St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-17
A FIGHT TO THE FINISH.
A Romance Of the Early Days in British
Columbia.
THE FIRST DUEL IN VICTORIA.
A Desperate Revolver Fight That Ter
r minated in the Death Of the
% High-Spirited Challenger.

Victoria 3D. c. Special Correspondence
Philadelphia Times.
Thirty years ago Victoria was very
different place from the Victoria Of to-
day. The houses were few and far be-
tween, canvas homes took the place of
blocks of brick and stone aud struggling
footpaths, biased through the native
forest, did duty where are now we'll
kept streets, flanked on either side by
handsome residences and Ornamented at
regular intervals by electric lights and
policemen. 1t was in this early day
when the province was in its infancy,
and the gold fever had drawn to the
new city by the sea a motley and adj
venturous population from the four
quarters of the world-that the first and
only quarrel in the history of British
Columbia occurred that involved an ap-
peal to the ''code of honor for settle
ment.
The details of the fatal duello are
still fresh in the minds of many of the
''old-timers," who can never forget the
tragic story in connection with it. 1t
began over lady fair; it ended in the
death of John Collins, handsome and
brave young miner from st. Johns, n.
B. During the gold excitement of '58
Collins, who, two years previous, had
been mining in California. came to Vic
torIa, followed month later by his old
friend and companion, genial Frank
Campbell, the editor of the Corner Bull
letin. Collins was then broad-shoul-
dered, handsome young fellow, twenty
eight or thirty, big-hearted, good
natured. but quick and hot-tempered to
fault.
He was a frequent visitor at Frank
CampbelPs home, and was not long, in
consequence, in becoming acquainted
with the neXt-door neighbors, who hap
pened to be the family of Mr.. Angelo,
then Her Britannia majesty's deputy
collector of customs for the port of Vic
toria." Mr.. Angeles family consisted
of but three-himself, Mrs. Angelo and
their only daughter Lucy, the reigning
Ueauty of Victoria. Miss Lucy was
then only seventeen years old, with all
the charms Of WOman'S loneliness,
coupled with girlish naiyette. She was
a perfect blonde, tall and queenly, with
a crown of sunset golden hair, eyes as
bright and blue as the broad Pacific,
perfect complexion and the sweetest
lips and teeth in the world. When to
the charms of her face and form she
added that of a well-stored mind, and
the faculty of making those about her
happy, it is no wonder that John Collins
fell speedily in love.
His acquaintance with the charming
Miss Lucy having ripened into friend
ship, Collins became a very frequent
visitor at her fathers house. A favorite
with Miss Angelo, his path seemed to
be smooth one. and mutual friends
whispered to each other that It would
not be long before Miss Lucy would eX-
change the name of her father for the
less musical one of Collins. Affairs
were in this happy state when the great
event of the year drew near-the fall
races at Beacon Hill. In an age void of
almost every amusement, it IS no Won
der that the races were hailed with
delight by old and young as something
agreeable to break the monotony of
everyday life.
Having arrayed himself in his very
best, adding to the attractiveness of his
own wardrobe black brOadclOth coat
kindly loaned him by his friend, Frank
Campbell-for good clothes were at a
premium and the coat was, in reality, a
wedding garment" John Collins made
his way to Beacon Hill with Miss Lucy
Angelo leaning on one arm and the eS-
Unable mother on the other. The crowd
was an immense one, embracing all
sorts and conditions of men. 1t was not
strange. therefore, that in the multitude
Collins, fully taken up with his own
present company, should neglect to no.
tice an old mining friend named Lloyd.
yclept for short, "Tipperary Bill"
which latter title was in turn usually
FOR hn arti ia
Tip" finding his friendly salutations to
his old friend not returned, and imagin-
ing the case to be wish on the part of
Collins to cut his acquaintance, came
nearer and proceeded to amuse himself
by making faces and from time to time
making cat calls at the New Bruins
wicker and his two lady friends, The
insult was more than the hot spirit of
Collins could stand, and as he returned
the wedding coat to Mr.. Campbell's
care, after seeing his friends safely
home, he informed him that he would
have the satisfaction of either shooting
Tipperary Bill or being shot by him.
Campbell only laughed, believing that
the terrible threat was only an unmeant
boast. Having induced friend by the
name of Hughes to act as his second,
Collins sent him to Lloyd with chal-
lenge to revolver duel to the death.
'Tip" was known to be s'a game
man" and a revolver shot without SUI
perior in the camp. Collins. therefore,
did not dream of his refusing to fight.
With cOmmendable prudence. however,
he did. He was willing to give battle,
he said, with natures weaponS-his
fists. A revolver fight was a little too
serious an affair, though. Nothing
could satisfy Collins, however. but
duel to the death, and so, after endur-
ing taunts until he thought patience
had ceased to be virtue, "Tfpperary
Bill' accepted the challenge. An open
space of ground under Church hill,
what is now Crane street, was selected
as the ground, and thither the duelistS,
their seconds and a crowd of interested
spectators, who had got wind of the
affair, repaired.
The regulation ten PAGES was chosen
as the distance, The men were then
placed back to back and told to walk
straight ahead, then turn and fire on
being given the word. Collins fired the
first shot. He betrayed no nervousness,
no fear-nOthing but determination to
kill the man he believed to have in
suited him. His bullet struck button
on Tips jacket and glanced off harm
lessly. 1t was now Lloyd's turn, and
he had won the reputation of dead
shot. He turned, however. and throw
ing his hand upward fired in the air. at
the same time calling out: "John, for
Gods sake don't shoot again or FL kill
you."
Collins only smiled, raised his revol-
yer, took steadier aim, fired and
missed. Pity had now left Lloyd's
heart. He felt that it was either Col
Inns life or his own, so. turning, he
raised his weapon, aimed quickly and
sent bullet crashing through his OPP
ponent's heart. None present blamed
him. His course had been perfectly
honorable, according to the rough code |