Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1890-01-30

ing even chances in an exchange Of
leaden compliments with men like Jack
| Williams, Bill Burns, Cherokee Bob or
Bill Mayheld. known TO Be dead shots,
| quick on the trigger and always ready.
They could not get fight out of him.
and blacklegs as they were, they were
not willing to kill him in the way in
which he had dispatched his victims.
He was not the fearless man that many
thought him to be He was easily an
gered and was regular thug as regards
the taking OF human life, but he was
quick to see it IL he was overmatehed.
and he left that sort of fight to some
body else.
After the murder 90 Mckenzie. Brown
soon found the atmosphere Of the Com
stock 80 disagreeable that he determined
20 take up his quarters at Aurora, which
was then one Of the liveliest and Wild
est camps on the coast Some time in
the afternoon Of July 6, 1851. accom-
panied by Alex Henderson. he stopped
IN his way thither at Lockhart's saloon
IN Genoa. and remained drinking and
clustering for two or three hours. and
/ then Calloped on to Vansickle's station.
| whore they found the proprietor. Henry
Nansickle- alone Stepping to the bar. he
said in his course. bluf'ing style: set
out your best whisky for two. and
IL you don't want the top of your head
sheared with bullet be darn quick
| about it." VanSickle. a very quiet but
very determined raucher. answered:
You can't get any whisky or any thing
else at this bar. You are not wanted
here, 20 you may as well travel on +"
For a moment Brown looked in mute as
constituent at the presumptuous station
keeper: then like a fash his hand
| dropped on one of his sixshcoters. Van.
being unarmed and knowing too well
what that motion meant with Brown.
darted through an open door into the
dining-rOom. Brown following close after
him, pistol in hand There were about
fifteen men seated at the long dining
table eating supper. and as they all
IGmped to their feet when the two men
| r-shet into the room the CONFUSION
which ensued prevented Brown from
getting shot. so that Van made his
escape into another apartment
After relieving his pent-up feeling by
few Oaths and the threat that he
would blow off the top Of Vansickle's
head before he was done with him.
Brown remounted Betsy, who stood
quietly waiting for him at the door, and
gallOped of on the MottviIle road to-
ward Aurora followed by Henderson
Nansiekle's first move. after getting
safely away from his assailant. was to
get his dOuble-barreIed shotgun and
double charge it with buclshot or pistol
bullets Thus equipped for war he re-
turned TO his bar-room- But the man
he was hunting for was gone He could
see him and Henderson side by side
leisurely cantering up the valley. Five
| minutes later Van was astride of hin
best saddle horse. shotgun on his shout
| der and in hot pursuit Brown saw him
coming and knew perfectly we'll that he
meant fight; still. he did not quicken his
pace or try to get away. which lie might
have done for though he had ridden
Betsy thirty odd miles already. she was
good for many miles more il be would
urge her. Vansickle rode up To about
one hundred yards of the TWO men.
yelled to Henderson to get out Of the
way aEd turned Loose both barrels at
Brown. but missed him-ths distance
| was too great
While Vansickle halted TO reload his
gun he was joined by Eve or six men
from the station. who had followed him
on horseback 10 see how the row would
end After the first shot Henderson
turned of toward the East Fork of the
Carson. and Brown kept on up the main
road alone. Again Vansiekle approached
and raised his gun but Brown Jumped
to the ground. interposing his mare a. a
shield, and fired over his saddle at his
shotgun pUrsuer. who was out OF pistol
| range. however. and neither of the two
| men nor the horse of either received \
| wound
Thus the duel between shotgun and
revolver continued until Brown reached
Walter COrben's cabin and entered it
1t was now getting too dark to see TO
shoot accurately at distance. and Van
sickle vas too wary to go within range
of the cabin 50 long As is held Brown and
his two revOlvers. Still he would not
draw out Of the fight. for he knew that
II Brown escaped then he would never
rest until he found some way to murder
him. Thinking that Brown intended to
make the next station. Lutte Odds place.
To stay all night. he deemed it best TO
ride on ahead. lie in wait for him there
and tackle him at close range as he
came up. He had figured il out right.
He had not been at Odds station a half
hour when by the bright starlight he
saw Brown riding up To the barn
in front Of which he had dis
mounted and taken his station : Brown
rode straight toward the barn thinking
no doubt II there were any enemies OF
his on the premises they would be in
Odds house. He was watching the
lights shining from the windows Of the
station which was opposite the barn,
and saw no one until vansickle stepped
out in front Of him with his gun at his
shoulder ready To fire He was taken
completely by surprise and only ex-
claimed: by CORY he's got me- when
Nansickle with the words: Now for il.
Brown" discharged both barrels of his
gun into his throat and chest, and with
out grOan the big rufian tumbIed out
of his saddle and fell to the ground stone
dead
| Every body was glad. and if Justice
was not satisfied at any rate no COM
plant has ever been filed.
Browns effects were sold at public
auction. and the proceeds were devoted
to some good purpose, of which no ad
ministrator took cognizance. Grin GRAY
became the owner of Betsey. and kept