Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-03-03
A DUEL UNDER WATER.
THE DIVERS STORY,

at was way back in '65, when Bill
and were working together on d
wreck just inside of Chesapeake Bay,
between Cape Henry Light and Hamp-
ton Roads.
| ave had come down from New York
and were pretty spruce young chaps
in those days. Now it seemed, al
though neither one of us knew it, that
we were both thinking considerable of
the same girl. We had been aboard
of wrecking schooner about the size
of this one for nearly two weeks, when
one Sunday I was overhauling my
things in the forecas'le, and was just
taking out a picture OF the little one
that I'd left up home. Bill came
along, and. looking over my shoulder,
says: "Hullo, chum. Who have you
got there?"
"Says /, as honest as could be,
handing him the picture; That's the
woman l hope will be my wife some
day
"Yonr wife!' says he, as he took the
photograph. MY stars! That's Nancy
Stewart! and, G dancing up, saw Bill
staring at the picture with his face as
white rs a new gaff-top-sl. Then
thrusting the likeness into his pocket,
he Kissed through his clenched teeth:
No, Tom Baxter! She will never be
your wife!' and, turning, he sprang up
the steps out of the forecas'le before I
could stop him.
GAS you may imagine, was boiling
mad, and surprised as well. follow
ed Bill on deck, and saw him sitting
on g. water-cask with both hands up
to his face. I approached him, and,
touching him on the shoulder, asked
as gently as 1 could for the return of
the picture.
GAS he looked up to me the express
sion OF his countehance was that of a
maniac; his features were distorted
with either anger or anguish, know
not which.
"'Come, come l said, after a pause,
during which my chum glared vacant
ly at me. Give me back the photo
graph
"The answer I received was blow,
and down l went as though shot, with
Bill on top. l was considerably
stronger than he in those days, and
soon got the best of the affair held
Bill down on deck with one hand at
his throat, and with the other pulled
the picture from his pocket, but in so
doing it was torn in two, and I only
secured one-half. At this instant our
shipmates separated us, and for the
rest of that day we avoided each
other as much as possible.
Zone Monday morning. as we were
dressing ourselves side by side as
usual, ready to go down TO work, l
could hear Bill muttering under his
breath, and just as his tender was
screwing on the face-piece to his he'll
met caught most malignant look
upon his features, but he uttered no
threats aloud.
my companion had scarcely
reached the bottom ere l was in the
water and rapidly descending. I
had made up my mind to give Bill as
wide berth as possible during the
day, and began my labors, stripping
off the copper from the wreck we'll aft,
while he was amidships.
1--WE had been down perhaps half an
hour. and I was commencing to feel q
little more at ease, when / heard a
slight tapping on my copper helmet,
and hand was placed on my shout
der. I had been kneeling, but quickly.
rose to my feet, and turning. saw Bill
standing before me; his aspect sent
chill to my very heart. He was ex-
tending towards ME a knife, the blade
of which henntouched with one finger,
and then pointed to my weapon,
which hung in it's sheath at my belt.
II comprehended his meaning. It
was challenge to mortal combat.
But what a place for such an encount-
or! l am ashamed to admit, however,
that after the first brief instant OF
surprise began to feel an insane de-
sire to overcome and subdue my rival,
even though it was in struggle to
the death.
$50, dropping the short iron bar
with which 7 had been previously