The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-14
STREET ENCOUNTER
IN ARKANSAS CITY
rroyokrS the Recital by Old
Man Grccnlaw Of a Tale
of Misspcnt Life.
Nv DAVID A. CURTIS.

BY DAVID n. (ONIIS.
eth amt no good u slioo,in'. not
.hoi,cr \ man p'iuis his gun in the
,rh, erection" said old man Green
Law thouehtfully.
lie was standing in the doorway of
his little saloon in Arkansas city. to-
pe,hcr with several other gentlemen
ubo freuuenteI the place habit ually.
no, merely for the purpose of social
relaNation. but in pursuance of II dcii-
mite line Of business policy to which
they devoted the main part Of their
energy. Resourccful. virilc men they
we're, who by the exercise of their
undoubted talent and their assiduous
devotion to their chosen profession had
achieved no small measure of success
and had become important factors OF
such prosperity as Arkansas city oc-
"a sionally had. The old man himself,
largely by reason of their association
with him. was the main factor and
was sometimes vainglorious in his
statements to that effect.
They were looking with considcra-
Bile interest at a series OF events then
happening on the main street of the
SetteTneut, WHICH seemed likely 10 re-
suit in decreasing the population by
a. least one. For two OF the leading
citizens were earnestly trying with the
aid Of firearms 10 accomplish the eX-
t,nction. each OF the other. They had
found partial shelter from speeding
missiles. one behind a horse and the
other behind a mule. which animals
they had evidently been riding when
they encountered each other. and they
were popping at frequent intervals
at such portions OF each other as they
were able TO get sight of.
One OF tho shots. being badly aimed
By the man behind the horse, hit the
mule in a tender spot. causing that
intelligent creature to go elsewhere
Immediately and thereby forcing his
owner to dodge behind tho corner of
a house near by, from which other
refuge he continued his fusilladc with
great spirit. II was his instructed
cHort Of the horseman that called
forth the reflection Of the old man
which has been already recorded,
That's right enough. as a gcn'l
proposition" observed Jake Winter
bottom in reply. hut a man don't
aliays sit a good aim If he's pressed
n time"
Then he better hadn't shoot re-
torted the old man promptly. Hits
al'ays wuth while TO TO take a lcetle
mo time. ruther n to waste a shot
Thar goes the Squire. maxim the same
kyind Of a mistake" he continued. d.
n Of Squire Hapgood's shots hit tn,
other mans horse II that animal fol-
lowed the mule vi the lcvcc. The!
uns is firm some reckless
"Mcbbe So said Joe Bassett. VIII,
was enjoying the performance greatly
showing no intention of interfering
officially. though as Sheriff it was hi.
business to maintain peace. Looks
To- me. though. like the Squire wa,
sittin' some het up long o. his mule
hcin' damaged. lie sho' does think a
heap o that mule. an I reckon mo
likely he was on'y tryin' to git ever
siootin' Mathews'> boss
shows mighty pc Judgment. then
declared the old man. He'd ough'
20 TO keep shootin' at Mathews frs
oil. an tend to the boss later on"
This led to some argument among
Ike spectators, Bassett being incline,
to agree with the old mans opinion
mat Squire lIapgood had made a mis-
tgl;e, but Jim Blaisdell and San Pear
all maintained that it was perfectly
natural for him tn be cXasperated b,
he injury inflicted on the mule. as tn
mule could not be considered a part,
- the discussion. and that therefore
the Squire was perfectly justified il
retorting in kind. And while the.
argued the shooting continued.
II is of record that ~ perfect!
good revolvers have been emptied witt
the serious intention on the part o
those welding them to infiict grievou'
II not fatal Wounds on some n o
more of the individuals who. at TIL
time of the shooting. were standing to
gether in sufficient numbers to fill al
or practically all, of the available spac'
in the somewhat limited area allotte'
10 customers in the little saloon il
which the disturbance occurred. s.
far as the fracas itself and the humble
OF shots fired were concerned, the oc
turrence is scarcely worthy of bein'
recalled. for the immediate cause o
the outbreak is not recorded, INC tn
fac; of thirty-fve shots being fired il
consequence Of the difficulty is not. u
itself, unusual or surprising. the us
o. firearms In barroom quarrcls bein'
al one time and in certain sections o
the middle and southern West q hab!
somewhat freely INDUCED in by the in
habitants Of those parts.
The incident. however. has been con
J sidered somewhat notable, so that !
is referred TO here. properly enough
by way Of illustration, in that the re
suit Of the firing was similar to tina
Of the activities OF Mr.. Mathews ant
Squire Hapgood. When the seven fly
shooters were all emptied, and til
subject In dispute had been furthc
discussed in less arbitrary fashion. =
that all hands joined in thc round q
drinks that served to wash out tn
sudden enmlty. 1t was found that no
q man among the comhatants n no
even one among the crowd Of other
present had even been hit by a bullet
II Is not. perhaps. very surprisini
in the light Of such a circumstanc
That tho two ~belllgerents in Arkansa
'I,N should have escaped all persona
injury, although they continued thei
Efforts until they had exhausted a
the ammunition they had at hand. Til
saying that every bullet has its billet
IS OF doubtful authority, as has FIRE
fAent'y been proved, without paus
'hg l." discuss that, however, 1t Is SUI