Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-04-13
AsLooDLEss DUEL OF THE WEST

OdpldIu 0dCOO hdIIAch9 N'S' ~
Gently near Sidney, Neb. He was a
principal in one of the most singular,
if bloodle.s, duels ever fought IN the
West. He emigrated from Pennsyl-
vania early in the Cos, and settled at
Omaha, where he began as small
merchant. OF Quaker stock and
peace loving, he frequently declared
he had fired a pistol only once in his
life. His title was entirely comph-
mentary.
The duel in which he engaged took
place shortly after his arrival at Oma-
ha City, when he aroused the animos-
ity of Bull Tomsy, a blackleg and an
expert with the pistol. Matthews re-
fused to sell goods to Tomey on credit,
whereupon the latter promptly ch-I-
lenged the young merchant to a dnel.
As Tomey had participated IN 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 cbai-
| leuge
Il have never had a pistol in my
hands in nv life, " said Matthews, bur
l 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
we'll circulated and friends Of both
assembled, although the general con-
viction 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 it the butt of his coarse
wit.
That reller Matthews is thought
FIJI one" he said to the crowd. "He
comes out here to get me to pop him
off and has his own grave ready, &c
we can hold the funeral without waste
OF time.
con the contrary, answered Mat,
thews, 81 have had that grave dug fol
you.
There was even greater cause foi
astonishment when Matthews second
Williams-strode on the field. H.
was known to be one of the most des-
perate men in Omaha. His fame al
dead shot was as great as that Of
Tomey, while his daring and wicked
ness were held in far higher repute by
the rough element, of which he was q
ruling spirit. Some tphlng kindness
had won this desperate to Matthews
and he had sworn to see him through
the fight and secure fair play, if h'
had to clean out a score Of hi, OWL
tribe.
The duelists were to stand and FIRE
at ten PAGES, and Williams, who i'm
mediately 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 ar.
rangement Tomey and his second siren
uously objected, but Williams, with
an ugly frovn, overruled them, say
ing ter.ely that, as the challenged
party, his principal had right to Sc
lect the ground, so long as no obstacles
interviewed. The dirt from the grave
had been removed to a distance, SC
there could be no complai t on that
score. Tomey and his second appealed
to the crowd, but soon found them
selves helpless minority, for the PIE
dominating rough element were afraid
of Williams, and so of course SIDED
with him The respectable spectator:
naturally agreed with any proposition
made in the interest of Matthews
whether the benefit was apparent ol
not. Finding 1t of no avail to protest
further, Tomey's second placei hin
on hi. side of the grave, and Williams
did likewise with Matthews. Ther
Williams stepped some PAGES to tn,
right of his principal, and made brie
address.
You men are to have one shot
apiece he began, looking straight al
Tomey, who stood at careless eas.
with a smile on his repulsiVe face.
That's all l want, he retorted
Il don't believe III tearing i'm all tc
pieces"
"All you want?" repeated vii
liams; well see that you don't try
to take more. And another thing
want you to bear carefully in mind