New-York tribune., 1901-06-02
BOTH Quick WITH THEIR Guns.
A REMARKABLE DUEL OF TWO BAD MEN
OF COLORADO.

OF COLORADO-
Washington correspondence of The Chicago
Journal.
The most affectionate looking two handed
gun play that | ever saw said a Colorado man
in one of the House committee rooms, was the
one that happened at La Junta. in my State.
between Big Divide Jim BrattOn and George
Cannon as piZenish pair of real bad Of
the type that has passed away as ever
famed 40 or twisted n bowie. Cannon was
the proprietor of the Gilt Edge honkatOnk in
La Junta, and it was at this place that he ha
some trouble with BrattOn. The argument end
ed hy Bratton backing out of the door with his
hands up. Cannon having the drop Cannon
didn't shoot then because his gun wasn't loaded;
he had been cleaning it and had forgotten to
replace the cartridges. He'd have killed Bratton
otherwise, a matter of course.
THAT same night Bratton sent word to Gan
non that he meditated shooting him up some on
the following day. Cannon wasn't Ia
take to the cliffs or the cactus. having plenty OF
Eotchcs on his gun barrel himself and he
walked around the next afternoon like a light
battery of artillery. Big Divide Jim Bratton
bulged him. however. by turning a corner sud
denly as Cannon paraded down the main street.
and then ii was GannDns hands that went up,
for change Bratton had two guns covering
him, and Cannon knew his gait.
This. said Bratton. is where / get cven
break for my coin. Now, you like much,
Cannon that want you To sort of show Your
appreciation of me by walkin' around town
linked arms with me for a while
1t was up To Cannon to comply with this pc
culiar request. Big Divide Jim Bratton jabb-l
his guns back into his belt. and then he ClutcheI
Gaanons left arm and passed it through his
right The disadvantage of this arrangement
accrued tn Bratton 1t left CannOn's gun
free, while in case of argument Bratton would
have To use his left gun. But Big Divide Jim
wasn't selfish.
The population Of la Junta was amazed to
sec Big Divide Jim BrattOn and George Cannon.
who had always been more less each
other and who had had quarrel that meant
the death Of one or both Of them the night
before. walking arm in arm up and down the
main street of the town. IL looked like peri
patetic love feast between the two of EN-. But
they watching each other like cats AZ
tho end of the street BrattOn. still with his
right arm linked to Gannon's left. stopped sud
denly and said:
"'George. amt much the blow about any
gun suddenness that may possess. but sure
want Ia give YOU chance. You thrung IL into
me Last night in way that's eat up so much cf
the atmosphere around here that there's not
enough air left in this neighbOThood for both O;
Us To breathe at one and the time I'm Il
goin' to count three, and when l say three"
it's Il breakaway and finish You've got
loose right arm, but amt no hog. One-two-
three
The event proved Big Divide jim Bratton
the quicker man and the better markSman. Hd
got Cannon through the heart whereas Gan
mons ball lodged in BrattOn's right wrist. Brat
ton had To suffer his right hand to be cut of
that same night.
The last time | saw him was about seen
wears ago in Creede. He was sitting on the edge
Of bunk in his cabin, close To claim ne
working. / hadn't seen him since he'd lost
his band
Jim. said I. it's too bad YOU should have
lost that right hand. If the fellow that plugged
you had only got the left hand. Why
"'Oh. | don't know said Bratton, philOsopht-
citIly III Td ha' lost my left wouldn't have been
able play the fiddle any more
lie reached under his bunk and brought forth
an old violin. Then he ri@ged up an attachment
he had for holding the bow in his right stump.
and ne played the instrument real sweety cor
me for half an hour.
- couldn't have done no fingerin' if I'd ha'
lost my left hook. you know he said. simply.
when he put the old fiddle away"