Connecticut western news., 1901-09-05
A REMARKABLE DUEL
BOTH OF THE PARTICIPANTS WE'RE
 QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.

An Enforced Parade Preceded the
 Gun Play, Which Was on the Pull
 and Shoot order-why Bratton Was
 Glad He Lost HI. Right Hand.
 ''The most affectionate looking two handed gun play that ever saw" said a Colorado gentleman in one 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 .45 or twisted a Bowie.
 Cannon 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 have killed Bratton otherwise as matter of course.
 "That same night Bratton sent word to Cannon that he meditated shooting him up some on the following day. Cannon wasn't a 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 corner suddenly as Cannon paraded down the main street, and then 1t was Gannon's hands that went up for a change. Bratton had two guns covering him, and Cannon knew his gait.
 ""rhis,' said Bratton, is where I 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.'
 "It 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 1t through his right. The disadvantage of this ar engagement accrued to Bratton. It 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.
 "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 a 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 non's left, stopped suddenly and said:
 "'George, I ain't much on the blow about any gun suddenness that I may possess, but I sure want to give you a chance. You thrung 1t 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 at one and the same time. I'm a-goin to count three, and when say three it's breakaway and finish. You've got loose right arm, but I ain't no hog. One-two-threer
 "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 of that same night.
 "The last time I saw him was in Creede. He was sitting on the edge of bunk in his own cabin, close to a claim he was working. I hadn't seen him since he'd lost his hand.
 "'Jim,' said I, it's too bad you should have lost that right hand. Ii the fellow that plugged you had only got the left hand, why
 "'Oh, I don't know said Brattor philosophically. If I'd ha' lost my left wouldn't have been able to play the fiddle any more.'
 He reached under his bunk and brought forth an old violin. Then hs rigged up an attachment he had foi holding the bow In his right stump and he played the instrument req sweetly for me for half an hour or SO. "I couldn't have done no fngerin Il I'd ha' lost my left hook, you know h, said simply when he put the old fiddle away."-Washington Post.
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