The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1889-11-28
A DUEL WITH POTATOES.
HOW A KENTuckYsPREAcHER ONCE
WHIPPED A BULLY.

Rev. Bill Bowman Was Full of Pietv and
Pugnacity = The Neighborhood Bul,y
Wanted to Settle with the Preacher
and He Got the Chance.
This story is told by DR.. H. c. Morri-
son:
Speaking of ministers, remarked DR.
Morrison, reminds me of a celebrated
duel that occurred in Millarstown. Graz.
son county, KY, in 1913 In that case a
preacher was one of the principals in an
affair Of honor. i
THE preacher was Rev. Mr.. Bowman
better known as Fighting Bill Bowman,
long, raw boned, rough-and-re kind
OF man, full of piety and pugnacity.
If another preacher got up in 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
1t, 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
subject Bill then assembled the pulpit
and fired volley after volley of orthodox
Gospel at the heads of his astonished
hearers
THE CHALLENGE
There was no foolishness about Bill
Bowman. He was good man, a 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 a violent dislike for Brother
Bowman.
He was holy terror in Grayson
county, in those pioneer days when men
ruled by might more than by right.
I'VE will call him Brown for short,
and whenever Brown got on, the warpath
all those who did not feel disposed to
have their heads punched or bodies
bruised gave him wide berth.
"On Sunday he went to one of the
churches included in Bill Bowman's cir
cult with the avowed intention of going
for the preacher. He had determined to
settle with the preacher at once and for
all, and he boasted of his determination
among his cronies.
Brother Bowman heard of it, and
when he assembled the pulpit steps he
had look about him that was ominous
He read the Scriptures, lined out the
hymns, offered the prayers and went
through with the usual routine.
''Then he 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 DULLES and ruffians
without gloves, and among the number
he particularized Billy Brown, who sat
scowling in corner. OF course Brown
was enraged. He waited until the ser.
mon was about concluded, when he arose
and used some very pointed Language
toward the preacher, and then strobe out.
'The sermon was concluded with a
terrible denunciation of the bully and
his conduct, and then the 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 the stains from the bully's
wounded honor
Brother Bowman was not backward
in the least particular, and having the
choice of weapons. he selected them al
once.
HONOR SATISFIED.
Through his second he notified Bully
Brown that he would meet h Inn at q
specified time and place, and that hall
bushel of Irish potatoes, selected the sizs
of mans fist, should be the weapons
These were to be picked up one at time,
and the duelists were to throw them at
each other, at "a distance of fifteen PAGES,
until the potatoes were exhausted or the
duelists were satisfied.
"This selection Infatuated Brown He
considered that it was heaping insult on
indignity, and he fairly raved over it.
"But he was compelled to accept, "A
Brother Bowman was firm in his posi-
ton.
"Of course such an unique affair at-
tracted great crowd, and on the day
amounted 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 az
Brown stopped to pick up another pota-
to. Bowman let drive, and the missile
went straight to the mark. It raised
knot on Brown as large as the potato.
"Then the fight became hotter. Brown
was wild with anger, and his potatoes
were thrown at random. Bowman was
cool and self possessed. and he made
every shot tell.
''For five or ten minutes the battle
ragged. but about the time the sixth po-
tato raised it's lump on Browns body the
lo++ar cried enough,