Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-12-17
DANGEROUS WEAPONS.
A Furious Battle Between Preacher
and Desperate.
FRESNO, Cal. Expositor.I


fresno, CAL, ENpositor.l
Quite a number Of gentlemen occu-
pied the sitting-room Of The Hughes
last night. Many and varied were
the subjects discussed. Agricultural
and horticultural topics were made
in turn objects of disquisition.
THOMAS TALKS.
W.R. Thomas was an interested lis
tsner, and at frequent interval. had
more or less to say on every subject
that came before the assemblage.
speaking of Irish potatoes, " inter-
ruptedI Mr.. Thomas, reminds me
of a famous Kentucky duel which
was fought in 184S," and his listners
looked surprised that the question of
Irish Potatoes should have suggest
ed another entirely foreign to it
that of dueling.
"Tell you about it? Well, Bill
Bowman, in those days was noted
preacher, who lived near Hopkins
vile, Christian county. He Is a typi-
cal Kentuckiap, tall, angular and
muscular. Like Sam Jones, he al
ways said what he thought. In the
midst of revival meeting one night
a well-known desperate walked in
to the church and began making a
disturbance.
BOWMAN ON HIS MUSCLE.
"With eyes flashing with indigna-
ton, Bill Bowman arose, and In a
ringing voice, publicly reproved the
desperate, who at once retired from
the church. The next morning the
desperate sent challenge to Bow
man TO fight him duel. The preach
er accepted the challenge. Yes, sir;
that's Just what he did. There WAS
no four-column newspaper account,
no railroad trips from the adjoining
States, nothing but two little notes
one a challenge the other an accept
ance-and then all was ready for the
fight.
THE MINISTER SELECTS THE WEAPONS.
"Thc town was terribly excited,
for such thing as preacher fight
ing duel had never been heard of
before. The preacher being the chal-
lcnged man, had the choice of weap-
Ons. What did he select? Why,
half bushel of Irish potatoes as big
as his fist for each man, and stipulat-
ed that his opponent must stand Is
PAGES distant, and only one potato at
time to be taken from the measure.
Tue town was wild with delight, for
everyone knew that Bill Bowman
could throw with his long muscular
arm rs straight and almost as swift
US rifle could send bullet singing
towards the target, The deperado
was furious at being thus freshly in
suited, and made an indignant pro-
test against such a fight; but Bill
bowman insisted that he was the
challenged man, and had right to
choose his own weapons, and threat
ened 10 denounce the desperate as
coward if he failed to come TO time.
lie WAS FORCED TO FIGHT.
"As there was no way out Of the
box but to fight, the desperate finally
consented TO meet the minister on the
field of honor. The fight took place
On Tic Outbhiitb VI tnC tOWh. GNOig-
body inkAopkinsville was present 10
see the fun. The seconds arranged
the two men in position, by the side
of each being half-bushel measure
filled with Irish potatoes as hard as
rocks. Bill Bowman threw the first
potato. 1t struck central shot, and
flew into thousand pieces. A yell
of delight went up from the crowd,
which ratified the desperate, and his
potato flew wide of the tall, bony
preacher. Bill Bowman watched his
chance and every time his opponen,
stooped for a potato another hit him
in the side, leaving a wet spot on his
clothes, and then scattering itself TO
the four winds of heaven. The min
lister hit the desperate about fvs
times and then the sixth potato
struck him ia the short ribs, knock
ing him completely out of wind and
doubling him up on the grass.
THE DEsPERADo vAEQUIsHED
The people were almost crazy with
laughter, but Bill Bowman looked as
sober as if he had just preached fu.
neral sermon. The desperate was
taken home and put to bed, and there
he staid for more than week before
he recovered from the effects of his
Irish potato duel, The old men in
Hopkinsville still talk about that
celebrated duel"
Mr.. Thomas concluded his story,
which, strange to say, suggested 10
another member Of the party the
more moist question of irrigation,
and the entire asoemblsge repaired
TO the refreshment department OF the
Hughes.