Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 October 1889 — FIENDS IN HUMAN FORM. [ARTICLE]

FIENDS IN HUMAN FORM.

Singular and Barbarous Duel Fought by a Wealthy Mexican Cattleman and an Indian. The particulars of a singular duel recently fought in Taos county, New Mexico, have just come to light. An Indian and Juan Verega, a wealthy Mexican cattleman, repaired to a sp/t about six miles, from the to wn of Taos, just at the break of day, to “settle” an old grudge. The weapons were butcher knives, and, by the method of fighting agreed upon, each man was to submit his hand to bis opponent and have one finger cut off, the cutting to be done alternately, and the man who first evinced signs of pain to be stabbed to the heart. The Indian, by toss, secured the first cut, and, deliberately taking the band of his enemy, with a quick stroke, severed: his forefinger. The Mexican never utter ed a sound. The Indian reached out his hand, and off came his thumb. This continued in silence until the cattleman had lost four fingers and the Indian four also. When the Indian reached for his foe’s left hand, the latter’s second, becoming scared at the fearful flow of blood, sent a bullet through the Indian’s heart. The affair is one of the most inhuman ever heard of in any land, and all parties to it will be prosecuted.lt is thought the cattleman will die.