Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-01-05
A Texas Duel

nefl. anu WAS w NNRANAA -
and adventure. his health having be-
Gun to fail by reason 81 bis close con-
iinement aud sedentary habits, lilo
brought letters OF Introduction to
prominent men IN San Antonio. When
he hal made known his wish To secure
place TO board somewhere in the
country. one OF the gentlemen TO whom
he had brought letters Colonel John
u. Logan. the editor OF the San Anto-
Mo Herald gave him a letter to his
old partner in business, Judge $ z.
Thompson, who had recently bought
a ranch on the Rio Hondo. thirty.iiye
miles west OF San Antonio, and sent
him out there. "A .yer~ usR'
Mr.. Mott arrived at Judge Thomp'
sons ranch. aud was cordially wei.
coined by that gentleman. who readily
agreed to keep him ms long as no
wanted to stay, telling him he didn't
care whether lie paid any board or not
the presence Of an educated gentleman
like Mott being a desideratum in those
DAYS on west Texas ranch TO gentle.
man Of Judge Thompson's cultured
tastes and habits.
Robert Chesbean Mott was then
twenty.seyen years old. about i've feet
i've inches high, delicate in appear
auce, and no one who saw him would
have supposed that beneath his calm
exterior and almost effsminate appear
ance there was as brave and daring =
spirit as ever animated man in any
age. lie was an ardent sportsman. =
man OF ioyisl disposition and soon be.
came great tavorits Ia the neighbour
hood, aud no social gathering was con.
sidered complete unless Mott was
present
Among the local bells Of that Sc
questered locality was Miss Orpha
Van Ostrom. who was q real beauty.
and Dung lady OF unusual accom-
plIshmeuIs for frontier girl, she hay
Ing enjoyed tho advantage Of resi-
dence 10 Galveston Tor several years
before her family moved 10 western
Texas OF course sho had plenty Of
admirers among tho young men Of
the neighDoFhood. and u was current.
" reported that she was ailiaucsd TO
Jim McElrog wull-to.lo stnck.raiser
OF that section. and young man who
hal won considerable distinction az an
Indau.dgh,er In that day when every
man on the Texas frontier had an OK.
ceilenl opportunity to win that kind Of
distinction. Among the young moa
Of the settlement i was we'll under.
stood tina, Mr.. McElroy was to DO Miss
Van ostrom's escor, on nil occasion.
and scarcely anyone though, Of At.
tempting to dispute this privilege with
him.
Al tho first party tina, Most attended.
and wh.c was given In honor Of bis
advent into the settlement, 10 took
occasion to fall. or pretend 20 fall, 10
love with Miss Orpba anil whether 10.
tentloually or not. by bis asslduons
attentions 70 her be aroused the zeal.
ousy and incurred the cumity Of tho
young lAdy's hitherto favored sutton.
Jim McEIroy. Jim with his uncough
manner aud boisIosou4 baekwooIs
ways. was no match for the suags and
polished Mott In pleasing the ladies,
neither was no at all backward in ssy.
ing what dire vengeance hs proposed
to visit upon the head Of 'rhal stuck.
up city chap"
Matters progressed In this way for
some time. each one paying devoted
attention to the young lady until the
late war broke out
On the withdrawal OF the Unl,sd
States troops from the Texas iroptlsr
posts several companies Of Ranger. |
we're organized undor state authority
Tor frontier protection, and Jim Nc.
Elroy and X c. Mott were enrolled In
one OF these. Of which three Van
ostrom boys brothers Of Miss orpba,
were also members. This compnny
was stationed at Camp Verde. near
Bandera, and went into active service
Immediately. Two or three months
later a number Of the mothers sisters
and sweethsarts of the boys eompos-
ing this company went from the Hon.
do settlement to Camp Verde 10 nav
them visit accompanied BY their
fathers and younger brotbsra and
among these ladies was Miss orpba
Van oslrom.
OF course there WIS grand iubilse
at Camp Verde on the arrival ~ ~
visitors, and grand ball was given n
their honor. Al this bali Mr.. Mott
succeeded 10 monopolizing tho com.
pany Of Miss Van ostrom. and bsr
former lover became SO enragod al HI,
conduct that he sent him a challenge
next morning. Mott and the youn0
lauy had been very lover.llko during
the entire evening. and At tho elosa q
Tue festivities Of the night Mott Ind
snatched a kiss as she was leaving M
oarrack room in which the dance was