The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-10
A DUEL WITH LAIiIATS.
Mexican and American Cowboys Set
tie Their Differences.
From the Seattle Post-Intenlgencer


From the Seattle Post-Intelllgencer.
Between a Mexican and an American,
yes" said Joe Hampton. 1T happened
about twenty years ago, and it was about
as exciting piece of work as ever saw.
1 was foreman at that time for the Seven
Up q u p horse ranch, IN Wyoming, and
we were on our way from Sydney. Neb..
with a band of mares that had been ship
ped from Missouri TO Sydney. We had
to drive the animals overland to the home
ranch.
Well I picked up an OUTFIT of men
around Sydney, seven Americans and
three Mexicans, a tough lot. We started
out, and when we got to the Big Chey-
enne river, south of the Black Hills we
hoped to let the horses rest for a few days.
There was one Mexican, Pedro Gonzales,
about the most ill-natured and most quar-
relsome man ! ever saw. He fell out with
an American by the name of Dick McAll,
an an-round bad man. l knew Dick by
reputation and he had a bad record.
We'll, one day at dinner time Dick made
some remarks about roping a greaser
down in Texas and hauling him across
the prairie until he was worn out. The
Mexican answered by saying that man
must have been asleep or ceaG, for you
could not rope a live man and do that.
Dick jumped TO his feet and pulled his
gun, and Pedro did the same. l rushed be-
tween them and ordered them to put up
their guns. The MeXicans black eyes
shone like a rattlesnake-s when about 10
strike, but he put the gun back in his belt
and Dick did the same.
Il knew there would be trouble, and
how 10 avoid it was question not easily
solved. 1 ordered the horse wrangler to
fetch up the saddle horses, for l intended
TO move on that afternoon. The Mexican
spoke to Dick and they walked off to one
side and talked In low tone for a few
minutes. When the horses came up l no
ticed both men saddled up their best
horses. They both unwound their lasso
ropes and stretched them out side by side.
Dicks rope was about 40 feet long and
Pedro's about 60 feet. Pedro drew his
knife from his belt and cut his rope the
exact length of Dicks Then they cooled
up their ropes carefully and each man
led his horse in opposite directions until
they We're about 100 yards apart. Then
they mounted like a flash and rode to-
ward each other l stood holding my
horse by the bride and watched every
move. 1 will never forget the look OF
hate and murder on the Mexicans face.
His lips were apart, showing the white
teeth, and wicked smile seemed TO play
about his mouth Dicks jaws were set
tight, and a look of mingled fear and
rage combined on his savage face.
"They rode slowly toward each other for
about fifty yards, watching each other Ike
a couple Of Gagged panthcrs. Then they
made a dash and both ropes shot out like
a streak of lightning. Both men lodged
and escaped. In an instant they had gath
cred up their ropes, and begun 10 circle
around and around. l could hear the swish
of their ropes as they swung them around
their heads each man trying to get some
advantage They charged back and forth
and finally both threw their ropes again.
Il was a close cali for Dick for the Mexi-
can got his rope over Dicks head, but
Dick threw it off before he could pull up
the slack In an instant Pedro had gath
cred up his rope and threw ii again and
caught Dick around the head and one arm.
He drove the spurs into his horse and
started across the prairie, but like flash
Dicks hand went 10 his pistol, and before
the Mexican could pull him from his horse
Dick sent a bullet through his head aud
the Mexican fell TO the ground dead.
But Dick was jerked from his horse
with terrible force, for the Mexican had
made the end of his rope fast to the saddle
horn The Mexicans horse ran short
distance and then stopped, and before l
could get to him one of the other Mexicans
had ridden up ana emptied his six-shooter
into Dicks body. He then put spurs 10
his horse and soon disappeared across the
prairie and that was the last l ever saw
of him. The other Mexican told me that
was the third duel of that kind that Pedro
had fought, and always got his man."