Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1922-04-07

Tallahatche Home Bank. Char
scRAPBooK RECORDS DUEL
| FOUGHT IN ls21.'Es
p. D. FeIkss Of Clas. Miss, Relates
/ Bit, Of Histssy.s'
The following story Of . due
fought near Natchez, Miss, in 1927
was copied from an old scrap.
book published about 40 years ago.
Mr. F0lkes, for many years . valued
reader Of The Commercial Appeal
believes that it will be recalled by
many old residents Of Mississippi who
doubtless heard their grandfather
tell the story at the twilight hour.
The famous challenge which passed
between DR.. MADDOX and Samuel
Wells is as interesting bit Of the his
tory Of Old Miss.-Commercial Ap-
peal.
A challenge had passed between DR..
MADDOX and Samuel Wells to take
place near Matches, Miss. A fsud had
existed for years between two parties
of the parish Of Rapidess on the. Bed
River. The principals in these par
ties were Dr.. MADDOX, MAI Wright and
the Blanchards on one part; the Cur
ries, the Wells and Bowies on. the
other. The parties repaired with their
friends to the place agreed upon. II
was agreed that nd. psrson should be
present but the combstsnts. their SEC
onds and surgeons. The place Of
meeting was . large sand bar near
Natchez. Miss. On the opposite side
Of this bar the friends Of saeh, party
were stationed.
Col Crane was second Of MADDOX.
Between him, James Bowie and Gen.
Curry there had long existed . dead
ly feud, and some months before this
affair Gen. Curry shot COL Crane
with a shotgun, disabling one Of his
arms. The parties to the, duel sp-
preached the spot selected for the
combat from different directions.
The preliminaries were soon ar
ranged. The combstants took their
positions and exchanged two shots
without effect and the difficulty was
amicably adjusted. Bowie WAS just
in the edge Of the woods with Gems.
Wells and Curry, armed with pistols,
Bowie carrying . huge knife. A. the
dueling party started 10 leave the
grounds Bowie and party started to
meet them. The friends Of MADDOX and
Crane, on the opposite side Of tie
sand bar, seeing this and being fur
thest from the party; started, In .
run to meet them - soon - they
should reach the returning combat
ants. 80
Gen. Curry was the hrst on the
ground, closely followed BY Bowie.
Curry Immediately advanced upon
Col. Crane and remarked, "Col.
Crane, this il . good time to settle
our difficulty" and commenced draw
ing his pistol. Bowie did ths same.
Crane was armed with . braes. Of
dueling pistols and, standing, await
Cd the attack Of Curry. At this mo-
msnt Curry was ssissd BY his broth
er and begged to desist Bowie and
Crane fired 1t each other and II VA
said without effect. There were
those who said Bowie Was, wounded.
This latter statement, I think. VA
most probable. for Bowie stepped,
felt Of his hip and drawing his knife
limped toward Crane, who was watch
ing Curry. tes
Released from the hold Of his
brother, Curry advanced. At this mo.
ment, Crane leapsd across . small
ravine and resting his pistol upon hia
crippled arm fired at Curry, woun.l
ing him fatally. He fell. Crane wa,
, now disarmed and Bowie advanced
cautiously upon him. Clubbing hi
pistol, he struck Bowie over the head
- he avoided his knife adroitly an:
felled him TO the ground.
Crane retreated . step - hi
friend, Maj. Wright. approached
Bowie in the meantime had risen snt
was sustaining himself BY holding Of
to . snag. Maj. Wright advsnced up
on him with . long, slender spsa
drawn from . walking cane which, b.
carrisd and seeing Crspe's DANCE
lattaeked Bowie, who made pass t.
parry the spear with his knife: Tn
I|spsar was made Of cold iron. IN,
striking the breast bons bent AM
lwsnt around the rib. Bowie at thi
ssised Wright and fell. pullinl
Wright down with and on top Q
him, strongly holding him to hi
person. Wright was . slender IN
by no means Q STRONG man and Va
|powerless in the hands of Bowie VII
cody said TO him, Nov, major, 20
die, and plunged the knife into hi
heart, killing him instantly.
This lmifs was nads by Resin J
'DUw5s 1ssn . lssOs AIss M wss y
A - 9. -1s