowing they
could overtake him IL he ran, he decided TO
fight for his life. Dislnounting be shot his
horse dead and made breastwork of the
animals body and few stray rocks. Armed
with a sixteen-shooting rifle and two pistols
he boldly faced the Indians. They num-
berei about thirty and attacked him with
wild ysls and volley from their old guns.
To make long story short, Judge FefIill
fought them twelve hours and killed over
half of them. They tried all kinds of STRAIT
egy to get him to leave his brcastworks
A big Indian, noted for strength, crawled
up behind the judge while the others were
shooting at him from the front, and
spra az upon his back. He managed to
wrench the redsllin off and mashed his skull
with blow from his powerful fist. In the
mean time the Indians in front charged. But
he was too quick for them, and picked them
! Off with ease before they could reach him.
After the battle he coolly proceeded on foot
to inc Greek and held court This encounter
established his reputation. In 1879 Leadville
was overrun by rougis and no citizens life
was safe. A deputation of citizens wrote to
Judge Ferrill and asked him to come to Lead
vile and help thea. He went and immedi-
ately organized vigilance committee. His
life was threatened by the roughs, but he did
not mind it. An example had to be made,
and the judge headed posse Of citizens pro-
ceeded to the county jail, took two notorious
footpads and mine jumpers, Stewart and
FoTdham, therefrom. and hanged them. He
then warned the other roughs to leave or be-
come peaceable citizens. The citizens owed
their deliverance to Judge Ferrrill, but he
would not consent to pose as leader or ac-
cept any honors. His feats in hand to hand
conflicts are well known. One time while
riding on the plains, he was surrounded by
two Indians and three half breeds. They
started to kin him at once. He called the
half breeds towards, and said he would fight
three Of them on foot with bowie knives. The
half breeds were very expert with knives, and
in a spirit of mockery consented. lie killed
two, wounded the third and frightend the In
4
who is backing Judge Rucker, and there will
be no foolishness'
NEW York, Nov 23.--A special to The
World from Denver says Judge Rucker has
written long letter to Senator Blackburn,
in the course Of which he says:
~ will say that you are pursuing exactly
the course a coward might be expected to
pursue under like circumstances, and GER
tainly it is not the part of courage TO de-
nounce a man and at the same time assure
him that your position is so much more ex-
alted than his that he need not expect redress
from you. , It rests with you to say
what the result of the controversy shall he.n
The special also says that Judge Rucker
has put his case in the hands Of his friend,
Col John G. Moore. Moore has figured i'm
several duels. including those between ex-
Governor Marmaduke, Of Missouri. and Gen.
Walker, in which the latter was killed, and
the one between Mcclure and Whitsstt in
Denver, in which Mcclure was killed.