The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1914-12-19
ABLIND MANS
FIGHT
By M. QUAD
By NJ. QUAD
Copyright. 1914. by the McCluee
Newspaper Syndicate.

WIluOuL QOuDC the most singular
duel that ever took place in the United
States occurred ut Santa Fe. n. NJ,
many years ago. 1t occurred several
years previous to the first Pacific rail-
road and while yet every pound of
goods going to the far west had to be
freight wagons or sent around Cape
Horn by sea-
Two men in q Rogers s. Blair outfit
fell in love with the same girl in Santa
Fe. One was an American named Jack
Hines, and the other was full blood
ed Mexican. who was simply known as
Don. The girl was a half breed. and
none Of us outside the two rivals
thought her worth fighting over.
The affair had gone on for seven or
eight months before the outbreak
came. We were In Santa Fe. making
ready for a start east, when the Mexi-
can one evening approached a fire be-
side which Hines sat alone and threw
package of powder on the blaze.
With leap aside he escaped conse-
quenceS, but Jack Hines was blinded
for life. 1t was contemplate thing
| to do, and but for the civil authorities
the Mexican would have been lynch
ed. AS it was, he was kicked and
beaten and bounced out of camp A
day or two later. as the girl had gone
back on him, he tried TO carry her off
by force, but had to let her go when
she stabbed him. Hines depended on
her pity in his misfortune. but she
ca mly told him that blind husband
would be Of no use to her and laughed
bis tears to ScOrn. He had relative
in the city and was taken in and cared
for. while the Mexican crossed the Rio
Grande for q time. 1t was year later,
and Jacks old Outiit and all his friends
happened to be in Santa Fe again
when Don returned. He had grown
uglier and meaner in the twelve
months. We would have picked fuss
with him and shot him down. but Jack
Hines had no sooner heard of his pres
ence than he said:
Boys. you must arrange for duel
shall never rest content until have
killed that MeXicanr
but you are blind" we protested.
"Never mind that. I must fight him
and kill him, blind or not, and the
whole of Santa Fe shall look Onr'
When we found that he would have
1t so we carried challenge to Don and
also asked the authorities to let us
have public duel. Some weak OBJ
jectiOns were made. but they yielded
the point. A fight of some sort was
an hourly incident, and duels came off
two or three times a week
"Yes, / will meet the Americana" he
said, "and I will slice and cut and
prick for one hour by the watch before
give him the grand finish! The crowd
that looks on will see some Of the finest
knife play ever shown on this side of
the river. Tomorrow at noon, eh? /
will be as prompt as the sum-
You may believe that when the re-
port spread about there was q great
excitement. It was generally believed
that the blind man would fall an easy
victim, but even his best friends said
that he had better die with a knife in
his hand than to live in a helpless
state the rest of his life. To three or
four Jack confided his belief that he
would triumph. His hearing had be-
come as acute as q foX's, and he
would make his ears see for him. He
was in perfect health, had the nerve
and courage of lion and he believed
he had u chance.
At high noon Of an August day over
4, 900 people. many OF whom were wom-
en-, assembled on the smooth turf to
witness the strange combat. A ring Of
ropes was formed, and the spectators
formed another. It was to be due:
with knives, and seconds and referee
were appointed. After each five min
utes there was to be rest. Foremost |
among the spectators was the girl who |
had caused 1t all, and she was free to
say she didn't care who triumphed. |
Each man was allowed to wrap his left |
arm in serape or cloak, anS all cheer
ing or advising was forbidden. The
blind man was pale faced and nervous
rs the fight began, but his hard shut
,eeth told of the determination in his !,
heart. The Mexican was all bows and
smiles and confidence, and as he was
Known to be an adept with the knife
.roan went about the circle as the two
stepped forward to open the fight
That duel was something to be re-
nembered for all time. From the blind
mans movements no one could have
old that he was sightless. For four
minute rounds they fought with
'nly a few trifing scratches on either
ide. but if there was any advantage
was on the side OF the American,
Who had the full sympathy Of the
rowd. Mexicans and all. When they
ame out for the fifth round Don wink
d and chuckled and said it was time
lie began slicing ears off. Hines had
coated his man in a hairs breadth,
nd as they faced each other the Amer
can leaped forward like fash, caught
he knife on his and threw it to the