Wisconsin Afro-American., 1892-11-19
TWO MEN OF NER We.

one was Loud-mouthed ana the other
Quiet, but Neither Was Afraid.
III have been among the Western
cowboys for twelve years." said j. A.
Brewster, Of Salida, Col, 'and have
seen their nerve put to the severest
test, but | didn't know the human
family produced men who could not be
made to finch in the face Of certain
death until three weeks ago.
III took an outfit Tor roundup in
Western Kansas. In the party were
Joe billiard and Bud Powell. The latter
was hurlyburlv, loud devil
may-care sort of man who had been
in frontier brawls lnnumerable, and
who in his time had perhaps shot out
almost as many lights Just tor the fun of
the thing, as are now blazing in the city
tonight. billiard, however, was very
different order of man. He was so
quiet and demure as to be an enigma to
to the rollIcking roysterers Of the little
Western towns and settlements. tie
was never known to use an oath, and,
so far as any of US know, he didn't
know the taste Of liquor. He was from
somewhere in the East, and that he had a
history was the unanimous verdict OF
all of us. But there was something in
his manner that said palmer than words
that he wouldn't do to fool with.
while our outfit were in camp south
Of Dodge City Powell got noisy drunk
one evening and seemed bent on pro-
yoking billiards. ire. billiard took his
chatting good-naturedly, which only had
the effect OF causing Powell to become
more annoying and brutal in his per
sistent filings. at the supper table
Powell walked up behind billiard and
amphed q cup of coffee down his back.
Dllard sprang from his stool like a
f.enzied tiger His eyes flashed fire and
mis- frame quivered with anger. III
ought to shoot you down like dog ne
said, but | will give you chance for
your life. Meet me at sun-up to-
morrow morning with your Winchester
and we will fight it out at fifty paces.p
sIn5Te Wsstn a-sssaJ tie ermlnatIdnIn His'
sgoice that sent a shudder round the.
nper table, andsaaIFra 4, -ffi1rRh maud
The silence that brooded over the camp
that night was awful. | tried to reason
With Dillard, but he was mmoyable.
He had made up his mind to kill Powell,
and he was going to do it or die in the
attempt Both men went quietly to
their cots at O'Clock and were sound
asleep in half hour. | had titful
night Of it. 1t was my duty to prevent
the fight, and all my persuasion had
failed to shake Dillard, though Powell
seemed little more reasonable.
''Well, to cut long story short, they
met the next morning, each with
repeating Winchester. Dillard
stepped off the fifty PAGES, and as he
turned firing was to begin. Seven shots
each were fired, the men advancing
on each other at each shot. When they
were separated by about only ten feet
they both dropped to the ground.
Powell was dead, and billiard was
breathing his last. Two of Powell's
bullets ha1 plowed through billiard s
right cheek, one had pierced the left
ear, three others had lodged in his
shoulder and the seventh penetrated
the brain. A yard stick suspended
straight from Powell's heart would have
covered every one Of the seven bullet
holes in his body, showing Dillard g
desperate determination and cool aim.
He had intended to hit him in the
heart and his last shot did it. | don't
think the world will ever know another
such duel, because | don't believe
there are any two men with the nerve
of billiard and Powell, who were so un-
like in outward character and vet so
alike in leonic bravery. .'-H Louis
(hr0nicEe