150 Years 1872-1886 The Dalles THE DECADES OF HISTORY PART TWO OF THE DALLES CHRONICLE'S TEN-PART SERIES. March 30, 2007 page 4 CATTLE ROUNDUP ENDS IN BLOODY GUNFIGHT BRIDGECREEK SHOOTING AFFRAY - From a private letter we get the following particulars of the shooting affray that took place on Bridge Creek, in this county, on the 27th ultimo, between Mr. J.W. Cusick and Mr. B. Vowell: The stockmen of different districts have organized themselves into Cattle Clubs, for the purpose of assisting one another to drive up the cattle, which are scattered all over a large country, into corrals, built by this club in different localities and here all the calves, belonging to the members of this club, are marked and branded. As it is always the case with most any enterprise or undertaking of a new character, some will oppose it and act contrary. So in this case. Men who were not members of the club, considered it a bad arrangement, as some of their cattle were liable to be driven into these corrals, and as they had not the full privileges, that the members were entitled to, felt rather hostile towards the club. Mr. Cusick, being a member of the club, was appointed to act as a kind of superintendent in the corral. On the day when this affair took place, a large band of cattle had been driven into one of these corrals, and Mr. Vowell, who is not a member of the club, seeing some of his cattle among them, went into the corral in order to separate and drive them out. As this created much confusion, and more than it was convenient for the club to allow, Mr. Cusick request 'Mr. Vowell to stop in his proceedings and wait until the club got through, when some of them would assist him, separating his cattle from theirs'. Mr. Vowell would not agree to this, but swore, he would tear down the corral, first and get his stock out. This naturally brought on high words and Mr. Vowell making a motion to use his large pistol, which was fastened around his body, rather compelled Cusick to go for his small derringer and make the best use of it he could, firing instantly and the ball taking effect in the breast hone. No sooner had Mr. Cusick fired, when Vowell discharged his revolver, shooting three times and being within a few steps of Cusick. One ball taking effect in his left arm, passing through pretty close to his body near his chest, the other two balls grazed his body. For several days it was feared, that the shot would prove fatal for Cusick, but last night a change took place for the better and I think by close attention and good nursing his life will be spared. Mr. Vowell's wound is not considered dangerous, although the ball has not been extracted. June 12, 1875. Incoming and Outgoing messages protected by Trend Micro PC-cillin program