Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14
A DUEL TO DEATH
Rival Lovers of a Mexican Beauty Meet
in Duel With LassOs.
Desperate Contest On Horseback, the Sight
of Which Caused Chicago Travel
ing Han to Faint.
Srecial TO the Gazette,

SPECIAL to the GaZeIte.
KANSAS CITY, NO., Sept. 13.-Mr. J. R. john
son, Chicago travelling man, well known in
this city, returned this week from trip through
New Mexico, where he had been in the interest
OF his house. He says he witnessed one OF the
most horrible duels ever fought in that land,
where the shedding OF human blood excites but
little attention; where the slayer of a fellow
man, il the killing is done in anything like
fair fight, goes scott free.
Mr.. johnson was in the southern part of New
Mexico taking a wagon ride with his samples
when he arrived at the little village of Sebolla.
The weather was hot. sultry and dry. The dust
on the roads was m any inches deep, and every
thing combined to make the trip about as UNI
comfortable could possibly be. His driver
was q Mexican and acted as interpreter. There
were no hotel accommodations, and he was
compelled to htay a. house which a little
remote from stable in point of comfort.
After making out a supper as best he could
Mr.. johnson sat in front OF the house enjoying
a cigar. Inside he could hear the pretty daugh-
ter OF his host laughing and chsttering. The
girl was evidently the belle OF the country and
knew it. She was about fifteen years old, but
had that peculiar development of the Southern
races which gave her the appearance OF being
twenty.
Early in the evening young Mexican rode
up. He was tricked out in all the fnery affected
by the horsemen of that country, and from the
ELUSIVE reception accorded by the girl, was evi
IDENTIFY favorite. While the merriment was at
its height another young man rode up, dressed
enough like the first to play the twin brother
act. He was as well received as his predecessor,
but it was plain that each eyed the other with
jealousy A few mimi es later the driver came
out and informed Mr.. johnson that there would
be trouble, for the men were rivals and the girl
was q Thorough coquette.
The two men hau been in the house but short
time when loud talking and quarreling was
heard. Mr., johnson went into the room, at
tracted by the noise and saw at once that there
would be fight. The girl, pleased to be the
cause OF such row, showed her pearly teeth
he btarl hrirrh tor he
ment increased. About all Mr.. johnson could
understand was the cursing and vanomous
looks of the rivals. Finally they appeared to
have come to some agreement and the iuterpre-
ter said they had decided TO fight duel with
their lassos.
1t was bright moonlight night, and about
dozen were in the party which rode out onto the
prairie. Mr.. johnson tried to patch up peace,
but is not sure that the interpreter said just
mind his own bus ness. rapid gallop took the
party far enough out into the plainS to allow the
duelists free room in which to ride. The rest OF
the story can best be told in Mr.. Johnson's own
words.
"A iasso duel, in fact any sort OF duel, was
new to me, but had been in the West long
enough to know that the men were in dead ear
nest. did not know how terrible would be the
ending certainly would not have remained to
witness it. The men were bareheaded and
stripped to the waist There was none OF the
formalty and pol iteness which marks the civil
lied code. They simply hated each other and
desired to kill. The last words spoken were
and close together. At given word they rode
slowly past each other, went about twenty
yards. turned and were ready to begin.
''Lasso in hand they slowly circled about,
keeping watchful eye on each other. Suddenly
there was a hiss and lasso few through the
air. An aler5 eve and quick dodge caused 1t TO
fall short, and then before it could be recovered
the other had thrown his rope, but it, too, had
been guarded against. This continued for sew
eral minutes, many throws being made and
avoided. The deadly loops were thrown by ex-
perts, but they were lodged by men who had
studied the art all their lives.
AT last the smaller of the men sent his RATA
whistling through the air. l saw the other
settled down over his head and arm and in a
flash it was drawn tight. 1t all done in the
twinkIng of an eye. Both horses were on the
run while the loop was fastened tight. The un-
fortunate duelist was ierked out of the saddle
and in some way his boot caught in his stirrup
and the poor wretch hung between the horses
screaming with pain. The horses strained apart
as If trying to tear him in two.
at was simply awful. The victorious man was
yelling like demon he urged his horse to
greater efforts. could not stand the sight and
rushed forward to cut the rope when the foot
slipped from the stirrup and the other started
his horse on the run across the moonllt p! ain,
dragging the inanimate body OF his rival, which
was fast being reduced to a shapeless mass.
Round and round he circled, until at last
tainted at the CHASTITY sight. When l recovered
consciousness 1 was lying on a bench N front Of
the house and the party had dispersed. Out on
the plain lay the body of the victim, while in
the house were the victor of the duel and the
girl touching and talking as if nothing had hap
pened."