Irate Ira Nails the McClellands!
Ira Aten vs. The McClelland Brothers
By: Bob Boze Bell 06/01/2009
December 23, 1891
Former Texas Ranger Ira Aten rides into the Texas Panhandle town of Dimmitt. He aims to clear up some unfinished business.
That business is in the form of attorney and local land baron Andrew McClelland, who stands just outside a dry goods store at the corner of Broadway and Jones Streets, across from the new courthouse.
Aten dismounts and ties up his horse, then asks Andrew if he still thinks Aten is a liar. “Yes,” Andrew says, but he adds he is not armed. Aten tells him to go get his gun. Andrew goes into the store to get heeled.
Andrew comes back out on the street firing with a pistol in each hand, but his shots go wild. Aten takes his time—witnesses say he holds his revolver with both hands—as he puts a bullet into Andrew’s left arm. Andrew falls on the wooden sidewalk, gets off another shot, then drops the guns, jumps up and hides behind some nearby mules. He then sprints inside the store.
As Aten holsters his .45, a bullet whizzes by, fired from behind the corner of the building just west of the store. Andrew’s brother Hugh has started shooting. Aten returns fire, the bullet going through the corner of the building and hitting his target in the neck.
Hugh is game, firing another round (it misses). Aten fires once more, again through the corner of the building; this time Hugh is hit in the back and knocked out of commission.
Ira Aten’s business is concluded.
Comments (1)
Wow!!! Great stuff as always Mr. Bell!!!
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