Rock Island Argus., 1902-07-10
DIE in TRACKS
Mate Breen, of Dubuque,
Shoots Two Medi-
cine Men.
BATTLE ABOARD BOAT
Bullet in Ones Heart
Other Dead in Few
Minutes.
BATTLE ABOARD BOAT.

NhIiStOpIcr IeOnluaS ana MS son,
men aged so and 80 years, respective
ly, who wore long hair and carried
siX-shooters in their belts, were shot
dead aboard the steamer Dubuque by
Mate Dan Breen as the result of Il
quarrel that began at 40 this after
noon, shortly after the boat had left
the Davenport shore northbound.
Seven shots were fired, one of the
Leonidas receiving bullet in the
heart and dying instantly, while the
other breathed his last before the
steamer reached the Iowa landing, to
which her nose was turned on order
of Capt. John Simmons after the
shooting. Neither the mate nor the
captain. both of whom had hand
in the fight, was injured.
Sold Hair oil.
The dead men sold hair oil and 9th
er medicines, but advertised them
selves on coming to a town as the Le-
onidas & Son Comedy company, giving
an entertainment to attract a crowd,
and Incidentally lauding the virtues
of the medicines they offered for
sale.
They had been in Rock Island four
days, but dIu not appear to have
found more people than they could
supply in need of their goods. So to-
day they selected McGregor, Iowa,
as the next place on the map to
which they would move, going to
Davenport by car and purchasing
two trip tickets on the Dubuque.
They Get "Bossy."
Naturally the Lconidas attracted
more than passing attention when
they went aboard the boat, but gave
little heed to this, acting as though
they were accustomed to it. But
presently they began giving orders
as to the care of their baggage, us
ing tone of voice that did not just
please the mate, who gave them to
understand the boat had officers who
were competent to run its affairs.
Some warm language was exchanged,
and finally the medicine men, allow
ing they would ''shoot 'em up some
whipped out their guns, but before
they could get them in action both
were lying cold on, the floor, wound
ed to death by bullets from the re-
captain had come when the learned
the Leonidas were bent on starting
trouble.
Mate Arrested.
The boat had whistled for the
draw, which had partly opened when
the captain gave the order to turn
for the Davenport shore. Mate
Breen was placed under arrest and
the coroner took charge of the boat
and the bodies of the dead. over
which an inquest will be conducted
during the afternoon.
1t is charged that the two men were
intoxicated, having been drinking
while waiting for the boat on the
Davenport side. They boarded while
in this city at the home of Mrs. Eva
Book. Fourth avenue and Twenty
fourth street.
were granted permission by Mayor
Knox to canvass the city for one
week selling their salvc and hair re
storer. They assured the mayor that
they would behave as gentleman and
promised to stop their work if any
complaint were turned in about
them. They declared that their
weapons were never loaded except at
night. They had, in addition to re
revolvers and knives, heavy leather
whips, and wherever they went were
followed by large blood hound.
At their boarding place it is claim
ed that they placed loaded cartridges
in their revolvers before leaving, and
they said they were going to Daven-
port because they had been denied
permission TO follow their vocation
here. 1t is said that they had troU-
bic on the Dubuque somewhere down
the river earlier in the season, which,
if true, may have had something to
do with the outcome of today's trou-
BILE.