The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-29

were sitting on the ground near our mine,
eating dinner. We were in deep CONVERSE
ton, and never suspected that danger was
the man sprang Immediately in front OF Us.
and with a cccked revolver pointed close TO
the face Of my partner, he exclaimed:
Now, i have got you. by -, i intend
to Kill you, this minutev
I'VE were sitting fifteen or twenty feet
away from our pistols. Neither of us had
n firearm or other weapon of defense upon
us. 1t intensely hot day. Great
beads or perspiration We're already pouring
down our faces. / looked down from the
mountain side TO the little mining camp
called town, and Thought that my partner,
at least would never see that place again.
His time had come How my heart ached
that / could not raise a hand in his de-
tense. There he sat- with the weapon which
was TO take his life looking him i'm the face.
If 1 had had pistol in my hand, cooked
and pointed at the ruffian, / do not be-
leve | would have pulled the trigger, for it
is no doubt that the ruffian, a crack shot
and experienced In such close business,
would have blown the top of my partners
head off even after bullet had passed
through his own brain or heart There was
a sool moment mt of deep silence. Ny partner
while looked at him. Not muscle moved
IN ms face. There was not CULVER
in in, his eyes. I never expect to see
the keen pangs of such scene The bosom
OF the flannel shirt on my partner was full
open and his great breast was bare. He
had no other clothing but trousers and
boots. Looking his assailant steadily in the
eyes he raised his hands to his breast, and,
taking hold of the open lapelS of his fam
mel shirt pulled them further open. Then,
rising slowly, and keeping his eyes stead
4. lily on the man with the drawn revolver;
he exclaimed with all the passion and
earnestnesS possible for man to show, but
without the least sign of fear:
Shoot, you - scoundrel shoot; take
my lie. you villain and cowardp
II tell you, gentlemen, that was dra-
matte scene. The ruffian quailed His face
quivered, his eyes dropped and he lowered
his pistol. AS he did so he exclaimed:
81 cannot take the life of such brave
man. Here is my handp
few minutes afterward Senator Stew
art related this incident: after L had well
established my reputation In regard TO
killing any man who brought me chal-
lenge to fight duel. L was told that one
fellow intended to shoot me the first time
he met me- If he could not himself arrange
for meeting according to the code duelo
One evening | was passing along the street
and saw my adversary upon the sidewalk
opposite me- He was off his guard did
not see me and / ran across the street and
was upon him before he knew 1t.
80 Here, you -- Scoundrel, L understand
you have said that you would kill me on
sichtv and L bore him to the ground. To
emphasize my words / churned him up and
down on the ground and gave him two or
three sharp strokes with my fist, exclaim-
in., as / did so, that L would teach him
how to threaten my life.
"'Apologize and beg, you scoundrel, or
will beat the life out of YOU / continued
to say, as 1 pounded him up and down on
the ground Finally, the fellow apologized
and assured me that he would not chal-
lenge or shoot me. Then 1 invited him to
q neighboring bar and we took a friendly
drink together. From that day we were
fast friends" PERRY >. HEATH.