The San Francisco call., 1905-04-18
Zeb Kendall, Well-Known
Tonopah Man, Accuses jim
Campbell of Treachery
and Then Strikes Him
BATTLE CONTINUES
FOR SEVERAL MINUTES
Exciting Scene Outgrowth
of Recent Roulette Game
in the Nevada Camp, When
Miner Dropped a Fortune

The Palace Hotel was the scene of q
! lively fight yesterday afternoon be-
tween two well-known men of Tonopah,
and but for the fact that both were un-
armed fatality was probably averted.
Shortly after o'clock "Zeb" Kendall,
one of the pioneers Of the new mining
camp and who recently gained consid-
cradle prominence through his heavy
winnings and losses at a roulette wheel
in Tonopah, and Jim Campbell, also
from Tonopah, met seemingly in a
friendly way in the Office of the hotel,
and few minutes later they were seen
to enter the elevator on their way to
Kendalps room. They were accompa-
MED by several friends, and little heed
would have been paid to the incident
had it not been followed ten minutes
later by the sudden reappearance OF
Campbell in the hotel office. His face
was pale, his clothes badly mussed, his
coat sleeve torn and his heavy breath
ing plainly suggesting that he had just
emerged from a lively melee.
Hardly had Campbell hurriedly made
his exit from the hotel office when
Kendall and one of his intimate friends
walked out of the elevator and glanc-
ing around the Office, made their way
to the barroom.
Half an hour later q score or more
of Tonopah mining men were busily
discussing a fight that had occurred
IN hendaliS room between himself and
Campbell and of how interference on
the part of H. Hofer, one of Nevada S
best known citizens had prevented
serious results. The fact that Kendall
and Campbell had been seen in each
others company a great deal of late
In Tonopah and had apparently been
good friends after their arrival here
naturally added interest to the report
of their quarrel and kept the mining
men busily talking way into the night
Kendall has been a prosperous miner
in Nevada since the early days of
Tonopah. He is known throughout the
mining camps,as generous fellow and
stalking men foryarious enterprises has
been common everyday affair with
him. He is, however, an ardent gam
bier and has won and lost fortunes at
the roulette wheels of Tonopah. Re-
Gently he won two big stakes, one of
$4,000 and another of $4,000, and after
rest he began again at the wheel. 1t
is claimed that he was drinking at the
time and called to his side Campbell. to
whom he intrusted his coin and notes
amounting to nearly $40 000. In the end
Kendall lost $4,000 in cash and his
bunch of Il. o. U.S. some of which
were given him by the proprietor of a
Tonopah hotel, whom he had helped
financially.
Kendall took his losses philosophi-
cally, but later he was advised that
Campbell. who, 1T appears, is quite a
gambler, had not acted as his friend in
the game. Investigation on the part of
Kendall satisfied him that the stories
brought to him were true and he de-
cided to have an accounting with
Campbell. The opportunity came yes
terday when the two met in the Palace.
With a view of avoiding a scene in the
office, Kendall conceived the idea of in
viting Campbell to his room and there
telling him what he thought of him.
The invitation was accepted and a few
minutes later found the two men in
Kendall's room. Then Kendall, who is
q giant In form and q fearless fellow,
suddenly confronted Campbell, who. by.
the way, has never been accused of
cowardice. and charged him with
having played him false
Campbell denied the accusation and
Kendall struck him In the face. There
upon Campbell grabbed a chair and
attempted to swing it upon his oppon-
ent's head. but the latter proved too
agile, and grabbing the chair, wrested
1t from Campbelps hands. The fight
was then a running one, Campbell gall
looping around the room in search of
arllcleS WITH Wnlcn ne might defend
himself. but was finally overtaken by
his angry opponent and the two men
clinched. 1t was at this stage of the
fight that Hofer, who was among those
who accompanied Kendall and Camp
bell to the room, interceded and finally
succeeded in separating them, giving
Campbell chance to escape from the
room.
Last, night Kendall stubbornlv re-
fused to discuss any phase of his trou-
bles with Campbell and remained
away from the hotel until late hour.
Among the Tonopah miners, who
know Kendall we'll and speak highly
of him. 1t Is believed that he and
Campbell may meet again and in that
event 1t is expected that shooting and
not fist fighting will be their mode of
warfare. KendalPs friends claim that
his recent losses In Tonopah were the
result of a plot of certain gamblers to
gain possession of the notes he held
against certain persons. 1t is said that
Kendall now shares this opinion, but
has told several of his friends that
having lost these notes at a gambling
game he does not propose to give
further thought to the matter.
"TRIP ROTINn THE TT,IANnrn