The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1893-11-04
TO THE BITTER END.
The Deadly Foud That Crew From a Sinai,
BEGINNING.

whose tree covered crest Is almost hidden
from sight by the dark blue vanor which
has hnng there for centuries. To the rail
lngs o. the rorth and cast side of the hum
bic inn are htched ~ score of horses and
mules. About the inn are l2 or Il men, on
the steps of the general store opposite are
as many more, nonresidents of the town,
but living in the county. A stranger would
nnd himself wondering il the two crowds
were strangers to each other and if so why
the majority of the men should mutter and
scowl as they looked across the narrow
street.
AT o'clock p m. the crowd at the inn
moves up the street to the schoolhouse.
len minutes later it is followed by the
other Now we know what has brought
these men from their homes5, 10 or Is miles
away Here are the lawyers, principals
and witnesses in lawsuit. The justice OF
the peace takes his seat with becoming
dignity, though his countenance betrays
anxiety, and court Is opened 1t is the case
OF Rives versus White, both small farmers.
Each has secured the best legal counsel he
could, and the number of witnesses are
pretty evenly divided.
Here are two of the Oldest and strongest
families in the county. They have been
friends for three generations. They have
borrowed and lent, sat at each others ta-
bles, attended the same church, looked up.
on each other as relatives Farmer Rives'
mule goes astray and brings up among
Farmer Whites corn. 1t is large field.
and the corn Is scarcely worth hauling
away to market. The damage, therefore,
is not worth mentioning. Farmer Rives
comes and demands his.mule. Both men
were close friends up to that moment. Hu.
man nature has it's "off" days. Farmer
White is nettled and asks for damages, and
two minutes later the men are ready to
kill each other. A crowd bound for town
rides up, and blows are struck, and the
law is appealed to. A family friendship
which runs back for almost century is
broken by wSrd. Rives and White
fought side by sl,N at Stone River, Chicka-
mauga, Franklin and on other fields of
battle. Their grandfathers fought side by
side at Cowpens and Kings Mountain and
Yorktown. Their grandmothers fed the
troopers of Marion, the Swamp Fox, and de-
fed the rough riders of Tarleton. All this
is forgotten as the case is opened and the
witnesses take the stand.
There is no jury, though the justice
doubtless fervently wishes that there was,
that the responsibility might be shifted
from his shoulders. The witnesses exhibit
bitterness of feeling to surprise you. The
question at issue Is who struck the first
blow. There is rank perjury OH both sides,
! and it is with considerable reluctance that
the justice gives his decision. To ar out
slider carefully following the case, it seems
just and legal. Farmer White is adjudged
guilty Of the charge of assault and battery
and fined nominal sum. He is chagrined
and indignant that the case went against
him, while the other faction is displeased
that he was let off so easily. Men mutter
and glare at each other across the room.
The lawyers advise that the fine be paid
and reconciliation effected, but their
words are wasted There is notice of appeal
and angry talk, and the serious look ON the
face of the justice is proof that he realizes
what his decision may result in.
The factions do not mix as they go out.
The witnesses feel all the hatred and ami
mostly firing the hearts of the principals,
and they avoid each other and look sullen
and vindictive. One crowd rides away, and
after half an hour the other takes the same
road The storekeeper has sold shotgun,
two revolyers and half dozen boxes of car
tridges today. This is the beginning of the
Rives- White feud
Twenty years passes away. Farmers
Rives and White have passed the age of 60
They are white haired and wrinkled. The
one limps from bullet hole in his thigh;
the other has but little use of his left arm
because of splintered bone. Both shots
were received from ambush and meant to
kill. There have been other shots fired
from behind trees and rocks, but the bull
lets flew wild. Bingham was witness for
Rives He was ambushed and killed dur
ing the first three months. Thatcher was
a witness for White. He was ambushed and
killed n week after the death of Bingham.
Stebbins, Carson, Parsloe Williams, Brown,
Bebee-all witnesses and all dead. Rives
had two sons, and they were shot down
while at work in the field. White had
son and daughter. The son disappeared
one day, and his bones have never been
found. The daughter was shot off her
horse while riding home from town.
Twenty years have not added dozen
houses to the hamlet. The inn stands here
just the same, and across the street is the
same store, though they may have changed
proprietors two or three times There are
no oungers at either place. 1t is a peace
full summer day, end the struggling street
is clear Of all life when two old men ride
into town from opposite directions and
meet in front of the inn. 1t is an unex-
pected meeting Both seem a little hurried
for a moment, but then they ride closer and
one says:
Let lis dismount and have it out"
Ppm agreedr,, is the ready reply.
They have no firearms but they have
keen. cruel knives which have been kept