The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-10-02
| \ Dldck l.
| H1 AdVentdre.
AN INDIAN DUEL.

| <AON. HAT ~ The inuah metbOu
I.-~ Of duellingT asked the
|SW 8 deputy sheriff.
IL 4 THAT depends upon the
TCN tribe. There are some
tribes where challenge 10 "a duel
means inevitably that both men must
die. When an Indian feels aggrieyed
he demands a combat. The day for the
same IN fixed far in advance and is
made the occasion OF a little celebra-
/ ton. The entire tribe assemblies The
braves sit in a circle, behind them their
squaws and the young bucks.
"Ihe offended man is armed with 81
rifle or a shotgun. The challenged prin-
cipal is unarmed. AZ word, both
men arise and face each other, the un-
armed man barring ms breast TO the
bullet OF his adversary. With eyes riy-
cted on the little round hole at the end
OF the barrel pointed at him. the
doomed man must face the protractcd
ordeal OF expecting death nt any in
, stant without the least Sign OF weak
cning. The executjoner may hold his
gun AZ long az he pleases in order TO
try 10 break down his enemy, lie may
raise il and lower ii or hold IL steadily
on the man under the frightful strain.
But not even with an eyelid must the
unfortunate bctray his anxiety. At
last the gun cracks and the bullet
speeds it's way and the victim lies dy-
ing. The slayer hands the weapon TO
u relative or friend Of the deceased, and
is put through the same ordeal
"SOme Of the tribes have learned 10
fight according 10 the code Of the white
man, however, among these the Choc-
taws or Chcrokees, which reminds me
Of the famous duel ia July Of 1883,
when the celebrated Choctaw chief,
Carpenter fought near the Pine Creek
Indian agency with a white man
named Price. Chief Carpenter was Il
splendid type of Indian tail and
straight and comely, ard he had been
well educated and had natural talents
and natural instincts that put him
head ana shoulders over his Indian as
sociatcs.
AS usual this trouble was started
by u disagreement over some trivial
matter which caused Il dispute and
ended i'm that the white man called his
ted brother liar. Throughout the
trouble the big Indian had remained
perfectly calm, although considerably
gngcred. and as the insult fell he gazeG
coldly into the eyes OF Price and said:
"'YOur blood shall wash out that
word
Whenever yon'rc ready say the
word cried Price. You can do your
Washing right here and now, if you
please.
MOT now, sir, bnt tomorrow morn
Ing when the sun peeps over the top OF
that wild plum tree you must be here,
and without fan
"The report of tho duel spread far
md wide and al an hour considerably
before sunrise large crowd had gath.
cred on the duelling ground to witness
the encounter. Price WAS the first on
the field. and for a time IL looked as If
there would be no Carpenter. But true
10 his Indian blood the chief disdained
coming too soon at the appointed place
as much as he would have feared com
ing too late, and il was just rs the first
rays OF the sun stole over the soft
green of the tree that the red man
stood in place. Not 4 word was spoken
by either man. Both drew their pistols
and, raising the weapons, they fired
almost simultaneously. Carpenter
reclcd, but with mighty effort
checked n tendency to spin round and,
staggering. fred as the crack of his op-
pOnents pistol sounded for the second
time. This time Price jumped high in
the air and landed on his face, stone
dead
with n wild shout the crowd pressed
forward TO surround the lucky chief,
hut before aid could reach him he fell
scnseless. Price had been shot through
the heart, clean as 4 whistle re
markablc shot considering The condi.
ton of the Indian when nc made IL, and
n shot Carpenter could have made in
the first place. without 4 doubt. had ne
been As determined TO Kill as Price
proved himself when his bullet buried
itself in the Indians breast. New
York Commercial Advertiser.