Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-06-13

Gun Play, Which Was on the Pull
and Shoot Order-why Bratton Was
Glad He Lost His Right Hand.
''The most affectionate looking two
handed gun play that l 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 tie type that
has now passed away as ever famed a
.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 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.
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 it 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 l 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
at 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 eact
other and who had had a quarrel thai
meant the death of one or both of then
on the night before, walking arm IL
arm up and down the main street Of
the town. 1t looked like peripatetit
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, stepped suddenly and said:
"tGeorge 1 amt much on the blow
about any gun suddenness that l may
possess, out l sure want to give you 6
chance. You thrung it into me last
nigh in way that's eat up so much OF
the atmosphere around here thai
there's not enough air left in thi:
neighborhood for both of US to breathe
to count three, and when ! say three
it's a breakaway and a finish. You've
got a loose right arm. but | amt NJ
hog. One-two-threep
"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. Brattor
had to suffer his right hand to be cut
off that same night.
eThe last time l saw him was il
Creole. He was sitting on the edge OF
a bunk in his own cabin, close to 6
claim he was working. l hadn't seer
him since he'd lost his hand.
"sJim,' said 1, it's too bad yol
should have lost that right hand. Il
the fellow that plugged you had only
got the left hand. why
"sOh, 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 ant
brought forth an old violin. Then hi
rugged up an attachment he had fol
holding the bow in his right stump
and he played the instrument rea
sweetly for me for half an hour or so.
"I couldn't have done no fingerin i
I'd ha' lost my left hook, you know III
said simply when he put the old fiddle
away."-Washingto Post.