Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-25
SOME MORE UNuRIrrES HlsroRr

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The Old Residonter Tells of tho Great
Horseback Duel That Was Fought a,
Fourth and Pine in 1887.
The old resident was very bright and
clipper last night and commenced right
away talking about old times.
Did you ever hear any of the old folks
talking about the great horseback duel
that took place here at Fourth street
where Pine street crosses lie asked the
reporter. OF course nobody had even
heard their grandfathers talk about it,
and the old gentleman continued.
Well IL was in 1887. remember it we'll.
1t was between Benjamin f. Bracken
and William Countiss. 1t WIS the biggest
excitement heard Of and it was the talk
for many long day afterwards.
1t was this way. Both men had good
fast horses. And they We're very proud
of them. AT length they got to COM
| paring them one against the other aud
in moment there was high words and
then a quarrel. Both were high strung
sort of fellows and when someone got il
into their heads that they ought to settle
the quarrel by fighting regular duel
they both Immediately agreed that that
was the only way to fix it up.
The challenge was regularly made out.
II was arranged that they fight on horse.
back at the Fourth and Pine streets
crossing, 1t was all open fields just
there and so on west to Walnut.
THE SECONDS CHOSEN.
Jesse Sharpe was chosen by William
Countiss as his second and George
Robinson was selected by Bracken.
Great care was taken. Everything was
done in the most solemn and secret
manner. Pistols were to be used. The
time fer the meeting was O'Clock at
the place described. Both men made
their wills. The principals and seconds
were on the ground at the exact time.
cannot remember exactly, the old resi-.
dentcontinued, which man rode the sorrel
horse, but any rate the other duelist
rode black one. Everything was very
quiet all around. 1t was kept yery
secret and when the men appeared on
their horses in the field there was hardly
anyone else around. At least l could
see hardly anyone. | had good view,
although not very near one from Bush
d Bonuey's machine shop. was an
apprentice boy and stole up to the
second floor to see the fight. 1t seemed
q terrible thing to me and of course |
was greatly excited about it all.
Brackcn and Countiss were about 90
yards away from one another and were
moving around on their horses quietly
while Sharpe and Robinson were talk
ing together. The fighters had great
big fiint-lock pistols. Horse pistols
they were and they made the two men
on horseback look like the pictures in
the school histories of Mad Anthony
Wayne's cavalry.
PICS BLOOD CARTRIDGE.
Well, sir, the joke about the whole
matter was when the seconds got to-.
gether the night before. They went
around quietly to butchers shop and
got hogs quits, the small thin ones called
weazens, and filled them with pigs
blood. These were for cartridges. They
filled the barrels of the pistols first with
powder and then placed the weazens in
instead of bullets. They filled enough
more weazens for two or three shots
apiece.
Well, as said, the, men were placed
about 20 yards apart. The signal was
given and they rushed at one another
like mad. Both had their pistol at
arms length ready and pointed straight
at one another. But both pistols flashed
in the pan. There was no discharge
Both, of course, thought there were lead
bullets in the pistols. They intended
shooting TO kill. The seconds then took
the pistols from the men, and seeing
that both were unwilling to apologize,
they reloaded the pistols and ordered
them back again for another charge
This time it was murder, sure enough.
At the second signal the two horses
Numbered towards one another, and the
next moment Bracken shot Countiss full
in the face. Every one was terribly scared
No one was in the secret about the
weazen bullets but the seconds.
81 AM A DEAD MAN"
"Great God ~ Countiss yelled, al am
a dead man ~ and then half tumbling
from his nag he cried out, "but it's all
right. I've made my will. I'm dead
man sure" And he looked just like 1t.
For his face was covered with blood
which streamed all over his coat from
the exploded weapon. Countiss sud
denly braced up, however, and brand.
ished his pistol guiding his horse to the
starting point again. Bracken was quite
pale with excitement,t too, but the seconds
calmly did their duty and told him he
must give Countiss whatever satisfaction
he wished. They rushed together again
and this time Countiss jabbed his pistol
against Bracken exploding it on his
breast. Now Bracken was killed. He
was mass of blood streaming all over as
if he had red coat. He looked like fall
ing off his horse. But he did not
The people who saw the fight thought
the seconds were the most bloodthirsty
men they ever saw. They were all glad
to see when the signal was given to stop
| fighting.
In the evening there was the greatest
excitement all over Wilmington. The
news spread Immediately and In a short
time half the town was gathered around
the spot. Of course in few hours the
true story Of the joke played on the
fiery men came out. Both, however,
were good friends Of the seconds, Messrs,
Sharpe and Robinson, ever afterwards.
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| A lsabid Dogs Run.
A dog that was supposed to be mad
broke loose in EGstlake Sunday morn
ing causing considerable CONSERVATION
there. 1t ran into two or three houses