The record-union., 1898-01-25
HOW A DUEL ENDED.

We had come down off the noun
tains near Fremonts Peak-the six OF
ns who had been prospecting for three
months-and we had scarcely struck
the trail when we ran upon a mountain
outfit. There were three white men,
two half f-breeds, a Mexican and ne
gro, and the party had six pack mules
with them. They had just gone into
camp for the night, and after hearty
greetings all around we pitched our
tents alongside and cooked our sup
pers at the same campfire. The stran-
gers were bound up to Little Squaw
mountain, on a hunt for gold. Inc
leader was Jim Williams
There would have been no trouble
between the two outfits but for the
cards wLich were introduced after sup
per. And as it was, only portion OF
the men cared to play, as the day had
been a tiresome one to all. Our chief,
Frank Johnson of Nevada, sat down
with Williams, and both were in great
good nature as I wrapped myself UP
in my blanket and fell asleep l had
slept for two hours when aroused by
the sounds of a quarrel l was the
IdSl MAN OIL lIit lllll l6Si w AOAA pol,
and I found every one of the twelve
with a gun in his hand. 1t seemed that
the two leaders had begun playing for
money and luck being with our man
he had won heavily. Then there came
q dispute as to some point, the lie was
passed. and the men Of both outfits
We're ready to open fire on each other.
1t was the other crowd which backed
i L.
not depend upon the Mexican and the
negro, and was therefore overmatched.
After moment he flung down his gun
and said to Johnson:
The crowd has nothing to do with
this row, and 1 reckon we are men
enough to settle it between ourselves"
In any way you choose replied
Johnson.
We'll, then, I'll tell you my plan in
the morning. One Of us has got to go
under for what has passed, but to-
morrow will be a long day. Let's call
it off for tonight"
The two leaders shook hands, and I
for one believed that would be the end
of the quarrel. 1 said as much to one
of our men as we lay down again, but
he whisperingly replied:
You don't know the men. There is
an old grudge between them. They will
fight tomorrow for sure, and they will
fight Until one Of them is dead"
A duel with rifles, pistols or knives?"
] asked
Il can't say. Both are square men,
and 1t will be square fight Jim Will
Jams Is one of the gamest men in all
the West, and as he has found his
match therell be fight worth talking
about for the next twenty years."
The men of both camps slept peace
fully during the remainder of the night.
and as we prepared and ate breakfast
nobody had a word to say about the
trouble of the night before The two
leaders gave each other good morn
Ing" and chatted about the weather ard
/ would have wagered my all that the
hard words had been forgotten and
forgiven. 1 was looking for the order
to pack up and move on as soon as
breakfast was over when Williams
took a seat beside Johnson and quietly
observed:
You are in no great hurry, 1 take it,
and day or two will make no differ
ence TO our men,"
we can stop here a week as we'll as
not, was the reply.
Just ahead of us, to the north, is
Jackson's basin.''
Aye! I've passed through it," said
Johnson. 'It is a natural sink, which
was once the bed of lake, but is now
grown up with a perfect tangle. What's
your plan?"
'One of us is to leave here at 8
o,eloell--It viii take him an. hour 20
reach the far SIDE At 10 O'Clock the
other will leave. We will hunt for each
other in the basin The one who lives
10 get out will return here and notify
the camps. Do you understand"
Perfectly. We are to hunt for each
other in the basin, and to shoot on
sight. One of us will be left there. The
one who goes first turns on his trail and
returns. We can stick TO the trail or
take to the woods. We may be hunt
ing each other for half day or half a
week"
That's the idea, and now we will toss
up to see who goes first. Is Ii heads
or tails?'
Heads" said our leader.
The coin which Williams tossed into
the air fell tail up, and he rose up and
said;
It's for me TO go first. Boys, you all
understand this matter. Only one of
us is TO come back, and there's to be
no hard feelings about it. If I'm left
behind you'll push on with Bill here
for your leader. What I've got in my
packs you are welcome to divide be-
tween you. I've got fifteen minutes TO
get ready i'm
had heard every word OF the above,
as had every other man in camp, but
ii was hard for me to realize that the
men were in sober earnest. 1t was TO
be man hunt to the death, and they
had talked 1t over as coolly as If the
subject of discussion was a bear or
deer. Williams took with him a rifle