Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-06-16
WHENMENWERE GAME |
BY ADELAIDE RUTH HILL.

by AOEIAICE HUfH Hill.
! Copyright 1909, by American Press Assoc
! ciationl
THE old fashioned fight Of the far
west" said the veteran from Idaho,
has died out with the stagesoach
Now and then there's some monkey
what 1t used to be. I've seen and
heard Of a number of EN-. but none in
my remembrance for reel fightin SIGH
| as men fight who're goin' to fight at
all equals that between Mcclure and
Riley away back in the ffties.
The fust of 1t all was dispute over
cards. 1t didn't amount to much, ex-
cept 1T made bad blood between the
two men. Afterward they met en- a
ranch, and Riley accused Mcclure of
purposely brandin' stock as didn't be-
long to him. MCGUIRE tried to kill 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 it out, sug-
gested to Mcclure that they go of
alone for the fight Mcclure agreed
u
him the next mornin' at sunup on the
trail 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 1t was
still dark, Mcclure mounted his horse
and rode off 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. Mcclure carried two six shoot
ers and knife. AS he rode along the
stars was a-dyin' out and there was
considerable 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 mile apart
mot wantin' to bring on the fight
too near Beeswax, Mcguire waited
awhile. then moved on slow. When
Riley got into range Mcguire 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 fired Both on 'em
was ridin' around In circle lookin'
for chance to plug the other. Finally
Rileys 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, MCGUIRE
cuttin' scratch around the side of
his head that filled his shootin' eye
with blood. He put his handkerchief
under his hat to ketch it and kept on
fghtin'.
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
oNuSSViNd as thCy SgCu Cutu
watchin' for chance to git in blow
But they was both about equally tuck
cred out, and neither on em had an
advantage, and neither on em could
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
20 I
on 'em. Mcclure 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 beautiful sight, l
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 nothin' that
four-year-old boy couldn't dodge
then they stopped altogether. We
picked 'em up and carried 'em 10 the
towns There wasn't but one room that
could be spared. and we put 'em on
hunks side by side. Each on 'em had
was pretty well played out, but we
watched 'em for awhile. thinkin' il
they got strong enough they'd go at
each other agin. You see. we didn't
want 'em to die on our hands, we to
send for burial things and nothin' to
pay for 'em.
I'VE did git doctor for 'em, and
he looked out for 'em both. He said
he thought Riley would die, though he
couldn't be sure about either on 'em
1t was some time before either knew
enough to understand what was goin
on and longer before they could say
anything. We was speculatin' whether
when they got up they'd call the fight
off. start In for new one. or what
when one mornin' when the sun was
shinin' in on 'em peaceful Riley h,