Rums, 209 



A short distance above this, at a point of timber occuppng a large bot- 

 tom, had been the scene of a fatal duel the previous winter, between two 

 whites by the names of Herring and Beer. On my &st arrival in the 

 country I had become acquainted with both of the actors, and felt much in- 

 terested in the details of the bloody aflair as related by one present at the 

 time of its unfortunate occurrence. The difficulty between them related 

 to a Mexican woman from Taos, — the wife of Herring. 



Backed by a number of personal friendg, and anxious to obtain the lady 

 from her husband, the former had provoked a quarrel and used very insult* 

 ing language to his antagonist. This was received with little or no reply 

 but soon, however, resulted in a challenge which was promptly accepted. 



The prehminaries were arranged in confident expectation of killing Her- 

 ring, who was considered a poor marksman, especially at an off-hand shot. 

 ,The weapons selected by Beer were rifles, the distance fifty yards, the man- 

 ner off-hand, and the time of shooting between the word fire and tliree. 

 /The two met, attended by their friends, at the time and place agreed upon, — 

 at the word "^re," the ball of Beer's rifle was buried in a cottonwood a 

 few inches above the head of his antagonist, — at the word "Z/iree" the con- 

 tents of Herring's rifle found lodgement in the body of Beer, who fell and 

 expired in a few minutes. 



Between this point and Fort Lancaster, I noticed the ruins of anothei 

 trading post, much dilapidated in appearance, and nearly levelled with the 

 ground. 



Passing along, I could not refrain from musing upon the frequent deeds 

 of mischief and iniquity that had originated within them, in connection with 

 , the infamous liquor traffic. Ah, thought I, were those bricks possessed of 

 tongues, full many a tale of horror and guilt would they unfold, to stand 

 the listener's " hair on end," and make his blood run cold ! But, lost m 

 gilent unconsciousness, they refuse to ppeak the white man's shame 1 



18* 



