The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-07
he seemed to have charmed life. ne

he seemed to have a charmed life. He
was hit but once.
DRINKS HIS OWN LIQUOR.
One hot morning that summer BIZ
Smith, owner of the New York house,
began to drink his own liquor. The
news spread quickly. All knew It's
Significance. The sheriff waited for some
overt act He did not wait long. At ~
d. m. Smith stood in his front door ana
fired once at every group or men IN
sight. In ten second there were no
groups Capt Kingsbury deliberately
walked over to Smith and begged him
to stop fooling before somebody gets
killed" The latter good humoredly
consented and the captain, to the sur
prise of everybody, returned unhurt.
Smith still drank and one drink Of Els
worth whisky was believed TO make
man burn his Wife's dress BY noon
Smith was dangerous maniac. An air
of expectancy and uneasiness was
everywhere visible. Men on that side
/ of the street kept hands on pistol butts
and watched the house warily as they
+ passed.
At D. m. Smith left the rear OF his
place on horseback and the tiTnid ran
+ for cover. The sheriff, pistol in hand
tried to intercept him while the citizens
from safe dOorWays gave hooking au-
+ vice about catching rabbits before cook
ing. Smith, a veteran of thirty-iVe
years in the regular cavalry. now over
sixty years old. guiding the animal
without the rein, gaIlOped around
f Kingsbury scornfully ignoring the shots
fred at him. Reaching the end OF one
broad street he turned, drew both re-
voIverS from their holsters, struck spurs
+ into the horse and firing each alternate
I " raced through the town. Turning at
the other end and with the smoking
weapons empty, he came canterlng
4 back, sitting his horse in spite OF age
and drink like the veteran dragon ne
was Somehow ne changed one of the
empty reyolvers for a fresh one upper
+ ceived. Capt Kingsbury stepped out to
meet him but the old soldier brandlsh-
/ ing a DiStOl warned him back Inc
/ sheriff thinking this empty, still ad-
/ vanced, when Smith, to his astonish-
ment, began to shoot. aiming at his feet
and legs. It was a ridiculous night
Kingsbury shot over the mad man
head and the latter at the sheriff's feet
while spectators. now safe. hOwled with
derisive joy Unnoticed the first Shot
struck the shefiff's right foot, making
painful wound His boot fuiI or DlOOd,
it required increasing nerve to walk, so
+ Kingsbury rushed the mad man and
pulled him off his horse just as the last
shot almost scraped his face. It was
1 miracle that the captain was not killed
/ His patience and GOODNESS saved both
lives Smith was locked up till he got
sober and sent home but the sheriff
walked with clutches for many day
SUICIDE DUEL IT ELLSWORTH.
Charley and Frank Johnson. brothers
kept the Halfway house in 1858 about a
mile from Ellsworth on the road to the
fort. It was a rough, uncouth plaza
/ One night Charley Johnson beat q
/ wagon master by the name Of Sweringer
with the handle Of a revolver. All knew
that their first meeting meant death 10
one or both One night at Goes dance
/ and gambling hall Charley pushed his
/ way from the rear to the front of the
hall and was going out. The place was
crowded. The tables were surrounded
and the floor full Of dancers. He had
+ cleared the dancers and was approach
ing the door when SWeringer entered.
Both stopped suddenly about ten feet
apart. A few saw what had happened
/ and hastily got out of range, but tc
most the shots were the first danger
signals. With incredible swiftness ana
concert each drew his weapon John
sons pistol flashed first, but Sweringer
one prolonged report. The crowd part
ed and ran to cover and women
screamed. The revolVers cracked tin
both were empty. The first of theit
shots were fired together, the last three
with an increasing interval between. Al
the third time SSeringer began to sink,
but his shots, though slower, came reg
ularly. the last after he was but a heap
on the floor.
johnson, without coat or waistcoat.
wore a freshly Numbered white shirt.
With the first shot crimson was seen
spreading on the bosom. When his an
Isoaked- With the last shot friends
rushed in and as johnson turned away
he staggered and had to be supported out
of the door. He was finally carried to
the Marshall house adjoining. a stream
of frothy bloody flowing from mouth
and nostrils. When the bloody clothing
was removed he was found to have five
bullet wounds in the breast and one
through the lungs. He died thirty-five
minutes after the shooting AS he waz
led from the dance hall. the senseless
wagon master was taken up and also
carried to the Marshall house where he
dawn. Neither spoke after the shooting
BATTLE WITH INDIANS
At the time SWeringer was fighting
Allen. in charge OF thirty-five six-muie
wagons was slowly making his way
from New Mexico. On the Eleven Mile
ridge, about go miles from Ellsworth
while the train was strung out and of
guard it was caught by a party Of FSio-
was. So slCillful was Allen ana so COO
his drivers that they stood of the fierce
warriors kept moving and doubling un-
TIL in column Of tours, the wings wer-
swiftly swung around and a circle
formed with the mules inside. Here
eight miles from water he fought of thu
Indians and finally brought every Wagon
daylight with four men killed and nine
wounded, a loss Of nearly ST per cent.
About a week later Allen and his
fighting teamsters reached Fort Harker
Hearing Of Sweringer's death and it:
origin, he was for wiping the Halfwas
house of the map. but was prevailed
upon to wait and fight It out with Franz