The daily Alaskan., 1905-02-14
A Remarkable Shot
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The speaker was a white haired re- tired army officer and was ''reminis- cling" at meeting of the Aztec club. Since the club is composed of veterans of the Mexican war, the party were all very old men and few in @mber. {h
 "I had Just been promoted to be cap tain," continued the veteran, "and was stationed at Leavenworth. One day went out to one of the little towns in Missouri on some business for my de- partment, the commissary, and put up for the night at the only tavern in the town, located on an open square or park, around which most of those tav- erns are built In the evening there was a game of poker played openly in the little office of the tavern, and to while away the time stood over the table looking on. One of the players was 1.-the, trim built young fellow not more than twenty-one, who was play Ing pretty high. But 1t didn't seem to matter much to him whether he won or lost, his countenance wearing the same lmperturbable expression in ei- ther case. Being impressed with his appearance, asked who he was and was told that his name was Treat and that he had been prominent in the fights on the slavery question in Kan sas, he taking part with the free state men. Indeed he had made himself so obnoxious to the southern element that they had run him out of the territory.
 There was at the table redheaded man named Skinner, who was con tinually throwing in remarks as to the prevailing political situation, re- ferring to the Abolitionists in no flat tering terms. I watched Treat, expect ing him to fire up, but to my surprise he paid no attention to the mans re- marks, confning his attention to the game. Treat raked in a jack pot with $55 in 1t, and Skinner deliberately laid his hand on a ten dollar bank blll which he claimed Treat owed him. Treat only said that he didn't remem- Der owing any one any money, but 1t was all right.
 Tt wasn't long after this that Skin ner got up from the table, and before leaving the room he said to Treat, If you want to stay in this here town you're welcome, but you can prove your right to do so tomorrow morning at 0. o'clock when l come across the square,
 Treat paid no more attention to him than If be hadn't heard him. But there was no more play, and he left the room soon after. asked what 1t all meant and was told that the people of the town were mostly prO-slavery men and didn't want an AbolitiOnist around. The words of Skinner, who was the best shot among them and had been selected for the purpose. meant a challenge to a fight to the death in the park. Treat must either disappear during the night or fight in the morning.
 After breakfast the next day saw people at their windows and lining the sidewalks about the park. Think ing a fight was expected, went up to my room to see 1t from my window. Presently Treat came out of the tav- ern door below me. I think it was the first intimatiOn the pro-slavery men had that he would stay in town and fight, for l could see by the ex- l pressions on the faces of the people that they were suddenly much pleased that he had done so, as they would have the pleasure of seeing him killed. At any rate, somebody would be killed
 Treat sauntered across the street to q gate at one of the corners of the park. His hat was drawn down over his eyes so that I couldn't see the eX- pressiOn on his face, but something in the quick turns of his head told me he was taking in every possibility of the situation, especially knot of proslav- cry men who took position near the gate he entered.
 There were two walks running be- tween the four corners. Skinner was coming from the diagonal corner. l think the corners at which the two men entered were about 300 feet apart. Skinner had barely left his corner and, so far us l could see, had not drawn a weapon. Evidently he desired closer quarters. l glanced from him to Treat At the moment he drew revolver the biggest size then made; l never had seen so long a barrel-and brought 1t to bear on Skinner, who had by this time covered some fifty feet of the dis tance between corners. Skinner didn't even raise his weapon. l suppose he didn't think Treat could hit. him at such a distance and knew he couldn't bit Treat. After a deliberate aim a shot rang out from Treats pistol. Skinner threw both hands in the air and fell back with bullet plumb through his forehead.
 "Treat didn't wait a second after see Ing his enemy fall before turning, a huge revolver in each hand, to face the crowd behind him. He was none too soon, for Skinner's friends were start ing forward to kill him. But some how the marvellous shot at so great a distance had staggered them, and as they saw Treats quick eye watching their slightest movement, his pistols covering them, they thought best to desist.
 Treat, though he was not driven ont. left the place and was on the same boat with me on my way down the