The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-11-30
A DUEL WITH POTATOES.
HOW a KENTUCKY PREACHER ONCE
WHIPPED A BULLY.

HOW a KENTUCKY PREACHER ONCE
WHIPPED A BULLY.
Pugnaclty Tho Ncichborl,ood BULLY
Wanted to Settle with the Preacher
and He Got tho Chance.
This story is told by DIR. Ii. G. Morri-
son:
Speaking of minister's, remarked Dr.
Morrison, "reminds me of celebrated
duel that occurred in Millarstown, Gray
son county, KY, in 1913. In that case
preacher was one of the principals in an
affair of honor.
1.-The preacher was Rev. Mr.. Bowman,
better known as Fighting Bill Bowman
a long, raw boncd, rough-and-ready kind
of man, full of piety and pugnacity.
off another preacher got upin the pull
pit and started preaching it all depended
upon Bills views on the subject as to
whether he would submit to it or not
On one occasion brother minister tried
it, and his and Bills views differed
widely on the subject.
Here, Brother Blank, remarked Bill,
that doctrine isn't worth pancakes. Sit
down and let me show you how to
preach
"In pursuance of his own ideas on the
l,.l
and fired vollcy after volley of orthodox
Gospel at tho heads of his astonishcd
hearers.
TIE CHALLENGE.
"Thcrc was 10 foolishncss about Bill
Bowman. He wasa a good man, Il God
fearing man in his rough way, but it was
worse than folly to undertake to cross
him when he became satisfied that he
was right"
"On the occasion in question there was
a tough citizen in the audience who had
conceived violent dislike for Brother
Bowman.
"He was n holy terror in Grayson
county, in those pioneer days when men
ruled by might more than by right.
"Wo will call him Brown for short,
and whenever Brown got on tho warpath
all those who did not feel disposed to
have their heads punched or bodies
bruised gavo him wide berth.
"On Il Sunday lie went to one of the
churches included in Bill Bowman's cir
cult with the avowcd intention of going
for the preacher. He had determined to
| settle with the preacher at once and for
all, and he boastcd of his determination
among his cronies.
Brother Bowman heard of it, and
when he assembled the pulpit steps he
had IL look about him that was omnous.
"IIo read the Scriptures, lined out the
hymns, offered the prayers and went
through with the usual routine.
"Thcn ho took his text, and it was one
that was peculiarly appropriate for the
occasion and the subject in hand.
"When he began preaching there WAS
no mistaking the drift of his discourse.
He went for the bullies and ruilians
without gloves, and among the number
he particularized Billy Brown, who sat
scowling in corner. OF course Brown
was enragcd. IIe waited until the SER
mon was about concluded, when hcarosc
and used some very pointed language
toward the preacher, and then strodc out.
"Tho sermon was concluded with a
terrible denuncation of tho bully and
his conduct, and then tAo preacher con-
cluded the service in the usual way.
"On the following day Bill Bowman
| received challenge to meet Bully Brown
in open combat to settle the matter and
! remove tho stains from the buIlys
wounded honor.
"Brothcr Bowman was not backward
in the least particular, and having the
choice of weapons, lie selected them at
once.
HONOR SATISFIED.
"Through his second he notified Bully
Brown that he would meet him at a
specified time and place, and that II half
bushcl of Irish potatoes, selected the size
of mans fist, should be the weapons.
These wero to be picked upone at time,
and the duelists were to throw them at
each other, alta distance of fifteen PAGES,
until tho potatoes were exhausted or the
duelists were satisfied.
"This selection infuriatcd Brown. BE
considered that it was hcaping insult on
indignity, and he fairly ravcd over it,
"But he was compelled to accept, az
Brother Bowman was firm in his posi-
ton.
"Of course such an unique affair at
tracted great crowd, and on the day
appointed there was an immense gather
ing at the place appointed for the fight.
"Bowman was an expert hand at
throwing, and when the principals took
their places and the word was given,
Brown threw at Bowman with all his
might and missed.
"Bowman had reserved his fire, and as
Brown stopped to pick up another pota-
to, Bowman let drive, and the missile
went straight to the mark. 1t raised
knot on Brown as large as the potato.
"Thcn tho fight became hotter. Brown
was wild with anger, and his potatoes
were thrown at random. Bowman was
cool and self possessed, and hc made
every shot tell.
"For five or ten minutes tho battle
ragged, but about the time the sixth DO
tato raised its lump on Browns body the
latter cried enough.
"He was badly beaten. He was bruised
and banged up to such an extent that he
had to be carried up to his bed and a ply
sician was summoned to attend to his
wounds.
"When he got up again he was the
worst cowed man in Grayson county,
and after that he was never known to Of
fer challenge again"
"That suggests good idea, remarked
a gentleman who had listened to the
story. "Now, suppose our Georgia duel
lists would try that sort of a battle. 1t
would not only be less liable to produce
fatal results, but it would also aid i'll the
development of a farming industry that
might lead to valuable results"
That's SO" remarked another, "and
then it would be Il bonanza for the retail
groo ,rs. s."-Atlanta Constitution.