Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-06-17
a REMARKABLE DUEL

BOTH OF THE PARTICIPANTS
WE'RE QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.
''The most affectionate looking two
handed gun play that ever saw" said !
q Colorado gentleman in one of the
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
.45 or twisted Bowie. -, E.s 10:
Cannon was the proprietor. of the
Gilt Edge honlatonk in La Junta. and
it 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 have killed
Bratton otherwise as a matter. of
course ~ -t.-s.
"That same night Bratton sent word
to Cannon that he meditated shooting
him up some on the following day.
Cannon wasn't man 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 change. Bratton. had
two guns covering him, and Cannon
knew his gait. ~. -. n q"
"This,' said Bratton, is where 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
ut was up to Cannon to comply with
this peculiar request. Big Divide Jim
Bratton jabbed his guns back into his
belt, and then he clutched Gannon's
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 each
other and who had had quarrel that
meant the death Of one or both of them
on the night before, walking arm in
arm up and down the main street Of
the town. 1t looked like a peripatetic
love feast between the two of 'em. But
they were watching each other like
cats. At the end of the street Bratton,
still with his right arm linked to Gan
mons left, stopped suddenly and said:
"sGeorge, amt much on the blow
about any gun suddenness that may
possess, but / sure want to give you
chance. You thrung it into me last
night in way that's eat up so much Of
the atmosphere around here that
there's not enough air left in this
neighborhood for both of US to breathe
l.
to count three, and when say 'three"
it's breakaway and a finish. You've
got loose right arm, but l amt no
hog. One-two-threev
1.-THE event proved Big Divide Jim
Bratton the quicker man and the better
marksman. He got Cannon through
the heart, whereas Gannon's ball lodg-
ed in Bratton's right wrist Bratton
had to suffer his right hand to be cut
off that same night.
'The last time I saw him was in
Creede. He was sitting on the edge Of
a bunk in his own cabin, close to a
claim he was working. I hadn't seen
him since he'd lost his hand.
"'sJin,' said I, its too bad you
should have lost that right hand. II
the fellow that plugged you had only
got the left hand, why
"tOh, / don't know said Rratton
philosophically. IF I'd ha' lost my left,
/ wouldn't have been able to play the
fiddle any more ,..g 4. II -. I'D .S,, II NJ:
Il "He reached under his bunk and
brought forth an old violin Then he
rigged up an ttachment he had for
holding the bow in his right stump,
and he played the instrument real
sweetly for me for half an hour or so.
u u ST couldn't have done no sfingerin liz
I'd ha' lost my left hook, you know; he
said simply when he put the old fiddle
away. Nv ashington Post, 55s
$ The Glen uliin advocate favors j
heavy club IA the hands of the. city
marshal dor fellows who try 10 run
| the town. 1