Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-01-19
rWO MEN OF NERVE.
One Was Loud douthed, tho Other Quiet,
But Neither Was Afraid.

Une was Louu- houtneu, tn0 Otner OutstB
but Neither Was Afraid.
II have been among the Western
COW boys for twelve years said j. A.
Barnett OF Salida Col. land have
scen their nerve put 10 the severcst
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 months ago.
Il took an outfit for roundup in
Western Kansas. In the party were
Joe billiard and Bud Powell. The
latter was hurly burly loud
mouthed devil may care sort OF u
man who had been in frontier brawls
innumerable and who in his time
perhaps shot out as many lights,
Just for tho fun OF the thing as are
now blazing in this city tonight. Dill.
lard. however was very different
order OF man. He was so quiet and
demure as to be an enigma TO the
rollickins roystererS OF the little
Western towns and settlements. He
was never known to use an oath, and.
so far US any OF us knew. he didn't
know the taste OF liquor. lie WAS
from somewhere in the East and that
he had 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 out Il were in camp
South OF Dodge City Powell got noisy
drunk one evening and seemed bent
on provoking billiards. ire. billiard
took his chatting goodnaturcdly
which only had the effect OF causing
Powell 10 become more annoying and
brutal in his persistent filings. At the
supper table Powell walked up be-
hind billiard and emptied cup of
coffee down his back. billiard sprang
from his stool like frcnlied tiger.
His eyes flashed fire and his frame
quivered with anger. i ought to
shoot you down like dog he 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 PAGES.
There was deadly determination
in his voice that sent q shudder
around the supper table and Powell
though maudlin drunk, blanched
white as sheet The silence that
brooded over tho camp that night
was awful. ! tried TO reason with
billiard, but he was immovable. 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 u titful
night OF it, 1t was my duty 10 pre-.
vent the fight and all my persuasions
had failed TO shake Billiard though
Powell seemed little more reason
able.
We'll, to cut a long story short
they met the ne It morning, each with
repeating Winchester. billiard
stepped of the fifty PAGES. and as
he turned firing was to begin. Seven
shots each were fired, the mon ad-
Jancing 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 Pow
oils bullets had plowed through Dill.
lard right cheek. ono had pierced
the left ear three others had lodged
In his shoulder aud the seventh pcne.
trated tho brain. A yardstck sus-
pended straight from Poweli's heart
would havo covered every one of tho
seven bullet holes in his body. show
ing Billiards desperate determination
and cool aim He had intended to
hit him in the hear; and his last shot
did it. | don't think tie world will
over know another such duel. because
] don't believe there are any two men
with the nerve OF billiard and Powell.
who were so unlike in outward char,
acter and yet so like in leonic
bravery.