The National tribune., 1901-04-25


column, desperately resolved to get good
| aim-his antagonist, all the while advanc.
ing, attempted to fire again, but missed
this time, the cap refusing to communicate
| the deadly flash to the chamber of the re-
volver-then there was a binding fash
from Fosters gun, accompanied by
thunderOus report, and the two men fell
almost instantaneOuSly.
Foster had discharged both barrels of
his weapon, heavily loaded with buckshOt,
at Phillips, the entire charge having en-
tered his wooden leg. and sent him spin
ming to the ground. like the sudden jerk
and whirl of nearly spent top, the recoil
of the gun also kicking" Foster fiat as a
Tennessee poor whites" corn pOne.
The men who had been looking on and
quietly criticising the little by-play, now
rushed forward and surrounded the COM
batants, the anxiety of each of whom was
to be assured of the others death; or, in
case Of his being alive, to have some one
to be the immediate bearer of tender re-
CARDS and profuSe expressions Of friend
ship: thus terminating satisfactorily to all
parties what the chiYalrous inhabitants Of
Victoria informed my detectives was
called stag duel" the most common and
effective method known for settling the lit
tie difficulties liable at any time to occur
among gentlemen, the only conditions i'm
posed by custom being that neither party
shall offer to shoot in a crowded room. or
be allowed to fire at his opponent unless
he is also prepared, when other citizens
who may be using the streets at those
times withdraw from them as rapidly as
consistent with the propreties, when the
occasion is Immediately made interesting
to the participants, who advance and fire
upon each other as rapidly as a liberal
practice in this and other codes" Of TAX
ing human life will permit.
A TEXAS RAILROAD IN '6S
As the next sensation to a "stag duel
in Victoria was the arrival of the train
from Lavaca, in the shape of hand-car
manned by four burly negroes, who, with
the original superintendent of the road,
had formed sonlless corporation with
which nothing could compete, it was not
long before the detectives had secured
seats with four other passengers, making
10 persons in all, to be conveyed % miles
on brOken-dOwn hand-car over probably
the most vilainous excuse for railroad
ever known.
The fare was So in gold for each pas
seBgeF, which might seem to have shade
Of eXOrbitancc about il when it was con
sidered that the accommodations consisted
of two very insecure seats. constructed
over the wheels, upon each of which three
persons might cling with a constant cX-
pcctntiOn of being jolted off by the M
evenness of the road, or Of falling off from
ramshackle boards beneath them.
'AIl abo'd,' shouted the negro conduct
or, with all the style and JUNCTION of the
diamond-pinned aristocrat of n New York
Central train; and then, as the train"
started out of Victoria the passengers and
the admiring loOkers-On were greeted with
the following song. tuned to the Rata
tat OI the wheels upon the rails, and
sturdily sung, or chanted rather, by the
| Jolly but powerful crew:
/ "Heave hoi
Away we 60
Winds may wait, Or de winds may blow!
Heaye hoi
Away we GO
For to cotch de gals at Lavac-or'
In the sense that this mode of travelling
had the charm of novelty and the thrilling
attraction Of danger combined, il was a
success. There was freshness and va.
riety about it, too; for whenever one of
| the negroes had done gin out" the con-
ductOr would call for volunteers from
| among the passengers, and give the de-
| mand peculiar emphasis by the remark,
Takes Drawn n sinyew to pump dis hy'r
| train into 'vacca; N de- LO'd never did
make no men out O ciar iron n steelr'
The argument was so forcible that some
| one would work with the negroes while
| the clean done gone man and brother
rested and meditated upon "catchin' the
gals of 'vacca" which the song brought
out so feelingIy.
Besides this, new interest would be
added to the excursion whenever the wind
was favorable; for, stopping the car. n
mast to which sort of "muttOn-leg sail, -
as they termed il. would be attached. the
conductor would brace himself and Would
lcnethen or shorten the sail. as WAS most
judiciOuS, and then the hand-car ship
would speed along the bil!owy track like