Evening star., 1898-04-23
MISSOURI RIVER DUELS.
Strange Affairs and Stirring SIGHTS
Seen On IL Steamboat.

Seen Steamboat.
From the st. Paul Pioneer Press
"Old-timers along the Missouri will no
doubt recall the two dues that were fought
in the early days" said an old-time steam
boat man who was employed in the palmy
days in steamboating along the river
Near Chamberlain, S. D., a good many
years ago there lived two brothers. Jim and
Lafayette Sunderland. They were typical
bad men of the frontier and dangerous
characters in ALI encounter. Tall, lean, ac-
tive, sure-sighted and quick of aim they
were ugly customers. Their reputation
was general along the Missouri river
Each Of them had one or more notches
on the handle of his revolver, indicating
that some human being had fallen to mis-
aim No man cared to offend either of
them unless he was looking for trouble
and prepared for battle, as trouble was
sure 10 follow when either of them felt
that his dignity had suffered insult. 1t was
peculiarly appropriate that these two bad
characters should have seen fit to rid the
world of each other, which they did effect
ually in consequence of a quarrel between
them.
When steamboating was in its glory
along the Missouri the owner of wood
yard along the stream drove profitable
business in supplying the passing boats
with fuel. There were established yards
along the river at such a distance apart as
was most convenient for the boats, and they
ran into shore at these yards whenever
their supply of fuel got low, to replenish
it from the supply always to be found on
up stream consun ed a good many cords
of wood, and the expenditure for fuel was
no small amount. Prices ranged from s.
to s. cord, and when the owner of a yard
sold supply to passing boat he had done
very fair days work. and received
very fair days income The wood was al
ways paid for in cash by the clerk of the
boat. and the patronage of the boats was
much sought after by the owners of the
yards along the river.
THE Sunderland brothers varied their
careers as bad men by wood chopping, and
they had established a yard about ten to
twelve miles from the present site of
Chamberlain. The yard was a partnership
concern, the brothers being supposed TO
divide the proceeds Of whatever sales were
made. But usual with such characters,
there was not even common honesty be-
tween them, and If either man was able
10 make sale without the knowledge Of
the other he deemed 1t the part Of wisdom
and good france to pocket the entire pro-
ceeds and say nothing.
I'VE were making the trip up the river
late in the season with a heavy load Of
freight, and put in at the Sunderland wood
yard to replenish our stock of fuel, which
had been heavily drawn upon by our ploM-
ing against the swift current Of the river
One OF the owners Jim Sunderland, was
present at the yard and We made known
our needs and sent ROSTERS ashore to
carry the wood upon the deck. We bought
about ten cords of wood. and the clerk
paid Sunderland ten crisp s. bills in settle
ment of th@ account. Just as we were pre-
pairing to take UP the gang plank and push
out into the stream again, Lafayette Sun
derland made his appearance from a neigh
boring copse of woods and inquired to
the settlement for the wood that had been
taken.
by this time we had swung out into the
stream, and the clerk called across the in
terveEing stretch Of water that he had paid
Jim for the wood. From the deck of the
boat we could, discern healed controversy
between the brothers. The reputation of
the two men was such IS to create a gen.
erai interest on board the boat as to the
outcome of the quarrel but none of US was
prepared for the tragic denoIemen-. After
perhaps five minutes of alteration we saw
Jim suddenly spring to the end OF a huge
cottonwood log which lay near and seize a
rife which rested upon the e,.1 of the log.
But quick as he was the other man was
even quicker, and although Jim was the
first to move, Lafayette sprarg to the other
end of the log, where his rifle rested, and
seized it before Jim could take aim Two
slight puffs of smoke from the barrsls Of
the weapons, two short, sharp reports, and
the two men fell almost simultaneously,
each where he had stood. without moving
step. Each Of the men Was dead shot,
and there could be but ons result to slch .