The morning call., 1891-08-04
A FIGHT FOR A BRIDE.
A Strange Story of Death and Madness
From Missouri.

A Strange Story of Death and Madness
From Missouri.
The details of strange story have just
come to light from the Welsh settlement of
what Is known as the "Black Road" dis
trlct, says Bevier (No.) special to the Fort
Worth Gazette. The settlement is COM
posed OF miners who work in the coal mines
mere, nearly all of them being Welshmen.
The story is as follows:
One OF the handsomest girls of the Black
Road District is Martha Lightfoot She is
not only handsome, but was tickle, and had
all tile young men in the district at her fee..
Two OF the brawniest young miners Of the
district, Alb Jones and James Carmichael,
were devoted suitors, and rumor first gave to
ore and then the other the place of honor.
Matters ran along in this way for
some time. Martha being, impartial in
c0uragement to both. At the same time
she had numerous other suitors on her string.
a crisis finally came one night when the
miners were congregated in r har-room in
the village: Jones proclaimed TO his as
sembled friends that he was the accested
suitor of Martha Lightfoot. and would soon
lead her to the church. Carmichael was
present and at once denounced the state
ment as lie. He said that he himself had
received the troth OF the girl, and she would
Hot words followed and fight was pre-
vented by friends, and it was decided that
the girl should be called upon to explain
the situation. The men and their friends
went to the Lightfoot house and called for
the girl to come forth. The girl was dis
posed TO postpone the matter, but was
told that she must decide at once which OF
the two men she intended to marry. She
looked first at one and then ut the other and
burst into tears, saying that it was imposs-
n IN ma y al F.AI- =
influence her, but he was rudely hushed by
the suitors. As the girl would make no
choice the young men decided to fight q
duel for their bride. The details were SIM
pie, and what is probably the strangest duel
ever fought was contested that night.
The moon was shining brightly as the
combatants stood in the center of q large
ring formed by all the inhabitants of the dis
trlct. who had assembled to see the contest
The men were armed with breaking han-
mers, such as are usually used in coal mines.
Science aud great physical strength were
combined, and the blows were delivered
ana parted with lightning-like rapidity.
For half an hour the battle ranged, when by
some chance each received Il crushing blow
on the head at the same instant and both
sank to the ground. Jones was dead within
fifteen minutes, and Carmichael fingered
until late next day, when he, too, died.
The sequel to this strange duel is as re-
markable as the prologue. When Jones
WAS pronounced ueaQ MS OLD mother, who
looked to him alone for support, called upon
the girl to stand forth. The girl stood on
one side OF the ring and those who were
near her drew away FROM her as from one
who bore contamination. The old gray
haired woman then proceeded, with awful
solennity 10 put "the curse upon her." As
anathema after anathema came from the
old croDt's lips the poor girl seemed to
blight and wither. Disaster dire and trou-
bic deep were called down by the lonely
mother upon the cause of her sorrow, until
at last the overweight nerves of the girl
gave way, and she fell senseless to the
ground. When consciousness again re-
turned to her she was raving maniac, and
grew so violent that 1t became necessary to
place her in an asylum. 1t was while she
was here on her way to that institution that
the strange story was learned.