The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-06-25
A REMARKABLE DUEL
BOTH OF THE PARTICIPANTS WERE
QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.

An Enforced Parade preceded the
Gun Play. Which Was on the Pull
and shoot Order-Why Brattan Was
Glad He Lost His Right Hand.
1.-THE most airectionate looking two
handed gun play that | ever saw" said
q Colorado gentleman in II of the
house committee rooms. twas the one
that happened at La Junta, in my
state, between Big Divide Jim Brat
ton and George Cannon. as pizenish a
pair Of real bad men Of the type that
has now passed away as ever famed a
as or twisted a Bowie.
''Gannon was the proprietor of the
Gilt Edge honkatonk in La Junta, and
1t was at this place that he had some
trouble with Bratton. The argument
ended by Bratton backing out Of the
door with his hands up, Cannon having
the drop. Cannon didn't shoot then be-
cause his gun wasn't loaded. he had
been cleaning it and had forgotten to
replace the cartridges. He'd ave killed
Bratton otherwise as a matter OF
course.
"That same night Bratton sent word
| to Cannon that he meditated shooting
him UP some on the following day.
Cannon WASH t a nan to take to the
cliffs or the cactus, having plenty of
notches on his gun barrel himself. and
he walked around the next afternoon
like a light battery of artillery. Big
Divide Jim Bratton bulged him. how
ever. by turning a corner suddenly as
Cannon paraded down the main street.
and then it was Gannon's hands that
went up for a change. Bratton had
two guns covering him, and cannon
knew his gait.
""This,' said Bratton. is where l get
an even break for my coin. Now. you
like me so much, Cannon, that want
you to sort of show your appreciation
Of me by walkin around town linked
arms with me for awhile
sit was up to Cannon to comply with
this peculiar request. Big Divide jim
Bratton jabbed his guns back into his
left arm and passed it through his
right. The disadvantage Of this ar
rangement accrued to Bratton. 1t left
Gannon's gun arm free, while in case
of argument Bratton would have to use
his left gun. But Big Divide Jim
wasn't selfish.
1.-THE population Of La Junta was
amazed to see Big Divide Jim Brat
ton and George Cannon, who had al
ways been more or less sore on eacl
other and who had had a quarrel tina,
meant the death of one or both of then
, on the night before. walking arm ii
arm up and down the main street o
the town. 1t looked like a %peripateti'
love feast between the two of EN-. Blu
J they were watching each other lik'
/, cats. At the end of the street Bratton
: still with his right arm linked to Gan
mons left. stopped suddenly and said:
! "'George. | amt much on the bloy
> about any gun suddenness that l ma.
= possess. but l sure want to give you
: chance. You thrung it into me las
! night ina way that's eat up so much 0
the atmosphere around here tia
! there's not enough air left in thi
), at one and the same time. I'm a-goi
y to count three. and when ! say three
! it's a breaka way and a finish. You'v
u got a loose right arm. but ! amt q
: hog. One-two-three!!
I 1.-THE event proved Big Divide jim
Bratton the quicker man and the bette
: marksman. He got Cannon throug
y the heart. whereas Gannon's bali lod:
ed in Bratton's right wrist. Bratto
had to suffer his right hand to be CT
off that same night.
1.-THE last time | saw him was
:, Creole. He was sitting on the edge {
y a bunk in his own cabin. close to
= claim he was working. l hadn't sec
= him since he'd lost his hand.
:. "'Jim.' said /. it's too bad yc
:. should have lost that right hand.
;, the fellow that plugged you had on.
- got the left hand. why
"'Oh. don't know said Bratte
y philosophically. If I'd ha' lost my lei
= L wouldn't have been able to play II
!. fiddle any more
- He reached under his bunk al
:. brought forth an old violin. Then
- rugged up an attachment he had f
holding the bow in his right STUN
and he played the instrument re
sweetly for me for half an hour or so.
re 81 couldn't have done no fingerin
in I'd ha' lost my left hook. you know
in said simply when he put the old idC
ne away."-Washington Post.