The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1867-02-07

Thrilling Incidents Of Border Life.
! Wild Bill's Story.
Harper's Magasine, for February, con-
tains . paper on "Wild Bill" an adven-
turous Missourian, from which the fol-
lowing IL extracted:
1T was In 81, when I guided de-
tachment Of cavalry who were coming In
from Camp Floyd. We had nearly
| reached the Kansas line, and were In
South Nebraska, whom one afternoon
went out Of camp to go to the cabin Of
an old friend Of mine, Mrs. Waltman.
took only one Of my revolvers with
me, for although the war had broke out
l didn't think it necessary to carry both
my pistols, and In all Urinary skrim-
images, one is better than q dozen, II
you shoot straight. 1 saw some wild
turkeys on the road ~ was goin down,
and popped one of'em over, thinking
hs'd be 1uet thu thing Snr supper.
"Well, / rode up to Mrs. Waltman's,
jumped of my horse, and went into the
cabin, which is like most of the cabins
on prarer, with only one room, and that
had two doors, one opening In front and
t'other on yard like.
"How are you, Mrs. Waltman I
said, feeling as jolly a. you please"
"The minute she saw me she turned
as white as a sheet aud screamed: is
that you Bill? Oh, my God! they will
kill you! Run run! They will kill
you,'
who's going to kill me" said L.
Theirs two that can play at that game. ;
"M'Kandlas and his gang. There's
ten of them, and you've no chance
They've jss gone down the road to the
corn rack. They came up here only
five minutes ago. M'Kandlas was drag
ging poor Parson Shipley on the ground,
with lariat round his neck. The
preacher was most dead with choking
and the horses stamping on him.
M'Kandlas knows your bringing in
that party Of Yankee cavalry, and he
swears he'll cut yer heart out. Run,
Bill, run! But it's too late; they're
comm up the lane.'
"While she was talking 1 remembered d
l had but one revolver, and load gone
out Of that. On the table there was
horn Of powder aud some little bars of
lead. Ipoured some powder into the
empty chamber, aud rammed the lead
after 1t by hammering the barred on the
table, and just capped the pistol when
heard M'Kandlas shout:
''There's that id Yank Wild Bilps
horse he's here, and we'll skin him
alive.n
"1f had thought of runnin before it
war too late now, and the house was my
best holt-a sort of fortress like. Inever
thought should leave that room alive
The scout stopped in his story, rose
from his seat, aud strobe back and for
ward In state Of great excitement.
II tell you what it is, Kernel" he re-
sumed, after awhile, II don't mind a
scrimmage with these fellers round here.
Shoot one or two Of them and the rest
run away, but all of M'Kandlas's gang
were reckless, bloodthirsty devils, who
would fight as long as they had strength
to pull trigger. 1 have been in tight
places, but that's one of the few times I
said my prayers.
Surround the house and give him no
quarter! yelled M'Kandlas. When I
heard that l felt as quiet and cool as if
was goin' to church. looked round
the room and saw . Hawkins rifle
hangin' over the bed.
us that loadcd:' said l to Mrs. Walt
man.
"Yes," the poor thing whispered
She was SO frightened that she couldn't
speak out loud.
"Are you sure? said I, as jumped to
the bed and caught it from its hooks
Although my eye did not leave the door
yet l could see that she nodded Yes
again. I put the revolver on the bed,
and just then M'Kandlas poked his nose
inside the doorway, but jumped back
when he saw me with the rifle in my
hand.
Come in here, you cowardly dog!
I shouted. Come in here and fight meu
M'Kandlas was no coward, If he was
a bully. He jumped inside the room
with his gun levellcd to shoot; but he
was not quick enough. My rifle ball
went through his heart. He fell back
outside the house, where he was found
afterward holding tight to his rife,
which had fallen over his head.
"His disappearance was followed by a
yell from his gang, and then there was
dead silence. put down the rifle and
took the revolver, and I said to myself;
Only six shots and nine men to kill
Save your powder, Bill, for the death
hugs a-comin' II don't know why it
was, Kernel, continued Bill, looking at
me inquiringly, "but at that moment
things seemed clear and sharp. could
think strong"
"There was few seconds of that aw-
ful stiffness, aud then the ruffians came
rushing in At hOth doors Hnxv ~s,1l<3