The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-03-27

The Tragic story Of william HALEY
Recalled ~ Hfs Denth.

hEEUIAEa D. AaAH DEuNNf
William HALEY. the chief lieutenant 81
the noted guerrilla. Charles QuanirelI
during the War Of the Rebellion. who
has just passed away AT the State In
sane asylum. in ST. Joseph 40. victim
of paresis was one 0f the figures =
duel fought on the plains Of Texas as he
was fleeing with Shelby and a handful
of ex-confederates from the United
States. 10 seek an asylum under the
reign Of Maximilian IN Mexico. After
the last remnant Of the guerrilla band
had beea hunted 10 earth HALEY escaped
70 one Of the commands under Gen. Jo
shelby. which was then making ITS way
to a point on the Brazos river IN Texas.
with the expectation ~ making q final
attack on the Federal forces and supplies
al corzicana
sheiby's army Was marching toward
Austin, nelr where the duel between
HALEY, who was then a hrst lieutenant
IN one Of the companies. and a captain
OF a company in another regiment oc-
clrred. The duel was witnessed by a
number Of shelbys men who are now
residents Of st. Joseph aud Mai Ed
wards. who accompanied Shelby 70 the
City Of Mexico, returning only after the
army was disbanded and upon the re-
fusal Of Maximiliian 70 accept the Nilsson
rams into the service Of the emp.rs.
The duelists. both young men. quarrel
ed about a woman, a fair young thing.
WHO was the captains By right Of dis
cOvery. the heutenant's by right Of con-
quest Al the night encampment she
abandoned the old love FOR the new,
and IN the struggle FOR possession the
captain struck the lieutenant fair IN the
face.
You have done a serious thing, some
oomrade said 10 him.
1T will be more serious ln the morn
ing" was the quiet reply.
But you are IN the wrong and you
should apologize"
He tapped the handle OF his revolver
significantly and made answer; "This
must fmsh what the blow has COM
menced. A woman worth kissing Is worth
fighting for
The name OF either dueiisi has hereto
fore remained unspoken. Most OF the men
who witnessed the tragedy have long
since passed 10 their rewad. and i Is only
since the death Of HALEY IN ST. Joseph
that one Of his comrades IN arms. who
witnessed the tragedy. has volunteered
20 give his name. There are those to-day
living IN Marion county. No, whose sleep
IN eternity will be brighter and sweeter
IL they are left In ignorance OF how one
fair-hsired boy who went forth to fight
the battles OF the South found grave
tenant challenged the captain, but the
question OF its acceptance was decided
upon before the challenge was received
These were the terms: Al daylight the
principals were 10 meet one mile from the
camp upon the prairie. armed each with a
revolver and a saber They were to be
mounted and stationed twenty PAGES
apart. back 70 back. At the word they
were to wheel and IRE. advancing or re-
naming stationary, as they chose. In no
event we're they 70 pass beyond a line 200
yards IN the rear Of each position.
50 secret were the preparations and 50
sacred the honor Of TIE two men that.
although the dinlcuiiy was known to 800
soldiers. not one of them Informed Gen.
Shelby. The general would instantly have
arrested The principals and forced a COM
promise. as he had done once before I'M
der circumstances as urgent but in no
way similar. Il was a beautiful MORN
ing. all ablaze with bloom and yerdure
Two and two and IN groups the men
stole away from camp and ranged them
selves on either flank A Few rude jokes I
were heard. and they died out quickly as
the combatan.s rode up 70 the dead line.
Both we're calm and cool and on the I
captains face there was q half smile. 4
Poor fellow. There were already the scars
Of three honorable WOUNDS upon his body: /
the fourth would be bis death wound.
They we're placed. and sat upon their 1
horses like two men who are about TO
charge. Each head was turned a little 70 4
one side. the feet rested lightly IN the 4
stirrups. the left hand grasped the reIns
well gathered Up. tie right hands held 4
the deadly pistols i9aded fresh an hour 4
before.
"Ready-Rheelr The trained steeds
turned upon a pivot as one steed.
'Fires"
The lieutenant never moved from his
tracks. The captain dashed upon him at
a full gailop. firing as he came. Three
chambers were empty. and three bullets
sped away over tie prairie. harmless. Be.
fore the fourth IRE was given the cap.
tain was abreast OF the lieutenant and
aiming az him al deadly range. Too iatei
The lieutenant threw out his pistol un-
tii the muzzle almost touched the cap
iain's hair and fired.
The horse dashed away riderlcss the
captains life blood upon his irapninrs
There vas face In the grass. a widowed
woman In Missouri and a soul somewhere
In the white iiush and waste OF eternity.
buried him before the sun rose.
before the dew was dried upon the grass.
and returned from the scene Of combat
without a word o. comment upon their
lips
Lieut.. HALEY sought his quarters. took
b cup OF coffee. a short nap and. with
bis comrades. resumed the march toward
ne Mexican border They crossed and
vent straight 70 the city of Mexico en-
raging IN battle az almost every step Of
he Journey, finally 10 reach their destina-
Son and have their proders OF service %
IN empire rejected. HALEY and few
.ompL nions organized into a band for an
'arly return 20 the states lie dared not
etura 70 the home of his childhood. near
ndeps ndenoe. NO. because a price had