Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-08-19
The Argus Daily Short Story
A Merry Shot-By F. A. Mitchell
Copyrighted 1910. by Associated Literary Press

reason he kept Oh adding one insult
after another. vowinG that he would
drive the black Republican out of the
state or into the Confederacy. All this
happened half century ago and Is
now pretty nearly forgotten. The is
sues that then were of such impor-
lance are now buried. Human slavery
was not extended: it died.
The day news came that Lincoln
was elected separated us pretty much
on to one side or the other. Those who
were inclined to secession before. but
didn't avow their sentiments. now
showed their colors, and as they were
in the majority the rest kept quiet.
Some of the secessioniSts were mighty
hot against those who wanted to throw
off the Lincoln yoke four months be-
fore Lincoln would be in position to
put yoke on 10 them. They weren't
even willing TO wait for the state to
secede Among these was Ben Hew-
son. He talked TO knots of men and
to individuals. being far more bitter
against what be termed the rene
gades of the south than the northern
people.
when the ordinance of secessioa
passed the legislature every vestige of
restraint vanished from the secession
lists. Ben Hewson Immediately set
about performing his promise TO drive
Ed Miller ont OF ,le state or into the
Confederacy. He put up a notice on
wooden tree box directly in front of
Miller's door written with his own
hand: Those who are not with us
are against us. Let them go Every
one who passed il read it and looked
up at MiIler'S house. All looked grim,
knowing that il was a thrust of Hew-
son against Miller and might be seri-
Gus.
Miller sent for one of his intimate
friends and told him TO go to Hewson
and say he proposed to remain where
he was and that if HewsoD wished to
drive him out he would have to do so
at the point of a weapon. Hewson
wished to know if this was a chal-
lenge. Miiler's second said it was not.
Then Hewson said that he would be-
gin shooting the next time be and Mil
Ter met Milier's friend persuaded
Hewson to refer him TO a second The
two seconds, anxious to make the af-
fair as bloodlesS as possible, arranged
the following terms: At 10 o'clock in
the morning each principal should
leave his house armed with a AZ cali
Der revolver. only one chamber OF
which was TO be loaded. Both lived
on the main street of the town, and
they were to walk toward each other
and fire at will.
.'Hewson was very much put out at
this arrangement, which he believed,
would result in nothing serious to Ell
Their party, and refused to abide by it.
But his second told him that if he did
not he (the second) would have uoth-
ing further to do with the matter, and
Hewson reluctantly consented.
when this prospective affair got out
we were all very much surprised-flrst,
that Miller had decided to fight, and,
second, that single firing should de-
eide the issue. But as Hewson was
known to be a dead shot it was ex-
pected that the affair might not be
bloodless after ALL Nobody knew
what Miller could do with a gun. but
he had always been so peaceable that
it was not supposed he was much of
marksman.
mo effort was made to keep the af-
fair the terms and the time q secret
A duel limited to one shot was unique
and interested every one. The night
before the fight all the men in town
were discussing the probabilities con-
corning it. Most people believed that
Hewson, having but single chance to
get rid Of his opponent. would let him
empty the chamber of his weapon,
then walk closely up TO him and kill
him. Others figured that Miller would
find some method of drawing Hew-
sons ball at a moment when he would
fire at a disadvantages. which would
leave Miller at liberty to take DELHI
crate aim. All agreed that If one or
the other was not seriously hurt the
matter would come up again later
shortly before 10 o'clock on the
morning of the fracns I took position
on the sidewalk >tetween fhe two dis
putants' houses. noticed knots of
men and boys gathering. the Union