The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-10
DUEL AND WILD GOOSE HUMT
ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL INCIDENTS THAT EVER HAPPEN.
ED IN WESTERN WATERS.

The captain pipcd his musicians aloft
and there the minuct was danced on
the hurricane deck. 1t must be adj
lnitted that in the early times the
southerner eXcelled in the movements
that make the minuet the dance of the
court. On this night the tropical
types were the favoritcs. The PrIs-
sian, unaccustomed to.thc conventions
alitles of the new country, showed re-
sentiment when his partner failed to
receive the same admiration that was
Enthusiastically given to the queen of
INC south. There was no attempt to
soothc the Prussian's irritation, and
lie sent a challenge to the Hidalgo.
The watchful captain kept pace
with all that was transpiring. His
sleeplessness prevented what would
nave been a thriller. even in that COM.
sentative time a-duel on the hurri-
cane deck abaft the Warehouses;. Per-
SonallN the captain would have ell
1oNed witnessing a meet where wound-
Gu honor sought satisfaction, but the
reputation of his craft was more than
personal qualification. He summoned
the seconds TO his quarters and i'll
formed them that if the proposed
weftings was held he would call up his
roustabouts. seize the principals and
board. The Hidalgo saw the humol
OF the possibility and thought he
would enjoy it, but tho Prussian was
S" shocked that he sent word to the
captain that If such a termination fol-
lowed he would appeal to his emperor.
The captain was not alarmed by the
threat, but he wished to g the
Prussian While he was his passenger.
y conference was called and the com-
mapder of the steamer submitted II
proposition that had the virtue of be-
ing SO unique that it was agreed to. "
The steamer would the next day
round a bend off which stretched IL
great cSpanse sand bar. The bar was
the rendezvous of wild geese and
brant every spring. They stopped in
innumerable fiocks that were the won
der OF new travellers in the west. The
captain informed his belligerent party
mat 1t WAS customary at. the season
then at hand for steamers to slow
uown at the bar and give sportsmc.
me understanding that all game
rough down must be served to pas
seneers. He proposed to slow down.
lower the yawl n send it ashore
with as many as could get in. The
dueling party would be sent first.
There was a cottonwood grove a half
mile from the water line. Thither the
duelists and party could so and have
it out" while the game hunters were
making shots Oh the sand. In ease of
fatality in the cottonwoods the cap
tain would accord all honors neces-
sary. This would entail publicity anu
explanations. On the other hand, aft
or honor had been satisfied the party
could return. and unless they cared to
proclaim the affair the passengers
would never know but that the party
had been gaming for geese il the
woods The little captain cllucklcu
as he put it, as quoted. Tho Prussian
WINGED, but the proposition was ac-
cepted.
cipated. Tho party from the cotton-
wood grove returned u%nscratche,i.
The geese hunters returned with game
and the passengers had birds the re-
mainder of the voyage. The cotton
wood party were served that night by
the captain in his quarters. The
queens were invited and when the
wine was quaffed the two beauties
We're told that they had contributed to
the most unusual incident that ever
happened in western waters. The 9th
er passengers were ignorant of the
real meaning of the wild goose hunt
on the bar that day..
h Prussian and the man from the
south disembarked at TT. Leaven-
worth on the arrival of the steamer
at that .port-the Prussian to make.
observations for his government on
army matters at that post, the Ameri-
can to proceed On his way across. the
continent, and thence across the Pa
citic. h queens left the steamer at
points further up the river. .
The Prussian fell in the Franco
Prussian war. The American was
brought back helpless from Picking
after the Boxer uprising, n died the
day he quit the steamer at San Fran
cisco.
What of the queens? They became
mothers of men who explored mines
and exploited two Of the great railroad
lines of the country. and laid up for
tunes for themselves and their fam
lilies. The little captain retired when
steamhoatins gave way to the rail-
road. ". ~
The story is now told by the son Of
the first pilot of the crack little steam
err Genoa, commanded by Captain
Throckmorton, II of the favorites OF
the Missouri River trade. He reeled
1t off in the smoking room of an
ocean liner On which we were voy.
ayers.