Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-03-11


our hands, he pressed ono by ON"
into the magazines of each of them
seven cartridges.
Now, said he, when this was
done, you, Crockford, are we'll post
Ell IA to how these affairs are man
aged here, but FOR fear that you
turning to mc--'n!ty "Ot he SO we'll
acquainted with them, will tell
you the conditions These two rifles
will be laid down on the middle of
the road, where il goes over the
plain in a straight line. They will
be placed about 2o8ynrds apart, and
you will stand cacRbeside his gun
We-that is, DalZiel and myself
Will stand between you and to one
side. When throw my hat up, You
are each at liberty to get your gun
and make tn best Use Of it against
one another. You may stand and
fire, knecl and fire, or lie down and
fire, as you please. You kin run in
on one another, OF If either of YOU
chooses he kin run back. There's
'
about 80 miles of straight travelling
behind if he don't like the looks of
things i'll front. But neither of YOU
must leave the road and the seven
shots i'll each of your guns must de
eide the affair, hit or miss. Mind, if
these conditions are broken 10y ci-
thcr man, me and DalZirl here arc to
see fair play, and we have gums and
will use them too. Without another
word we all left the store, and the
two seconds, placing the rifles on
the road beside CrOCkfOrd and my.
self, retired to the little hillock to
give the signal.
II perhaps ought to give you n
description OF my feelings ut that
moment, but really l can hardly do
so; nor do remember any very
predominant emotion, save that |
felt a sort of stony calm, mixed with
strong desire to draw bead on
that figure standing quietly beside
his weapon some 200 yards away
LAS before told you, ! had laid
down my method of proceeding. and
the basis of it was to remain on the
defensive, for felt sure that Crock
| ford, deSpising my abilities with the
winchester, would advance upon me
Nor was l at all mistaken. Directly
the signal was given, he seized his
rifle and almost instantly disCharg-
ing Il shot which passed within Il
few feet of mo he started on zig
gag run toward mo. Meanwhile l
had gone down fiat on the road,
bringing my rifle to bear upon him,
and getting sight after he had run
in perhaps so yards l fired my first
shot.
II shot primarily To stop him, of
course, if could; but also with the
intention of throwing thin cloud
of smoke Immediately in front of
me, beneath which l could again
take sight. The day was still, bright
and warm, and far away along tho
road behind CrOckfOrd little white
puff of dust told me that l had
missed my man. Jerking the lever
of the rife forward and back to it's
place again, had my second shot
ready for delivery. This time
waited, Judging that when he came
to stop, either to lie down or stand,
should have the best chance was
likely to get. But still my rifle muz-
Zle followed his every movement.
On he came, till less than 100 yards
separated us Dropping on his hands
and knees, he was Just reaching the
prone position when once moro my
rifle rang out. This time did not
see the puff of dust brtukcning Il
miss, for had no time to speculate
about results; but, hugging the
ground closely, l jerked the empty
cartridge out and got another into
its place.
Zip came bullet not three
inches from my check, and again.
as brought my gun up, another
struck the road almost straight in
front of me and tore it's way through
the cloth Of my coat on the arm.
This shot nearly blinded me and
rendered it impossible for me to re-
turn the fire effectively for the dust,
and so / might say for the next
two, both being in front and fortu-
nately a little to one side I abso-
lutely could not see even the end of
my own rifle. In few seconds the
dust was cleared sufficiently to al
low me dlmly to sight my opDOnent.
| My hnger had almost pressed the
trigger when somehow or other
seemed to feel that need not shoot.
There was no motion about my ad-
versary, nor was his face visible,
and even at that distance could see
that his rifle was not in position,
but was grasped in his right hand
wide out from his body. kept my
rife on him. hesitatiDg what to do.
He still had two shots in his maya
zine, and l had right to fire on
him and make certain. But still, as
l say, hesitated. AZ / did SO Mot
tram waved me to hold my fire, and
leaving their position on the hill the
two seconds ran hastily to the silent
| figure i'll front of me. A wave of the
hand released me from suspense and
informed me that the duel was over.
On reaching Crockford found him
inscnSihl" from pain and loss of
blood. Ny second shot had struck
him fair on III" shoulder, SCATTERING
the lone at the joint in terrible
manner and flooding the road with
lln,J IN.D ,l,, ,,,,,