In an emerging town, Charles Edwin Gilbert soon had competition. The Magnetic Quill was established in 1882, exact date unknown, by William L. Gibbs, a part-time preacher who for a time preached a religion based on a literal interpretation of the Bible. He believed in triple immersion, once for "The Father," once for "The Son" and once for "The Holy Spirit."

Gilbert and Gibbs took opposing positions on many issues. Gilbert pushed for immigrants to settle West Texas. Gibbs favored the open range cattlemen. Gilbert promoted the Fair. Gibbs suggested that some of the crops Gilbert had displayed in the 1884 Fair had not been grown locally. Gilbert wanted Abilene to incorporate as a town. Gibbs thought the village was doing well without that expense. Gilbert wanted the land to be fenced. Gibbs opposed fencing.

The two fought their own printed version of the Barbed Wire War. The editorial battles soon became financial warfare. Gilbert was supported by farmers and struggling businessmen. Gibbs had support of the "cattle barons."

Gilbert recalled later that for 18 months in a row he operated at a net loss averaging $150 per month. In March 1884, Gilbert took two bold actions. He turned his struggling weekly into a daily publication. And he helped promote a "back fire," a third newpaper.

Gilbert had on his staff an excellent printer, James L. Lowry, a native of Illinois, resident of Abilene since 1883. Gilbert suggested that Lowry start a new paper, offering him several options. Lowry decided to go it alone. He began The Taylor County News on March 27, 1885. It was a readable, informative journal, filled with news about the development of the rolling plains.

About a month after he started publication, Lowry had the opportunity to cover a big local event -- the duel between Gilbert and Gibbs. No copies of their papers are available, but Lowry proclaimed the story, "San Jacinto's Day Celebrated by a Shooting Match -- An Editorial Encounter in Which They Try to Prove That the Sword is Mightier Than the Pen."

In her thesis on The Abilene Reporter-News, Mrs. Naomi Kincaid wrote that the oldtimers said the fight came about because of Gibbs' remarks about Gilbert's opposition to labor unions.

The two met on Pine Street, Gilbert armed with a loaded buggy whip and a pistol, Gibbs with a "pepper" pistol. Five shots were fired. "Gilbert received a glancing blow across the forehead and Gibbs had a bruised arm from a blow with a loaded whip," Lowry wrote. Gilbert, who had gone hunting before the fight, was charged with aggravated assault and fined $25 and costs. Possibly as an act of apology, Gilbert resigned as Methodist Sunday School superintendent.

The Magnetic Quill went out of business in September 1885, and The Abilene Reporter and The Taylor County News continued. The papers were competitive, but without personal bitterness. The Reporter was a sometime daily, sometime weekly paper, according to the degree of local prosperity.

Gilbert sold The Reporter in May 1886 to Dr. Alf H.H. Toler of The Colorado (City) Clipper and moved to Dallas where he purchased The Dallas Times. Later, he merged The Times with The Dallas Herald and for many years was editor-publisher of the newspaper which bore the name he created for it (The Dallas Times-Herald) until it ceased publication.

(Abridged from Katharyn Duff's April 19, 1981 "The Story of a Prairie Newspaper" You can buy this book online from credit card-secured site shopARN.com.)