The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1915-02-16
ABLlND MANS
FIGHT
BY NJ. QUAD
Copyright, 1914. by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate

Without doubt the most singular
States occurred lit Santa fe. \ NJ.
many years ago. 1t occurred several
years previous to the first Pacific rall-
/ road and while Yet every pound of
goods going to the far west had 10 be
/ hauled acroSs the great plains by
freight wagons or sent around Cape
Horn by sea.
Two men in II Rogers X Blair outfit
fell in love with the same girl in Santa
Fc. one was an American named Jack
Hines. and the other WAS Il full blood
ed Mexican, who WAS simply known us
Don. The girl was Il half breed. and
none of us outside the two rivals
thought her worth lighting over
The affair had gone on for seven or
eight months before the outbreak
came We were in Santa Fe. making
ready for start east, wheD che Next
can one evening approached Il tire he
side which Hines sat alone and threw
package of powder on the blaze.
With Il leap aside he escaped conse-
qucnces. but Jack Hines was blinded
for life. 1t was Il contemplate thing
to do, and but for the civil authorities
the Mexican would have been lynch
ed As it was. he was kicked ana
beaten and bounced out of camp A
. day or two later. as the girl had gone
back on him, he tried to carry her of
/ l.,s hnr ~ ham
she stabbed him. Hines depended on
her pity in his misfortune. but she
calmly told him that Il blind husband
would be Of no use to her and laughed
his tears to scorn He had Il relative
In the city and was taken in and cared
for. while the Mexican crossed the RIO
Grande for time. 1t was Il year later.
and Jacks old outfit 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.
l shall never rest content until ! have
killed that Mexican"
But you are blind" we protested.
Never mind that. must fight him
and kill him. blind or not, ana the
whole Of Santa Fe shall look on!
When we found that he would have
It so we carried challenge to Don and
| also asked the authorities to let us
have n public duel Some weak OBJ
jections were made. but they yielded
the point \ fight OF some sort was
all hourly incident. and dnels came OF
two or three times n week
"Yes. will meet the Americana" he
said, and I will slice and cut ana
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 Mt noon. eh! l
will be rs prompt as the sun
You may believe that when the re-
mort spread about there was n great
excitement II was generally believed
] that the blind man would fall an easy
victim but even his best friends said
that he had better die with knife IN
his hand than to live In helpless
state the rest Of his life. To three OF
four lack contided his belief that he
would TRIUMPH. His hearing had be-
come as acute as foN 5. ana ne
would make his ears see for MIN. lie
was In perfect health, had the nerve
md courage Of lion and he believed
he had a chance.
Ar high noon Of an August day over
1000 people. many of whom were WON
on. assembled on the smooth tur1 u
witness the strange combat a ring Oh
ropes was formed, and the spectators
formed another. 1t was to he duel
with knives. and seconds and re1eree
we're appointed After each hVe MN
utes there was to be rest Foreihos'
omonr the spcctatorS was the girl VINO
had caused it all. aud she was Tree to
saw she didn't care who triuilpHeu
zach man was allowed to wrap his let'
arm i'm a serape or cloak, and all cheer
ing or advising was forbidden. Ut
hind man was pale faced and nervous
ms the fight began. but his hard shu'
teeth told of the determination In MS
heart. The Mexican was all bows ahC
smiles and confidence, and as he WaS
known TO be an adept with the knife
pronn went about the circle as the two
stenp.d forward to open the fight.
That duel was something to be re
nonbered for all time. From the blih'
mans movements no one could nave
told that he was sichtless. For ioul
minute rounds they fought VIII
only n few trifing scratches on eithe'
side. bnt If there was any advantage
:, was on the side Of the American
who had the full sympathy OF TN
crowd Mexicans and all When the.
came out for the fifth round Don Wink
,d and chuckled and said IT was tlih'
no baran slicing ears off Hines ha'
located his man in a hairs breadth
and As they faced each other the Amer
icon leaned forward like fash cauGh
| A.. t-,,fro nm his and threw II 10 IN