Evening journal., 1901-06-29
A AREMARKABLE DUEL
soTH OF THE PARTICIPANTS WE'RE
QUICK ON THE TRIGGER.

An Enforced Parade preceded the
Gun Play, which Was on the Pull
D and shoot order-Why Bratton Was
Glad He Lost His Right Hand.
"rhe most alrectIonate looking two
handed gun play that ever saw" said
n Colorado gentleman In one of the
house committee rooms, was the one
that happened at La JuDta, in my
state, between Big Divide jim Brat
ton and George Cannon, as pizenish n
pair Of real bad men Of tie 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
It was at this place that he had some
trouble with Brattoh. 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 lie 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 medltated 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 tho next afternoon
like light battery OF artillery. Big
Divide jim Bratton bulged him, bow
ever, by turning a corner suddenly as
Cannon paraded down the main street.
and then 1t was Gannon's hands that
went up for change. Bratton had
two guns covering him, and Cannon
knew HIS gait.
"'This, said Bratton, IS where get
an even break Tor my coin. Now. you
like mo so much, Cannon. that / want
you to sort OF show your appreciation
OF me by walkin around town linked
arms with me for awhile
1T 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 II through his
right. The disadvantage OF this ar
rangement accrued to Bratton II left
Gannons 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 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 tho night before, walking arm In
arm up and down the main street OF
tho town. 1t looked like a peripatetLc
love feast between the two OF 'em. But
they were watching each other like
cats. at the end OF the street DFatton.
stili with his right arm linked TO Can
mons left stopped suddenly and said:
George, amt much on the blow
about any gun suddenness that may
possess, but sure want to give you a
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
at one and the same time. I'm a-goin
TO count three. and when say 'three"
it's brealsaway and n finish. You've
got loose right arm. but aln'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 Brntton's right wrist Bratton
had to suffer his right hand to be cut
off that same night.
''Tho last time l saw him was In
Creede. He was sitting on the edge of
a bunk In his own cabin. close 10 n
claim he was working. 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. l don't know, said Brntton
philosophlcally. If I'd ha' lost my left
l wouldn't have been able TO play the
fiddle any more
"He reached under his bunk and
brought forth an old violin. Then he
rigged 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 flngerIn Il
I'd ha' lost my left hook. you know he
said simply when he put the old fddle
away. Washington Post.
The Result OF his study.