Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-06-14
Life Among the Killers.
Bl0od-Curdling "Reminiscences of
CattIemau From New Mexico,
The Bloody Wild. Wild West.
Kansas City Times.

Kansas City Times
They do things queer in the West"
said cattlemsn as he sat picking his
teeth in the lobby of the Midland. Il
remember some four years ago when Pete
Burlison, then Sheriff of Colfax County,
New Mexico, killed Driscoll at Springer.
DrIs soil was range boss Of the triangle
lot Company's ranch, which Is owned
principally by Senator Dorsey, ana was
enjoying himself in Springer in the hill
arlous but unhealthful way peculiarly in
vogue with COW punchers Finally he
concluded that little game of draw was
what he needed most and he and Buriison
sat down IN saloon in the harmless CON
test called freeze out, where the risk as
sGmed by each one was $50. Most men
didn't like to play with Driscoll when he
was drinking, for, though Ole of the most
generous, honest. and friendly men that
evsr left Texas, he carried as restless a
six shooter as up to date had borne the
name of Colt; but Pete allowed it would
be all ght, so down they sat. Well, sir.
they hadn't played five minutes when
each map jumped and pulled bis gun. but
Pete's got TO going first, and Driscoi
dropped. Of course We all voluntarily
felt regret at losing good citizen like
Driscoll, but nobody could blame Pete.
Driscoli didn't die for day or two, and
as soon as he could talk he sent for some
of the best men in town and told them
Pete was all right and to let him 90
This was about the way We figured it our
selves, SO We did as Drisc1n aid. 1t was
deplorable Gceiden though.
II remember another time" continued
the same historian, when Clay Allison
was charging around Lower Colorado
Clay was all right when he was sober, but
the minute he had drink in you couldn't
cali Clay real good society for any body
On the occasion | was tn ,nkin' about the
spring roundup was working the Las
Animas Valley; and, bein' near town, d
lot of the boys had gone down to West
Las Animas to get drank and loosen the
boards in the dance hail floor. Well,
Clay came round about 8 O'Clock in the
evening and came yelling into the dance
hall, whirilng mis- gun on his forefiueer
like it was pine wheel.
My names Clay Allison an | want
every sun of-a-gun to take off his hat
here he shouted, only Clay didn't say
gun but something worse. [ disremem-
Der just what now.
"Most of US pulled off our hats, and,
prompted by generous public sen timent,
started to laugh 1t off as a joke, but up
gets man, a sorter pale but glum, and
allowed that all the Allisors that ever
came from Tennessee couldn't make him
lake his hat off. We all stopped laugh
ing and stood back an the signs seemed
ABOUT right tor some one to quit this
world of vain regrets right thar. Bnt
Allison, after lookln' him over a second.
said:
"'Wel, take drink with your hat on,
them
"We all got drink, and Allison saws to
the other:
"'Bowman, this yere small State amt
big enough for two such men as YOU an
me; our trails are always crossln' all one
of Us oug hter moved d good while back.
Now I'll tell you low we'll fix it. Well
put our guns on The bar and get over to
the other side OF the room. One of the
boys will give the woro and the man who
ge,s his gun first is goin' to play in big
luck an the other won't be near so nun
erous around this dance hail tomorrow
raisih' disputes and maxim bad blood
among good quiet people,
Bowman said this figured out all right
as 8 proposition and he'd go him.
but hS 1OOkln at Allison
sharply, 'don'G come any derriuger coat
pocket racket after get my gun on the
bar. My mate here will make it come
high if you do and he indicated a
disgruntled looking COW boy who stood
by, evidently in to see fair fight
"'Be keerful of the piano when YOU
shoot, boys said the dance hall man, as
he vacated the bar, in Difference to a
,fe
The guns were put on the bar and the
dueiists got over to the other side of the
room and waited for the word.
"'Go!' yelled some one, and with the
word Bowman made a jump like a cat and
had both pistols before Allison got fairly
started.
GLOW do you like the color of it?' he
gritted, as he turned the mnzze on the
helpless Allison and his foreigners twitch
ed and he quivered in murderous antici-
patton on the triggers.
:" YOU'RE the best man, Bowman said
Allison, as he held up both hands.
"'Give me gun, some one yelled one
of the girls IN an ecstacy of rage and
terror. Give me gun. | won't stand an
see Clay Allison shot down like this and
she tried TO get a pistol from the belt of
a bystander.
".:It is all right, JIM he said, as he
held her beck; this is a fair fight. Clay
made the game himself, and ne mustn't
kick if he finds the ante leetie high
"If | didn't know was the best man,
said Bowman, and his eyes looked bad, I'd
drill you right now while it's my way,
but don't have to kill man with his
woman looking on. So we'll quit right
here, but don't come bulpIn' ,ronnd me
no more
cts square deal all round, every
one is satisfied, an the drinks is on the
house, said the barkeeper as he came back
to his post.
'That ended it. Mace Bowman after
ward was a Sheriff in New Mexico an was
always reckoned clean game. Allison
has done lots of shootin' and had lots
fun since, and is now running his ranch
at Seven Rivers IN Pecos Valley"