The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-02-22

Meta Little Slip That Cost o II ed
Handed Ruffian Hi. Life.
:.
II read In q newspaper the other day, "
said an old frontiersman, 'of two men
who met up In Montana, INDUCED IN a
little rapid gun play, and both fell NOR
tally wounded at the first shot. Incidents
of this sort are not SO uncommon as one
might think. Men on the frontier who
use gun at all learn to be quick with
the trigger, as the fraction OF a second
may mean life or death. recall one such
incident In particular.
In the early seventies Charley Collins
was one OF the most famous and perhaps
the most desperate Of the criminals on tho
Texas border. He held up trains, robbed
stages, stole horses, murdered traders and
committed other crimes until the rewards
offered for his capture dead or alive ex-
ceeded SIC, 900. At that time Will Ander-
son was deputy United States marshal at
Dallas. He was the nerViest man l ever
knew. He was a dead shot, absolutely
without fear and the terror Of evildoers.
native OF illinois, he went to Texas be-
fore the war. During hostilities he served
In northern regiment, and when the war
closed he went back to Texas, and his
courage and quick handling OF gun
brought about his appointment as deputy
United States marshal. Before long he
was the terror OF border bandits. No man
got the drop on him, and more than one
man who tried 1t had his career suddenly
brought to close.
I'm 1876 Anderson started out to run
Collins down. He soon made Texas too
hot for him, and Collins fled to Colorado,
and thence to wyoming, and to the Black
Hills country, then hlied with about the
toughest aggregation Of men ever brought
together. Anderson kept close after him,
apd Collins started north for the british
possessions Anderson OWNED his plan
and mado for Pembina, then the gateway
to Manitoba. He had to wait only few
hours when Collins came into town.
Both men were on the alert. They met IN
the street. caught sight of each other at
the Same time, pulled their revolvers, fired
on the instant, and both fell dead. Neither
spoke word after being shot. Anderson
was taken back 70 Dallas, where he had
the biggest fun raj ever seen in that city.
His family got the reward. Taking every
thing into consideration it was about the
most persistent pursuit and the most
tragic climax l ever knew OF.
About the same time there took place
down in New Mexico an ARRAY which was
for many years the talk of that region. In
the early seventies, when Justice in this
wild western country was done by vigil
lance committees, many bad men infested
that region, and the most desperate OF
them all was Chunk. Who he WAS or
where he came from no one knew, but all
recognized him as a thorough going des-
perado and respected him accordingly.
The most cold blooded and outrageous
crimes were attributed to him, and he
boosted u having committed them. With
ugly scars Oh his face and a brace Of six
presented figure which made men un-
comfortable when he met them In lonely l
places. In direct contrast to Chunk WINS
Clay Allison, also . desperate man, but
possessed Of many good qualities, He
lived on the Pecos in New Mexico and
died there only few years ago. 1t was he |
who rid the country of the terrible Chunk,
and that he was not killed in the encounter |
was surprising.
Early In 1875 m emigrant going into
New Mexico stopped at an old adobe house |
beside the trail Chunk, who was also
there invited the stranger to 60 for a
short tramp. The newcomer appreciated |
that there could be no safe refusal to the |
invitation and went. Within n few hours |
Chunk returned but nothing more was
ever heard of tho emisrant. The natives |
knew that the stranger had been muir
dered and robbed, but nobody dared to
refer to the fact openly. Chunk sat around
awhile and then left. Soon Clay Allison
arrived. The story of tho murder was re-
lated to him. In straight English, nat
urnlly embellished with swearing, Allison
expressed his opinion of Chunk. Some
body who heard bin repeated Allison's
remarks to Chunk, who announced that
Allison must die. 1t was some time be-
had been informed of the threat made by
Chunk. Both made preparations accord
ingly.
"1n the old adobe house the two men
met for the first time. Chunk accosted
In the most friendly manner the man
whom he had threatened to kill, and the
salutation was returned, neither being
thrown off his guard by the apparent
friepdliness Of the other.
"'How long will you be here?' asked
Chunk.
"tI'll stay for dinner and possibly
longer, answered Allison.
"Chunk thereupon extended an invita-
ton to dinner to Allison. and IL was &C.
copied. As good dinner al tho house
could afford was ordered by Chunk for
two, and among the edibles was roast beef.
Whom dinner was ready, tho two entered
the dining room, both aware that the
crisis was approaching, and each Watching
the other intently. They sat at opposite
sides of the table with the roast beef In
front of Allison.
will you carver asked Chunk.
TT was a perilous situation. hut the
man on the other side of the table had no
alternative Had he refused he would
snile he answered ,Certalnlv' and. tax.