Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-03-12
11Btth tlrr Hntnat Btnnrrra
(By Judge wilmottl

Joined. All was zone openly dDosc
board.
The belligerents were both men OF
reputed wealth and standing and one
at least known professional IN the
code drills, therefore it created at once
a widespread sensation and decided
interest was Immediately MANIFEST on
all sides. Here and there squads Oh
men might be seen openly discussing
the cause of the quarrel, the right ana
wrong of the issue, the knowledge
each was supposed to have IN the
handling of weapons, the chances or
either in winging or killing his antag-
onist, were talked about as matter OF
common sport and each arranged him
self upon the side as he happened TO
be friend or foe.
There was no law in those days that
white men were bound to respect, Dut
the law of right and justice, and woe
betide the man who violated It's pro-
visions or undertook to intercept It's
execution. Consequently the prepare
lions for the meeting to ADJUST the
difficulties in this case were inter-
rupted.
From the bottom of an old sea chest
Detantabar draws forth the jeweled
relic of his young valor, which he has
religiously kept and guarded all these
DAYS. and as he draws the cleaning
blade from the sheath and remembers
the blood which he has scrupulouSly
wiped from it's shining surface In
former times, his black eye kindles,
the warm red blood goes bounding
through his veins and once more he is
anxious for the fray.
On this memorable occasion Free"
Williams espouses the cause of the
French, becomes the friend and adj
wiser of Detantabar, and in this con-
nection has given his name to poster
ity, if not to Immortality He mined
lately puts his principal in training
but after a few passes tin Whlcn
Gree" uses an imaginary sword In the
shape of a walking-stick, and becomes
hors de combat.) Free" satlsfles
himself of Detan's ability to cope with
his adversary in the coming struggle
and rests upon his laurels.
On a cold, bleak, windy morning in
the month of April, 1880, two horse
men might have been seen riding lels-
ureIy along toward the village of Ga
lena The mud was very deep, and as
vet there was no stopping places on
the trail. In the absence of the latter,
and the lack of definite information as
to the number and distance of Cool
Springs" the riders would frequently
halt by the wayside and refresh them
selves from willow covered flask
that each, in addition to the other
means of defense, carried in deep
side pocket. The one of medium
stature and heavy set, sparkling black
ewes. acquiline nose and rudy COM
, plexion, is none other than the hero OF
the coming fght-M. Detantabaratz OF
! Paris, on the Platte. He rides his
horse like one accustomed to the
saddle. sitting erect and adjusting
himself gracefully and easily OF the
movements of his animal as they
moved forward at a gentle pace
The other mounted on a similar col
| ored animal, which he beStrldes with
| the freedom of a Moss trooper OF the
last century when securing the bord-
ers, is none other than Free VIII
liams. No sword was attached to his
thigh though the strict laws OF duel
| ling demand that the second should be
armed in a like manner to his primer
pal. But Free" was never a calvary
man in Napoleon's army, he had only
been a scout in the Black Hawk war,
and that happened many years later
and he had not received his sword.
In this dilemma he did as every
brave and sensible man has done be-
I fore and since, the next best thing.
He armed himself with a couple OF
large navy pistols which he had Dor
rowed from an old salt, and which
were now gracefully swing from the
horn of his saddle. Behind him were
| fastened a pair of large saddlebags
containing, (well not matter WHAT
! the true Missourian on horseback al
ways carries this truly convenient
receptacle of miscellaneous plumber
He can't ride without it. 1t would
| despoil the seat of his cogitations and
upset the equilibrium of his quadru-
ped. Thus mounted and equipped the
twain enter Galena and riding in front
of BENEFITS hotel, where a large
crowd have already assem- bled, report
themselves ready for business.
! Both dismount and throwing their
/ bride reins to the bystanders, enter
the nearest saloon and call for Bour-
| bon straight. Having thus in de-
4
gree fortified the inner man and lifted
their spirits to an elevation above the
fear of danger, they remounted their
horses and rode off, accompanied by
the crowd to the field of honor, where
an equal number of spectators have
already collected.
Leaving his principal in charge OF
| friends, Free" advances to the front.
He takes in the situation at glance,
draws from the right hand holster one
of his ''man-killers" loaded to the
guard with buckshot, swing it above
his head as he brings his fiery charger
to a pose upon his hind legs, and pro-
claims from his stentorian lungs that
the time has arrived when there must
either be fight or foot race. Bust,
the second of Bates, who is already in
waiting, responds to the call and an
nounces the presence of his principal
but protests against the barbarity OF
using cold steel when the pistol is the