Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-05-18
A FEARFUL ORDEAL.
Changed Into an Old Man at the
Age Of Thirty-six.
"DIcl" Allen, Although Possessed Of Iron
Nerve, Meets with an Adventure
Which Wrecks His Physical
System.

Occupying seat in the reading
room Of a downtown hotel one day
last week, says the Alta California,
there might have been observed a
seemingly aged gentleman, whose hair
was gray and whose cheeks were shriv-
eled. A pallor of death was on his
face, and frequently the muscles OF his
features would twist convulsively.
His name was Richard j. Allen. and he
registered himself as hailing from
Toronto, Ont.
Five years ago Richard Allen, or
Dick Allen, as he was familiarly
known by his associates, owned, or at
least claimed and occupied, stock
range of considerable area in Southern
Arizona, the Mexican boundary line
being distant but few miles. He
owned large number of beef cattle
and was considered well-to-do.
Among the rough population of the
border Allen was power. He was
most generously gifted by nature, hav-
ing a well-knit, athletic frame and a
mind well stored with knowledge.
But it was Aliens nerve which se-
cured for him recognition and affluence
amid the cactus-hecked plains of
Arizona and New Mexico-a nerve
which knew no flinching even in the
face Of death. The greasers and
Indians soon learned to dread the tall
stockman, for in more than one en-
counter they had come off badly
worsted, and more than one unmarked
grave on the Mexican frontier bears
silent witness to Aliens unerring aim,
for he never hesitated to kill when he
thought himself justified. Very little
is considered justification among the
class with which Allen was associated.
So greatly was he feared and respected
by his wild companions and neighbors
that nothing bearing his brand was
ever molested, and the most daring
of the cowboys and outlaws seldom
tempted death by too prolonged argu-
men with him.
AS an illustration of his iron nerve
it may be related that at one time in
1884 he was given warning to keep
away from certain small settlement
some ten miles from his ranch, he
having incurred the displeasure OF a
gang OF notorious cut-throats there.
Allen smiled grimly as he read the
warning, then strapped on his re-
volver and set forth for the hostile
hamlet. He tied his horse in the rear
of saloon and started to enter when
pistol shot was heard and bullet
whistled passed his head. Allen
turned. Not more than twenty feet
away stood "Dan, a half-breed Indian.
with revolver in his hand. As Allen
turned three more balls passed in close
proximity to his head. He knew the
Indian had one shot left. With g
scornful smile he said; "Fire again,
you, and fire lower"
The Indian did so and the next In.
slant his spirit had left the arid plains
of Arizona forever. Then Allen strode
into the saloon, where at least half g
dozen of his enemies were gathered,
and demanded to know who sent him
the warning. No one answered and
after roundly cursing the gang fol
their cowardice he left and went home.
For two months he battled hard with
death, for the last bullet fired by the
Indian had lodged in his right breast
almost piercing the lung.
1t was some three months after this
occurrence that Allen met with mis-
hap that hurled him from the heights
of sturdy manhood to an existence
little removed from death. 1t was il
the summer of 1885. All day long
Allen had been hard at work branding
a lot of yearling steers at point some
twenty miles from his dugout, and al
night he was completely worn out 1
was a wearisome gallop from tht
branding-place to his cheerless habi
tation, for the air was sultry and thu
baked ground gave forth an intense
heat 1t was nearly eleven O'Clock
when the stockman reach his desti
nation, and glad was he when his pony
was safely stabbed for the night anC
he was at liberty to retire. He wa
about to creep into bed when his quicl
ear detected slight noise in th,
direction OF his stable, and he knew
at once that providers were about
Seizing his revolver he started for tn
stable on his hands and knees, for h,
intended to kill and not to alarm, hav
ing no garments on other than hi
undershirt. The noise at the stabli
continued and Allen moved rapidly to
ward the sound. So intent was he ol