Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-06-13
A REMA RkABLE DUEL
BOTH OF The PARTICIPANTS WERE
QUICK ON The TRIGGER
An Enforced Parade Preceded the
Gun Play. Which Wa. on the Pull
and shoot orde-Whx Rraftou Wa
Glad He Lost iii. Right Hand


The roSt afectionate looking two
handed gun play that ever saw" said
a Colorado gentleman in one or the
house committee rooms. was the one
that happened at Ia Junta in my
state. between Big Divide Jim Brat
ton and George Cannon. as pizenish a
pair Of real bad men of TIE type that
has now passed away as ever famed a
A.. or twisted Bowie
Cannon was the proprietor of the
Gilt Edge honkatonk in La Junta. and
ii was at this place that he had some
trouble with Brarton. 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.
THAT same night Rratton sent word
10 Cannon that he meditated shooting
him up some on the following day.
Cannon wasn't man TO take 10 the
cliffs or the cactus. having plenty Of
notches on his gun barrel himself, and
like a light battery of artillery. Big
Divide Jim Bratton buiced him. how
ever by turning a corner suddenly as
Cannon paraded down the main street.
and then ii 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 | 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 walllin around town linked
arms with me for awhile
1t was up TO Cannon 10 comply with
this peculiar request. Big Divide Jim
Bratton iabbed his guns back into his
belt, and then he clutched Gannon's
left arm and passed il through his
right. The disadvantage OF this ar
rangcment accrued to Rratton. 1t left
Gannon's gun arm free. while in case
of argument Bratton would have 10 use
his left gun. But Big Divide Jim
wasn't selfish.
The population of In 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. IL looked like a peripatetic
love feast between the two of EN-, But
they were watching each other like
cats At the end of the street Bratton,
still with his right arm linked 10 Can
- w
George. | Amt much on the blow
about any gun suddenness that | may
possess, but | sure want to give you a
chance. You thrunG il into me last
night in a 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 a breakaway and a finish. You've
got a loose right arm, tAit amt 40
hog. One-two-three. 49,.
Bratton the quicker man and the better
marksman. He got Cannon through
the heart, whereas Gannons ball lodg
ed in Bratton's right wrist. Bratton
had 10 suffer his right hand TO he cut
off that same night.
THE last time ! saw him was in
Creole. He was sitting on the edge of
a bunk in his own cabin close to Il
claim he was working. hadn't seen
him since he'd lost his hand.
Jim said l. its 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
phifosophically. 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 he
rugged up an attachment 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.
~ couldn't have done no fingerin IL
I'd ha' lost my left hook. you know he
said simply when he put the old fiddle
Washington Post.