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Show Reminiscences of the Early Days of the Sagebrush. J. T. Goodman aud Torn. Fitch were rival newspaper editors in Virginia city, in the fall oflS6 . Goodman was the editor of what was then called the Territorial Enterprise. Thomas Fitch was editing the Virginia Vir-ginia Union. Goodman wrote a slashing slash-ing article to which Fitch replied, nearly as follows: "The logic of the Enterprise editor is like the love of God." Goodman at first glance thought it was rather complimentary, but concluded to hunt up the book that the quotation was made from. Mark Twain said it was from Byron. Dan dc Quilie said he had read it in Baxter's "Saints' Everlasting Rest." Goodman thought it was from Shakespeare, Shakes-peare, while others from the Bible. Eventually the quotation was found to be from the bible, and immediately following it were the words, "in that it surpasseth human understanding." Whereupon Goodman immediately sent a challenge to Fitch to meet him outside of the territory (botli being under bonds at that time to keep the peace within it). 'Twas said at the time Mrs. 'Fitch insisted on Fitch accepting ac-cepting it. Be this as it may, the arrangements were made for a hoslile meeting in Dry Valley, California. Whether the valley was named before the deed I am unable to say; at all events, it is now called Dry Valley. Goodman had for one of his seconds Major Ferrend, who went out with him to the valley two days before the meeting took place. This was for the purpose of practicing Goodman in pistol shooting. The mark selected was a pitch pine tree. Ferrend placed a piuo burr midway been Goodman and the tree. The instructions instruc-tions wero( " Fire low and raise your pistol in tho line with the burr." At the word Goodman fired and missed the tree. After much practice, prac-tice, however, he did better. On the morning of the meeting, a cold crisp morning, Goodman had made a fire of dry pine limbs, by which he was warming himself, apparently unconcerned un-concerned about the meeting so shortly to tako place. The first rays of the sun were just reddening tho tree1 tops. The time had come, the ground been marked off. Goodman left his , fire and walked up alone to his place. Fitch came up with an arm around each of his seconds' necks. Ai the 1 word both fired. Goodman was un-1 un-1 touched ; Fitch clapped his hand to . ono of his knees, turned around and ( fell on the grass before his seconds could get to him. Ho was shot ' through the knee, and the fight was I ended. Virginia, Nev., Chronicle. |