State Historical Society
ER.
VES OR BOYS
V'S.
ansas City, of
and share
e Clothing,
ars. If you
a store like
g and selling
l Overcoats
from $8 to
the biggest
on
mercoats SUITS at 620.
ratified, and day to day the best and a like to save om is a regu-
through
MAMMOTH
TOCK
thing you
ANT.
nicles.
THE WEEKLY UNIVERSITY COURIER.
jries, carriage
CO.,
TY, MO.
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY MORNING.
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS.
SUBSCRIPTION ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR
VOL. VIII.
HONOR'S FIELD.
Where the Vicious Victim of an Unearthly Joke Brought the Blood that Rights all Wrongs.
How in a Deadly Combat Dan Crew Proved His Metal, but Fell Bleeding at Every Vein.
Since the recent rise, decline and fall of the lamented R. K. T. and all those who gave their lives and honor in its defense, our own social atmosphere has been just a little breezy with the tales and stories of similar deeds. Deeds that mark the holy halcyon days of K. S. U. and give to the student much that he loves to hear and talk about.
He had often heard of the famous Crew-Menberg duel, an incident that always seemed to have about it more of blood and thunder and dash and daring than was calculated for the adornment of the average, every day joke. He had only got mere bits about it and he determined to hunt it down, get it all, and get it straight. He did.
"One day about the middle of July in 1885, there came to Lawrence a young man about twenty one, Mr. P. A. Menberg, by name, who hailed from Leavenworth. He seems to have come here as the friend of Mr. Al. Lewis, simply to spend a few days as a visitor. He was quite a clever fellow and made a very good impression among the ladies. But he became a terrible bore to the boys, whom he followed about with imprudence. He finally became "broke" and fell back on the mercy of the boys. That was just a little to much of a good thing: so
"Oh, you want me to tell it all, do you?" were the first pleasant words of Mr. Crew. "Well here goes," and he settled himself in a masterly way as though he meant business.
The Courier man has not been the least heedless to the happy traditions of our favored institution. Indeed he has heard and hunted them with no little pride and gratification.
The Courier man exercised his dog sense and at once struck the trail of Mr. Dan Crew. He cornered the affable and talented gentleman of the class of '87 at the city residence of Uncle Sam. Mr. Crew was told the purpose of our hot pursuit and, with a kindness unsurpassed, he pleasantly consented to tell us all-all about the great Crew-Menberg duel. And did you know that Dan is a consummate talker. You aught to hear him spin this yarn—one in which he takes such an interesting part. It would do your soul good to hear him tell it as he told it to the Courier. We can never do it justice on paper and we ask pardon for our imperfect attempt.
LAWRENCE, KANSAS, DEC. 7, 1889.
thought the boys and they determined to "tea him."
But right here I must tell you to make the story complete that there was a crowd of fellows, with Billy Bromersick and Al Lewis at their head, who had it in for our crowd; and they saw here an opportunity to get even.
One night I, with the help of Tom Irving, Ed. Fairchild and others took him snipe hunting. We drove him out to Buck Creek, twelve miles from town and there left him. It was a horrible night. I never saw it rain so in all my life. We rode home — he walked —walked twelve miles through the mud and storm. We saw him the next morning. He was pleasant and laughed heartily over the joke that had been played on him. But that didn't end it. On his long tramp home that night he lost his silk hat. It was found the next morning and brought to towu by a farmer, who left it at the Journal office. The Journal was on to the snipe hunt and correctly guessed whose hat it was. And in that day's issue they made some funny "crack" about it, telling the owner that he could have it by coming to the office and indentifying it. Well, that was the straw that broke the camel's back, for it made Menberg as mad as a hornet He said it was adding insult to injury and he wouldn't stand it. He wanted to know who caused the publication of the item. He swore vengeance against him. The Journal claimed to be innocent and so, not to show coward on our part, I came out and said I wrote the article.
They at once became pretended fast friends of Menberg and made him believe that he had been grossly insulted. They got him to demand an apology from me. And that morning a note was brought to me, which read about this way:
Well, us fellows got to-gether and determined to have some more fun at Menbergs expense. Then I answered his note as followes:
Mr. Crew, I have been grossly insulted by you and I demand an apology of you. P. A. Menberg.
That, of course, only added fuel to the fire. And in a short time I received a second note, wherein he demanded satisfaction and said he would have it. I wrote back as follows:
Mr. Menberg, Sir: The apology be d----m. Dan Crew.
Mr. Menberg, If you want satisfaction, make your demand in the usual form. Dan Crew.
No.13
Then followed the challenge, just as we had expected.
You must bear in mind that Menberg was, during all this, in dead earnest, urged on to desperation by his supposed friends. Of course I accepted his challenge.
Mr. Crew: I hereby challenge you to mortal combat. Choose your second, time, place and weapons. P.A.Menberg.
Mr. Menberg: I accept your challenge to mortal combat. Place, Bismarck Grove, time, 2 o'clock to-day, weapons, double barrell shot guns. Dan Crew.
That settled it. Preparations were immediately made for the duel. The news broke loose and spread like wild fire over the city. It was the only topic of conversation. You must remember that Menberger was all this time in dead earnest, He saw no fun in it. He meant business and that made the joke all the better. Of course his friends knew the joke, and while making him the victim they were trying to turn the tables on us. Well, the appointed hour came, and we went to Bismarck Grove, followed by one of the biggest crowds that was ever seen in Lawrence. You see, everybody knew it was all a big joke and they wanted to see the fun. We reached the 'bloody sands.' John Donnelly was my second and EdFairchild was Menberg's. Thirty spaces were stepped off and our weapons were given us, loaded, of course with blank cartrages, that is they were supposed to be. But it was afterwards found out that the barrell of Menberg's gun, which he did not fire, contained a load of shot that would have killed a bear. This mistake was caused by the blunder of his supposed friends, who misplaced the cartriages. That Menberg did not fire the loaded barrell was the sheeriest accident, and since that awful moment I have reason to believe myself one of the luckiest men on earth.
But to return. The duel was carried out under the strictest rules. We were placed back to back, and with the shot of a pistol we turned and fired. I instantly fell upon my face, breaking at the same time, a bladder of chicken blood I had concealed under my shirt. I acted as though I had been mortally wounded, and the running blood looked like it. The crowd gathered around me in great excitement. Just then I heard rapid pistol shots near by. Then began one of the wildest stampedes I ever saw. In an instant I could not see a soul. Every body had disappeared. I found out after the affray that it was Menberg who had done the extra shooting. That, you know, is where he turned the tables, that
was was his part of the fun. Right after he fired the people gathered around him. He must have thought that they were going to mob or arrest him, for as quick as lightening he jerked out a pistol and began a promiscuous shooting. You can easily imagine the effect of such an act. The scene for a while was simply terrible, everybody thought that he was a goner and ran for dear life. But presently his friends got control of him and brought him up town.
I, of course, was playing possum I had to carry out the joke. I was put in a big pine box and carried up to the Eldridge house. I shall never forget that ride and that pine box. It was one of the hotest days in July and the sun came down on my face like fire. I almost roasted.
Yes, I was taken to the Eldringe house and laid out on a billiard table. The boys covered my face with powder and they say I did look awfully like a real dead man. Menberg was brought in to see me. He took one hurried look and then said: 'My God I have killed him! When does the next train leave here? Let me go! A train happened to be going to Topeka in ten minutes and he was hustled on to it. As soon as he left I of course, broke loose from the clutches of death and joined in the fun that was turning the town up side down.
Some of his friends followed him to Topeka on the mid-night train. They found him there almost frightened to death. They told him that the whole business was a joke. He would not believe it, and did not, until he heard by telegram from his friends here. He came back the next morning but he made himself scarce. He left Lawrence that afternoon, and I haven't seen or heard of him since. Yes, it was a big joke and I shall never for get it."
So Dan ended his happy story, so pleasantly and dramaticly told. The Courier man was delighted and laughed his sides sore. The Crew--Menberg duel has become a part of the hallowed history of Lawrence. It stands first as the most stupendous practical joke ever perdetrated upon credulous humanity.
Prof. Ed Franklin, A. L. Burney and H. W Montgomery spent part of the vacation in "nim- roding.
Profs. Wilcox, Hopkins, Dunlap and Canfield attended the meeting of the Academy of Literature and Art held at Topeka last week.
SPIGE.
The Condiment That Seasons the Hustled Hash of the 'Courier.'
Zen Swank "vacated at home."
Fox ate turkey with Bye De-
Ford.
Clerk Moody is entertaining his brother.
Charley Voorhis spent vacation in Ottowa.
Stanley spent Thanksgiving with Pa in Topeka.
Regent W. C. Spangler is visiting friends in Girard.
Dosbaugh gave thanks with his girl at Bethany.
Ed Allen gave thanks at his home in the Capital.
Will Curry visited his home in Topeka Thanksgiving.
King has returned from Holton, where he spent vacation.
Hoover visited relations in Ot-
tawa during the vacation.
C. A. Peabody jr. of Topea,
is a new student of K. S. U.
Prof. Marvin and Miss Simpson were on the sick list Tuesday.
Mr. Archibald Wells of Atchison, was in the city last week.
Mrs. Prof. McDonald talks on Wellsley at Orophilian to-night.
Jim Challis filled a vacant chair at the home feast in Atchison.
P. of. and Mrs. Jas. H. Canfield spent Thanksgiving in Topeka.
Prof, A. G. Canfield is conducting the chapel exercises this week
Miss Mamie Tisdale spent Thanksgiving in Southern Kansas.
Judge J. B. Hindman, of Olathe is the guest of Cooper and Hodges.
Tom Bonnett and Jas. Bowersock were guests at Bethany last week.
J. C. Fox and Billy Taylor eat turkey with W. A. De Ford, of Ottawa.
Miss Minnie Johnson, of Waterville, has been visiting her K. S. U. sisters.
Prof. Jas, H. Canfield attended a teachers meeting in Concordia during vacation.
Challis spent the vacation very pleasantly punching street car mules in Atchison.
Fred Fuston was one of those who sampled maternal mince pie last Thanksgiving.
Miss Laura Lockwood very pleasantly entertained her friends last Friday evening.
Edso, Hudson, Hutchings and Clarck held a special session of the legislature during vacation.
Prof. Max Winkler delivers a lecture on "German Mythology" at the High School this afternoon.
GO TO MAMILTON'S FOR YOUR Cabinet PHOTOGRAPHS.