The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-08-28
A EAlR Settlement.
Two Miners Try Revolvers and Then Co
PArtnerShIn.

Two Miners Try Revolvers and Then CO.
Partnership.
81 must have told you about the Dog
Star claim" said the colonel to re-
porter for the Tribune. 81 shall never
forget it, for | came very near having
an interest in it myself, and if had got
into the thing should not be here to-
night in all probability.
1.-The Dog Star claim, you see, was dis
puted ground between two other claims.
There was a good deal of hot feeling
over it, but did not cause any shooting
at first, because the Star was not be-
Heved to be worth anything.
'Well, it was late in the fall that
George Wilson, prospecting on the Star,
made a strike and promptly put six
men on the disputed ground. They
were all armed to the teeth, and George
announced that he was going to work
the claim, and that the first outsider
who tried to get on the claim would be
filled with lead. Now that made trou-
bic at once, for it wasn't at all certain
that George had the right to the claim,
and Dick Barker. on the other side, said
that he was going to work the claim.
About this time the air was pretty
thick with threats.
"Dick went over and tried to get on
the claim. George was not there, but
his men threatened to shoot and so Dick
drew off his men. That night he sent
word to George that he would shoot
him on sight. | am telling you this
story to show you how fairly men fought
in those days.
You see, when George Wilson got
this warning he was entitled to shoot
Barker on sight. 1t was the quickest
trigger that would win. George was in
bar-room when he got the warning
and right on the spot he pulled out his
siX-shooter and filled it with new cart
ridges. Then he went on talking. He
was telling of the rich strike he had
made.
''While he was talking there Dick
came into the room. Both their hands
went down into their belts at the same
second. Georges revolver was leveled
in flash, but Dick stood there in a
dazed fashion, u little white, but straight
and daring.
You see, it was nice point of honor
George would have been justified in
shooting on account of the warning,
but when he saw Barker caught like a
rat he lowered his revolver
"'Well, he says, Barker, I'm not
going to kill you now. What's the mat
ter?'
I've lost my siX-shooter' answered
Barker.
Thereupon George stuck his back in
his belt
"'All right, he said, well wait till
next time, Then he turned, as cool as
fish, and went on telling about his
claim.
about 10 O'clock that night a man
brought note in to George from
Barker, thanking Wilson for being so
square. There was proposition in it
that if only one man got killed the
other was to have undisputed claim to
the Dog Star and l shall shoot on
sight, said Barker.
George said that this was fair and
signed his name to an agreement, call
ing us all to witness.
There was no doubt that some one
would get hurt over the Star, and every
one in town was on the lookout.
THE next morning they met in front
of the barber-shop and they both opened
fire. Both of them caught it at the first
shot and than they blazed away as best
they could from the ground. They were
both badly shot up, but they both got
we'll While they were in bed George
sent note to Barker telling him that
he expected soon to be out again. And
Ill tell you what I'll do, he said I'll
shoot on sight again or I'll work the
claim with you on even shares So
Dick wrote back that he didn't care
much what they did, but that he was
pretty badly used up and couldn't fight
for long time. So they worked the
claim together and made a nice little
stake out of it. But you see how fair
they both were. All that each wanted :
was to settle Sat claim. Those were
the days when men >.ood on their own
i l.. 1 IL