Shootout! Two Brothers Dead, One Missing

A Bloody End to a Long-Time Feud

Eyewitness Narrowly Escapes Death!

The Gruesome Details

By Augustus Branch

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Shortly after nine this morning, the muddy streets of  Telluride were awash in more than the unusually heavy spring rains as a long-time feud among the three Garrison brothers of Fall Creek came to a head, ending in a hail of bullets that did not quiet until two of the brothers, Abel, 26, and Elijah, 32, lay dead in the street. The third brother, James, 19, who an eyewitness says fired no shots, fled the scene and has not been seen since.

Elijah, Abel, and James Garrison

Inclement weather kept most prudent residents of our fair and usually peaceful city indoors this morning, but business of a private nature forced an eyewitness to the horrible events, Edgar Rowe, into the street during an especially violent downpour. Mr. Rowe stated that he had just exited the New Sheridan Hotel on his way to his place of business (Rowe and Sons Mercantile) when he heard voices raised in anger nearby. Mr. Rowe, mindful of the heavy rain, hurried on his way toward his store, but was startled by gunfire while barely halfway across Main Street.

“Never in my life have I been so frightened for my life!” said Mr. Rowe. “I fell immediately to the ground, and as much as felt the heat of a bullet as it passed mere inches from my head. I wondered why anyone would be shooting at me!”

As Mr. Rowe lay in the mud, he witnessed as odd a site as many in this town have seen since the Utes were put on their reservation for good some three years ago.

According to Mr. Rowe, he saw Abel and James Garrison on the steps of the New Sheridan, and Elijah on the ground near where Mr. Rowe lay. Abel and Elijah had pistols drawn, but James seemed frightened and not sure what to do.

Elijah Garrison was bleeding from at least one bullet wound, but raised his pistol to fire at one or both of his brothers.

“You son of a b----! I’ll see you in H---!” yelled Elijah, as he fired his pistol at Abel. It was at this time, says Mr. Rowe, that James took cover behind a nearby horse trough.

Elijah and Able began firing at one another. Elijah was hit twice more as Mr. Rowe watched, frozen in fear. Able, too, was hit and fell to the ground.

“It was then that events took the queerest turn,” stated a shaken Mr. Rowe.

The two brothers, bloodied and unable to stand, literally dragged themselves across the muddied street toward one another, firing their pistols and even stopping to reload. By now, the brothers, weakened by their wounds, were shooting wildly, and Mr. Rowe sought cover behind the very trough that had recently sheltered the youngest Garrison brother. However, according to Mr. Rowe, James Garrison had by this time fled.

Slowly, painfully, Abel and Elijah dragged themselves through the thick mud toward each other, finally letting their pistols rest. Each grasped the other’s lapel for leverage and came together in a sort of embrace.

Thinking that the gunfight was over, Mr. Rowe started to come from cover so that he might offer aid to the injured men. But it was not to be, as the two bleeding brothers aimed their pistols point-blank at one another, and with bloodcurdling howls of animal hatred, pulled their triggers simultaneously. Both died instantly.

It has been widely known about town that the brothers had had disagreements regarding the inheritance they received when their father, Angus Garrison died of wounds suffered in a mine collapse last Spring, but no one could have suspected the course their troubles would take. Sheriff Williams has asked that anyone who knows the whereabouts of the youngest brother, James, come forward so that the matter can be settled and the investigation ended.

The dead brothers leave no survivors, save for James, and currently occupy their caskets at Pinkney’s Mortuary, pending the sheriff’s inquest.

© 2025, Brian G Parker