Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-04-06
A BOOBIES DUEL
OF THE WEST.

A~~NNN
Captain Jacob Matthews died recent
ly near Sidney, Neb. He was a prin-
cipal in one of the most singular, II
bloodless, duels ever fought In the
West. He emigrated from Pennsylva-
mia early in the Cos, and settled at
Omaha, where he began as small
merchant OF Quaker stock end peace
loving, he frequently declared he had
fired a pistol only once in his life.
dis title was entirely complimentary.
The duel in which he engaged took
place shortly after his arrival at Oma-
nd City, when he aroused the animos-
ity of Bull Tomey, blackleg and an
expert with the pistol. Matthews re-
fused to sell goods to Tomey on credit,
whereupon the latter promptly chal-
lenged the young merchant TO duel.
AS Tomey had participated in a dozen
or more such affairs and had always
come off victorious, great was the sur
prise and alarm of Matthews friends
when he promptly accepted the chal-
lenge.
Il have never had pistol in my
hands in my life" said Matthews, ''but
i mean to meet him, though neither of
US will be hit"
The next day Tomey and Matthews
met in a field south of the town. The
news of the impending duel had been
well circulated and friends of both
assembled, although the general con-
,yiction was that. Matthews was as
good as dead.
To the amaZement of the spectators,
as well as Tomey and his second,
when they reached the field they found
newly dug grave yawning for him
who should fall in the duel. Tomey
made il the butt of his coarse wit.
THAT Teller Matthews is thought
full one,'' he said to the crowd. He
comes out here to get me to pop him
of and has his own grave ready, so
we can hold the funeral without waste
of time"
''On the contrary" answered Mat
thews, II have had that grave dug for
you"
There was even greater cause for as
constituent when Matthews second
Williams strobe on the field. He was
known TO be one of the most desperate
men in Omaha. His fame as dead
shot was as great as that of Tomey,
while his daring and wickcdness were
held in far higher repute by the rough
clemens, of which he was q ruling
spirit. Some trifiing kindness had won
this desperate to Matthews, and he
had sworn to see him through the fight
and secure fair play, if he had to clean
out a score of his own tribe.
The duelsts were to stand and fire
at ten PAGES, and Williams, who imme-
diately took charge of all arrange
ments without much Difference to the
wishes or views of his fellow second,
SO managed it that the grave came di-
rectly between them. To this arrange
ment Tomey and his second strenuous
ly objected but Williams, with an
ugly frown, overruled them, saying
tersely that, as the challenged party,
his principal had right to select the
ground, so long as no obstacles inter
vened. The dirt from the grave had
been removed to distance, so there
could be no complaint OH that score.
Tomey and his second appealed to the
crowd, but soon found themselves a
helpless minority, for the predominant
ing rough element were afraid Of vii
liams, and so of course sided with him
The respectable spectators naturally
agreed with any proposition made in
the interest of Matthews, whether the
benefit was apparent or not. Finding
a - -
Tomey's second placed him on his side
of the grave, and Williams did like
wise with Matthews. Then williams
stepped some PAGES to the right of his
principal, and made a brief address.
"You men are to have one shot
apiece" he began, looking straight al
Tomey, who stood at careless ease with
a smile on his repulsive face.
That's all l want" he retorted: 81
don't believe in tearing i'm all to
pieces"
.All you want?" repeated williams
"we'll see that you don't try to take
more. And another thing / want you
to bear carefully In mind. Bull Tomey
that I'm standin' here with nay gun In
fny good right hand, and IL Yen fire
before l give the word of command
why. I'll blow the heart out of you
and ! reckon from what you know OF
4me, you will believe I'm in earnest
when caution YOU"
- Tomey scouled darkly, but made nc
answer. Relations between the two
men were strained, but Williams was
much too strong in the esteem of the
rough element for Tomey to declare
for an open breach.
"Don't worry about me shootin
ahead of time" he replied surlily, "but
hurry up these proceedings. want t.
tct back to. town with the boys to Gel
citrate this funeral"
Very well, we're ready. will count
one, two, three, and then you are botf