Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-06-30
WHENMENWEREG GAME
y ADELAIDE RUTH HILL.

nas died out with the stagecoach.
NOW and then there's some monkey
business goin' on there, but it's not
what It used to be. I've seen and
heard OF number Of 'em, but none in
my remembrance for reel fightin', sich
as men fight who're goin' to fight at
all equals that between Mcclure and
Riley away back In the fifties.
The fust OF 1t all was a dispute over
cards. II didn't amount to much, ex-
cept 1t made bad blood between the
TWO men. Afterward they met on q
ranch, and Riley accused Mcclure OF
purposely brandin' stock as didn't be-
long to him. Mcclure tried to KIN him
then and there, but was interfered
with by Riley's friends. Soon after
that some one, KNOWN that the two
men were bound to have 1t out. sug.
gested to Mcclure that they 20 Off
alone for the fight Mcclure agreed
and sent word to Riley that he'd meet
him the next mornin' at sunup on the
tran between Beeswax and Bully
creek and they would then and there
settle whether or no he had branded
stock thas wasn't his'n. Riley agreed.
There wasn't no seconds, no surgeons
nor any Of the claptrap that men have
In toy duels. They was just goin out
to fight.
"Well, the next mornin, when II was
still dark, MCGUIRE mounted his horse
and rode of toward the trail. There
had been nothin' said about weapons,
each man bein' left to take what he
thought he could do the most damage
with. Mcguire carried two six shoot
ers and knife. AS he rode along the
stars was a-dyin' out and there was
consid'a able light where the sun was
gittin' ready to come up. He looked
toward the few little shanties that
was Beeswax and saw somepin black
comm from that direction. 1t was
Riley, and he was armed Just about as
Mcclure was. They was a mile apart.
Not wantin' to bring on the fight
too near Beeswax. Mcclure waited
awhile, then moved on slow. When
Riley got into range Mcclure suddenly
ducked under his horses neck and
fired. His bullet didn't do any dam
age at all. Riley he ducked Indian
fashion, too. and fred. Both on 'em
was ridin' around in a circle loOkin'
for a chance to plug the other. Finally
Riley's horse went down. hit by one
Of McGuire's bullets. Riley, KNOWN
this would give his enemy an advan-
tage. shot McGuire's horse. and each
made breastwork of his animal.
Riley got the first plug. Mcclure
cuttin' a scratch around the side OF
his head that filed his shootin' eye
with blood. He put his handkerchief
under his hat to ketch it and kept on
fightin'.
Before the dozen shots each of 'em
started with was exhausted both of
'em had three or four wounds. Mel
Their Of 'em dared go out from behind
his horse till then, but when the last
shots had been fired they started for
each other with knives. Both on 'em
staggered as they eyed each other,
watchin' for a chance to git In blow.
But they was both about equally tuck
cred out, and neither on 'em had an
a0f 0AtakGs anu hEAtlGA vi EAA NOuAA
git In a stroke to kill.
by this time the population Of the
three huts that made up the town o.
Beeswax. bein' Weakened by the shots.
come out to see the show. was one
on 'em. MCGUIRE and Riley was hack
in at each other, both staggerin' from
loss o. blood, havin' more of 1t outside
than inside and just enough in their
blinkers to keep 'em from seem where
to strike. 1t was a beautiful sight,
tell you, these two game men settlin'
their dispute in true manly fashion.
without seconds or surgeons.
'Bimeby they got so weak and SO
blind that their blows was nothln' that
a four-year-old boy couldn't dodge
then they stopped altogether. We
picked 'em up and carried 'em to the
town. There wasn't but one room thai
could be spared. and we put 'em on
hunks side by side. Each on 'em had
from ten to fifteen wounds. and they
was pretty well played out. but we
watched 'em for awhile, thinkin' 4
they got strong enough they'd go al
each other ag'in. You see. we didn't
want 'em to die on our hands. we t
send for burial things and nothln' Il
pay for 'en.
I'VE did git a doctor for 'em, and
he looked out for 'em both. He saiC
he thought Riley would die, though h'
couldn't be sure about either on ZEN
| 1t was some time before either knew
enough to understand what was goin
on and longer before they could sa!
anything. We was speculatin' whethe
when they got up they'd call the figh
OF, start in for a new one. or what
when one mornin' when the sun wa
shinin' in on 'em peaceful Riley b.
reached out his hand. took hold O Nc
CURES and says be, he says:
Reckon you didn't brand no stool
that didn't belong to you
I'VE was surprised to see McGuir
take his hand. and he says. says be
You're game anyway
at was two months before they 90
mn and another before they could ri