The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1891-09-10
HAND TO HAND WITH KNIVES.
An Indian Dispute Settled by the Death
Of RntJ, partias IN If

An Indian Dispute Settled by the Death
of Both Parties to 1t.
William Weston, a ranchman living
twenty miles north of Fishomingo, |.
T., brings story of most horrible
duel which was fought with knives by
two Indians near his ranch. There
had been bad blood between the two
for some time, which had started over
q horse race.
The Indians were named Sewapi and
Nunechi. They had been restrained
from fighting several times by their
friends, but on meeting at horse race
the quarrel was renewed, and it was
finally arranged that they should end
the matter by duel with knives, A
large crowd Of Indians and halfbreeds
were present, and a ring was formed.
Each man had his second, who was
armed with Winchester rifle, ready to
shoot down any one who might be
tempted to interfere.
The contestants were stripped to the
waist, and each was armed with two
sharp knives, the blades being about
eight inches long. When the men en-
tered the ring it was with the under
standing that it was duel tothe death.
Both were magnificent specimens of
manhood, and they were equally adept
In the use of the knife.
Amid breathless silence the combat
ants slowly approached the center of
the ring. There they stood for min
ute gazing at each other, while the
silence was most painful. Not sound
could be heard except the occasional
stamp of a horse on the outskirts of the
crowd. The spectators sat around per
fectly motionless, while the duDists
began slowly to walk around each
other, watching for chance to catch
one another off guard. 1t was prob
ably two minutes before a change
came, and then it was with the rapidity
of lightning stroke
Sewapi suddenly made leap through
the air toward his enemy, and for an
instant the air appeared to be full Of
Indians and knives, which latter flashed
in the sunshine like streaks of light.
AS quickly as they came together did
they separate, and Notwithstanding the
rapid play of the weapons it was seen
that neither had received a scratch.
Still, during the whole exciting scene,
not a sound could be heard except the
clashing steel as it came together.
Slowly the circling began again, and
the glittering eyes alone showed that
the walk meant death. Soon the same
leap was repeated, this time by Nune-
chi, who seemed to fly through the air.
The fight was fast and furious, and
when they separated both were bleed
ing profusely. Sewapi had q terrible
cut across his breast, while Nunechi
had the muscle of his left forearm al
-. most severed.
The intermission was very short, and
both men sprang simultaneously to-
ward each other. The struggle was
fierce, and suddenly trip was given
and Sewapi fell on top of his antag-
onist. The lightninglike rapidity of
the stroke and parry precluded the
possibility of knowing who was getting
the worst of it, until it was noticed that
Nunechi threw up his arms, stiffened
out his legs and was dead with knife
in his heart.
Sewapi sprang to his feet, gave an
! earsplitting yell, and then slowly sank
to the ground, with blood gushing from
O dozen wounds. Before a friend could
reach him he, too, was se.-San
Francisco Examiner.