Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-12
THE BULLETS WENT WIDE
A Street Duel in the Heart of
 the City.
PARTICIPANTS WELL KNOWN
Major Sam Houston and Nat Stanley Shoot It 0ut-The Latter Wounded-An Ex-
 citing Affair."

A pistol shot rang out sharp and clear at the northwest corner of Nineteenth street and Second avenue, in front of the Florence cigar stand, few minutes be- fore two o'clock yesterday afternoon and was followed at intervals of about five to ten seconds by six others.
 The first shot was warning and people in the adjacent neighborhood in all direc- tions hurredly sought secluded places to give as it were a clear field to the duel ists.
 When the firing had ceased and an in- vestigation was made by an ASe-Herald reporter it was found that Maj. Samuel Houston and MT. Nat Stanley were the two eombatants and the latter the only injured party.
 Major Houston was arrested soon after the fight and taken to the county jail. MT. Stanley was arrested by Police Offi- cers Disheroon and Baker, and on in forming them that he was shot and wanted a physician, was taken to the of- flee of Dr. Charles Drennen, Where his wound was examined and dressed. It was found that he had been shot through the calf of the right leg, from which blood flowed freely. The wound, though painful, was not serious, and after glv- ing bond he boarded an East Lake dum- my for his home at Fowler station.
 MT. Stanley talked freely to an Age Herald reporter about the shootins anu said in substance:
 "Major Houston applied very oppro- brious epithet to me on Sunday night. He was then not in a condition TOT me 10 resent the insult and so told him, also saying that I would ask Tor an apoiosy when he became sober.
 I bar and asked for a retraction, which ne refused to give I then told him that II I were prepared, as l then knew he was, I would make him apologize. He re- marked, Go and prepare yourself
 Knowing the character of the man, did as he said In the meantime a friend, MT. Bob Lowe, went to Major Houston and asked for an amlcapie settlement of the differences which he refused in very emphatic terms, doubling the epithets.
 "This afternoon I was walking out of the Florence cigar stand, when Frank simon rushed out looking very much ex- cited. I was then near the telegraph pole at the corner I turned and saw Major Houston coming toward me, and at the same time he put his hand in his bosom and pulled pistol. did the same He fired and I also fired When I attempted to fire the second shot my pistol failed to work and l stepped around the COfD6f OH NiHSlSSltu SllcSl, and Major Houston stepped around the corner and fired again. By this time l succeeded in getting my pistol in shape and fired again, Major Houston, in the meantime, firing again and again. When I fired the second shot my pistol became useless By this time the major had left the scene and the officers came around me-"
 Major Houston Refuses to Talk.
 Major Houston was seen after he had given bond and said he had nothing to say about the affair, as it was simply matter between two gentlemen. such as was liable to occur most any time.
 The First Shot,
 MT T. D. Cowart, a United States dep uty marshal, said he was near the two men when the firing began, but was un- able to state positively who fired first. The smoke was between the two men, possibly toward Stanley.
 MT. l.. c. Hudgins United states deputy marshal. says Major Houston fired the first shot
 P. J. Smith was near the two men when the firing began. He said: "The major fired and left"
 E. P. Mcdonald stated that he saw Major Houston leave the Florence bar with his hand on his breast and as he approached Stanley drew pistol and fired.
 Officer Dish Talks.
 "As soon as the firing became general I rushed to Stanley's side and when about ? feet from him Major Houston fired, the ball passing between us, striking plank in paper stand just beyond us,' said Officer Disheroon, and I stepped into the bookstore, as 1 saw it would be inn possible to keep Stanley in check while the other man was shooting. Hit by Spent Ball. MT A. A. Stuckey, standing in front of Brazier's news stand on Second ave nue, between Nineteenth and Twentieth streets, about 200 feet from the scene of the shooting, was hit on the leg by spent bullet. It failed to pierce his clothes.
 Other Bullets. A bullet was found lodged in beer barrel in front of the Marx Liquor com pany's place of business on Nineteenth street, between First and Second ave- nues, about 150 feet away. Another stuck in4the brick work near the door of Neumanns dry goods house across the | street.
 Plate Glass Broken. Two large plate glass windows in the l Florence cigar stand were shattered by | bullets. said to have been fired from | Major Houstons pistol. Created Great Excitement. | The shooting created great excitement, l and within few minutes after it had | ceased fully 300 people had gathered 1