Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-04-03
LIFE AMONG THE KILLERS.
"Reminiscences OF n
Western CattIeman.

Western Cattleman-
They do things queer in the West, -
said a cattleman as he SIT picking his
teeth In the lobby OF the Midland. II
remember some four years ago when
Pste Burlison. then Sheriff of Colfax
county, New Mexico, killed DrIscoll at
Springer. Driscou was range boss OF
the Triangle Dot Company's ranch,
which IS owned principally by Senator
Dorsey, and was enjoying himself In
Springer IN the hilarious but unhealthy
way peculiarly in vogue with cow
punchers- Finally he concluded that
a little game OF draw" was what he
needed most and he and Burlison sat
down In a saloon in the harmless
contest called freeze-out, where the
risk assumed by each was some $50
Most men didn't like to play with
DriscOu when he was drinking, for,
though one of the most generous, hon.
est and friendly men that ever left
Texas, he carried as restless a six
shooter as up to date had borne the
name of colt. but Pete allowed il
would be all right, so down they sat.
Well, sir, they hadn't played five min
uteS when each man jumped and pulled
his gun, but Pete's got to going first,
and Driscoll dropped. OF Course we
all voluntarily felt a regret at losing a
good citizen like Drlscoll, but nobody
could blame Pete. DrlscoIl didn't die
for day or two, and as soon rs he
could talk he sent for some OF the best
men In town and told 'em Pete was all
right and to let him go. This was
about the way we figured it ourselves,
so We did as Driscon said. 1t was a
deplorab,e accident though"
PULL OFF YOUR HATsr'
81 remember another time" contIn-
ued the historian, when Clay Allison
was charging around lower Colorado.
Clay was all right when he was sober,
but the minute he had a drink IN, you
couldn't call Clay real good society.
On the occasion l was thinkIn' about
the spring roundup was workin' the
Las Animas Valley, and bein' near
town. lot of the boys had gone down
To West Las Animas 10 get drunk and
loosen the boards in the dance hall
floor. Well, Clay came round about 9
O'Clock in the evening and came yell
ing into the dance hall whirling his
gun on his foreinger like it was a
pinwheel.
my names Clay Allison an 1 want
every son-of-a-Suu take off his hat
here" lie shouts, only Clay didn't say
gum but something worse, L disre-
member just what now.
Most off US pulled off our hats,
and prompted by a generous public
sentiment, started to laugh IL off as a
Joke, but up gets a man, sorter pale
but grum, and allowed that all the AL
hsons that ever came from Tennessee
couldn't make him take his hat off.
We all stopped laughing an stood
back, an the signs seemed about right
for some one to quit this world of vain
I regrets right thar. But Allison, after
/ I0okin' him over a second, says:
! "'Well. take drink with your hat
/ on, then.'
1--WE all got drink and Allison says
to the other:
ONE Or THE OTHER TO DIE
"'Bowman, this yere small State
amt big enough for two such men as
you an me; our trails are always
crossin' an one of US oughter move a
good while back. Now III tell you
how we'll fix It Wen put our gun:
on the bar and get over to the other
side OF the room. One OF the boy:
will give the word and the man who
gets his gun first is goin' to play in big
| luck an the other won't be near Sc
numerous around this dance hall to-
morrow raisin' disputes and maxim
bad blood among good, quiet people.
Bowman said this figured out al
right as a proposition and he'd e
| him.
"'But, he continued, lOokin' at Al
Iison, sharp, don't come any Derrin
ger coat pocket racket after L get m!
gun on the bar. My mate here viii
make it come high if you do and h'
indicated a disgruntled looking cow
boy who stood by, evidently in to see ;
fair fight.
= "sBe keerful OF the piano when yoJ
hoot, boys.' said the dance hall man
as he vacated the bar, IN Difference Z
a reasonable fear of stray bullets.
"rhe guns were put on the bar ant
the duelists got over to the other sid
of the room and waited for the word
".Gol'' yelled some one, and wit
the word Bowman made "A jump lik'
cat and had both pistols before ALI
son got fairly started
ALLISON STOOD GAME.
"'How do you like the color of it?'
he gritted, as he turned the muzzle
on the nelpitSS AlllSou dl4u LIS AOAc
fingers twitched and quiyered in nuI
!, derous anticipation on the triggers
"'You're the best man, Bowman,
said Allison, as he held up both hands
"'Give me a gun. some one,' yelle
one of the girls In an ecstasy OF rag
! and terror. Give me gun. L won
: stand an see Clay Allison shot dow
like this and she tried to get plst(
from the belt of a bystander.
".It's all right, jim, he said, as b
held her back; this Is a fair hight Cia
/ made the game himself and he musn
| kick if he finds the ante leetle high
...If 1 didn't know l was the bes
man. said Bowman, and his eye
looked bad, 'I'd drill you right no
: while it's my way, but don't have I
l kill a man with his woman looking oI
So we'll quit right here, but don
I come bulgin' round me no more
a ".It's square deal all round, ever
one is satisfied an the drinks Is on u
house. said the barkeeper as he can
| back to his post
= s.That ended it. Mace Bowma
) afterward was a Sheriff in New MeNiC
r an, was always reckoned clean gam
Allison has done lots of shootin' an
had lots of fun since and Is now rCl
ming his ranch at Seven Rivers In u
Z Pecos Valley"