Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-28

Us mNu mAuueIeu ana SOU N0iOoN 10 %
Sunday school superintendent One Of the
latter variety, with a record, was break
fasting in the st. CHARLES hotel on morn
ing with the writer as his vis-a-vis. Two
sporting writer's, one representing a Gin
cinnati daily and the other a New York
newspaper, hustled in. took places at the
same table and over there figs and cream
discussed the news Of the morning.
Il see," said the Cincinnation, as he
smoothed out his newspaper, that that
killer - has arrived in town"
YES" responded the New Yorker,
%glancing over the top Of his paper. II
suppose he'll be starting a private grave
yard Of his own here shortly"
They then gently vivisected the gun
fighter in the most approved manner
The writer happened to catch the eye Of
the stranger across the table and It was
emitting danger signals. When breakfast
had been finished he was followed from
the room by the stranger, who hat in
hand, said with the pollteness Of a Chester
field:
beg pardon, but who are your friends?"
Thu writer intuitively knew that the
subject Of the rolling was before him
and not caring to make trouble, hesitated
about giving their names.
Il mean them no harm. I only want to
show them that they're wrong said the
stranger.
That being the situation and realizing
the anna possibilities the arrival Of the
unsuspecting correspondents was awaited
in the big marble rotunda, which had been
the scene Of many historic rencontres in
antebellum days. Only the day before, four
men. two OF them prizefighters, had
pummelled each other vigorously all over
the place and the quartet had finally, in
a clinch, rolled down the score of stone
steps and out into the, then open, gutter,
which existed in most of the New Orleans
streets.
Mr.. -, I want you to know my
friends, Mr.. - of Cincinnati and Mr..
- Of New York" went the firm Of
introduction.
The faces Of both men paled, but before
either could speak the stranger began:
TIN sorry you saw fit to speak OF me
as you did in there a few minutes ago,
but I think it's because you don't know
the facts. 1 have killed men, but never
except in the performance of my duty
as a peace officer and 1t was a case of kill
or be killed. I assure you that I'm not
pround of it. and 1 hope you'll never go
after another man till you know the
facts"
Remained Warm Friends.
Both Of the correspondents are long dead,
but while they lived they were warm
friends and admirers Of the man whose
acquaintance they made that August morn
ing in the old st. Charles hotel. This IS
the first time the little incident has ever
appeared in print. Space could be taken
up almost indefinitely In descriptions of the
celebrities that thronged New Orleans for
days before the battle. The authorities of
Louisiana were determined that the fight
should not be held within it's borders and
the ne%ighboring states of Texas and Mis-
sissippi were equally alert
At the outskirts of New Orleans is was
discovered that the tops of the cars were
thronged with impecunious sports who
were not going to be left behind, and the
trains were halted while the rangers routed
the ~trespassers. Several shots were fired
and hand-to-hand conflicts were numer-
Gus before the journey was resumed.
The heavily laden rains moved slowly
and when day dawned the border line OF
Mississippi had only been reached. Look.
ing from the windows of the cars q
strange sight was brought to view. Scores
of the more daring freebooters who hac
been dislodged from the car tops the pre-.
vious night were clinging to the hos
chains or iron braces which run the length
of the cars. Their coat tails were ~floatinl
in the breeze and they were Drawing death
to see two men pound each other with bare
knuckles until one of them could respond
no more to the call Of time"
A halt was made at a point on the road
where a ditch was filled with water. Tn,
riders Of the hog chains and car truck.
scuttled like rats to wash the Crime and
dust from their eyes and faces and one o.
their number, evidently to see If his pisto
hand had lost its cunning, produced {
gun and fired a few shots at thu
blaze" on a pine tree where it had beer
Scared for turpentine.
1t was almost s o'clock when the battle
ground was reached on the Mississippi
line not far from the village of Richburl
in the pine woods of Charles Rich, afte
whom the town was called. Rich's saw
mill, closed for the day was in plaii
view from the arena, a rough board fou
sided affair, with seats rising sharpl!
from the roped in square Of ground wher,
the men were to fight.
Both the contestants and their seconds
were on the ground early and after a few
minutes wrangllng the various official
were chosen, and the sun was giving
sample of his powers when the men step
ped into the ring. Sullivan, low browed
and determined looking, was savage a
he sat in his corner and looked from be
meath his black brows furtively at Kilrail
and his whispering adviser Mitchell, Will,
his attendant were rubbing his arms an,
legs.
Jake Knew What it Was.
Kilraln was serious, as betokened tn,
occasion, for It would make the stoutes
hearted man that ever trod the square
circle have a few tremors to face sucl
and adversary as Sullivan was that day.
Sullivan's coal black hair was croppe
closely with the exception of that por
ton above the brow, which was probabl,
half an inch long. His mustache wa
gone and his face was that OF the typica
gladiator. There wasn't a vestage of flesI
upon It that didn't belong there. The ski
upon his body was milky white and h
opened and closed his huge hands, dyed
dark brown by the stain put upon then
to tougher them, as though eager to &c
to work.
"Kilrain, who was a trifle taller and no
quite so sturdny built as his dread rival
was trained to the minute. Mitchell, VIII
fought Sullivan twice and who was one o
the greatest masters in the art Of condl
ton, had been sure Of that. Now Will
waiting the call of time, with his arm
around Kilrain's shoulder, he poured out