Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1906-05-04
Deming Shocked!
A Fatal Midday Duell
One Killed, Another Wounded.

San Francisco received the most
severe shock in its history on the 18th
of last month, and Deming was shocked
as never before by the terrible tragedy
of last Saturday. Already the press
dispatches have given the public an
account of the matter most of which
are in the main correct.
Prof. W. H. Dickey, Principal Of our
public schools, and Prof. U. Francis
Duff, Principal of the high school ard
county superintendent of public schools,
on Saturday last, met at the postotfice
lust before the hour of twelve, both
armed and prepared for the meeting,
and without any waste Of words. fired
at eachother at the same instant. Prof.
Duff fell, shot through the brain, and
Prof. Dickey, wounded in the left side,
walked across the street to Mr.. Myers
market, and was from there taken to
his home. Prof. Duff, was carried
across the street to the Office of Dr.
Strong, where, without regaining con
,iousness, he died about seven o'clock
of the same day.
Both were teachers in the same
scho |, both had occupied the same reci-
tation room for nearly three years;
were prominent members of the Pres
byterian church, and active in Sunday
school and Christian Endeavor work
Both we're members of the Masonic or
ders, Prof. Duff was knight Temp
lar, and at the Paul Jones memorial
services on Thursday evening delivered
one of the finest addresses ever heard
in Deming.
We observe that some Of the daily
newspaper correspondents undertake to
give reasons for this bloody tragedy
So far as we have given them perusal
they are only rumors and surmizes- part
Of the town title tattle. Gossip may
have had its part in the causes that led
20 this fatal encounter; and perhaps #
there had been no cruel tongue wagging
there would have been no tragedy. We
say perhaps" for we believe the true
reasons have never been made public
Sine we first met and became &C
uuainted with these prominent educa
tors and active church workers, our
relations have always been brotherly
and cordial, and to US nothing could
have seemingly been further from
their hearts than feeling of enmity to-
ward each other.
We rejoice to know that Prof
Dickey's recovery is assured, and thai
he will soon rally from the shock anC
the wound. He is still young man anC
we hope long life of usefulness is II
store for him.
Prof. Ulysses Francis Duff was bori
in Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, on August Il
1866. He was educated at Bellair
Ohio, and received a degree from tn
Chicago University. He has been
teacher in the public schools of Ne
Mexico for fifteen years, has taught cor
tinuously in Deming for eight years, an
mas held the Office of county Superb
tendent Of public schools since I'll
organization of Luna County. He va
authority on archaeological researches
has been in the employ Of the govern
ment in work for the Smithsonian Il
stitute among the cliff dweller ruin
and has written along this line f
several eastern and western magazine
That he was under some great ment
excitement for several days was know
70 a number Of his most intima
friends. As an evidence of his conc
ton, we add to this notice part
poem that was begun, or as we 81
blocked out" but never finished, al
was evidently one of his last pen pr
auctions: