The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-04

he had gone too far and that
he would be killed on sight by
the Democratic postmaster whose honor
mad been tranpled upon until he would
stand II no longer. and other men were
telling the AIiSsourian that his life WOuld
not be worth a straw unless he got the
first shot II can be said to the credit
Of the postmaster that he only laughed
at the men who brought him tales and
that he went home that night with the
impression that the trouble was over
for the present The Republican editor
did not take things as easily as his op-
ponent. He believed the tales the men
told him OF the vicious character OF
PaulSOu and when the last grocery
closed that night the clerks met Del
son walking up the street crying and
saying to those who spoke TO him: 7
must kill Pauls0n when he comes down
IN the morning or he will kill me- The
night Watchman who was paid by the
merchants to protect their stores walk
ed with him that night and tried to
convince him that he should go home
and take a rest; that II he was to be
shot he could stand it better II he had
a nights rest and a good breakfast be-
fore the murder was committed but
Delson would only take another drink
from his bottle and insist that he must
stay up all night and wait for his en-
envy When the men who went down
town early next morning saw DelSOn on
the street waiting for PaulsOn it did not
take them long to circulate the news
and soon the friends Of both sides
swarmed the street The news had been
carried to PaulSon that 1t would be
duel as soon as he saw Delson. and it
did not seem to frighten him a bit I
am not going down town today as it is
sunday and I never do go down on Sun
day, he said. but I viii go down Mon
day morning at eight o'clock as usual
and II that fat tub OF refuse from a
packing house is on the streets with
revolver I viii make him look sick The
news Of PaulSOn'S decision was sOoT1
carried down the street and the crowd
gradually dispersed. Paulson's friends
met and arranged the action they
should take IN the morning and Del
sons friends also held meetings and
arranged for the slaughter of their en-
emies- Tt was learned the next morn
ing early that DelzCn was to stand in
front Of his office and when PaulsOn
came down the street he was to shoot
him OF course they figured that Paul
son would come down the opposite side
from the Republicans office When
Paulson's friends got onto the method
Of their enemies they planned a cOun-
ter attack In every store opposite Del
sons Office was a man with a Winches-
ter. and on the other side OF the street
men of both factions were lined up
waiting for the shooting to begin Next
to DelSou stood his brother and next
to him stood PaulsOn's brother. Beyond
them stood alternating friends OF both
parties I believe that every man in
the town who had grudge against an
OtnAr man was out with his gun taking
sides in the fight for the sole purpose
of getting a shot at a personal enemy.
The hardware stores had been cleaned
out OF guns. although it was impossible
TO see a gun on the street everyone
knew that the firearms had been hid in
the storerOons which were handy How
ever. in every mans pocket was q
volVer- When eight o'clock arrived you
could hear a pin drop; they were wait
ing for the fight to begin and the signal
was to be a shot from either DeisOn or
Paulson- At five minutes after eight
murmur went through the crowd, Here
he comes And there he did come with
a large Colts revolver in his right hand
at fun cock. He was walking very
straight and his mustache and imperial
were very pointed AS ne reached the
block on which DelsOn's Office was To-
Gated. that wprthy's nerves seem to
desert him and he turned and fed up
stairs When Paulson got opposite the
Office he waved his revolver over his
head and said. Come out you coward
and make your threats Gentlemen you
see he has gone if there are any CT yoo
who want to take this fight UP do il now
or keep quiet hereafter No one spoke
and as PauIsou moved on to his work
the crowd gradually dispersed have
often thought that if one shot had been
nred at that time the history OF Kansas
would have been changed a little for
there were several men in the town who
have since become prominent that
would certainly have not lived through
the TrnF