North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-04-24
WILD BILLS STORY.


ment of cavalry who were comm in from
Camp Floyd. We had nearly reached the
Kansas line. and were in South Nebraska,
when one afternoon | went out of camp to
90 to the cabin of an old friend of mine,
Mrs. WaItman. took Only one of my re-
volvers with me, for although the war had
broken out | didn't think it necessary to
carry both my pistols and in full or'nary
scrimmages. one is better than q dozen, if
you shoot straight. | saw some wild tur-
keys ON the road as was was goin' down,
and popped one of 'em over, thinking he'd
be just the.thing for supper.
"Well, | rode up to Mrs. Waltman's,
jumped off my horse, and went into the
cabin, which is like most of the cabins on
IL te 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?" Isaid,
feeling as jolly as you please.
The moment she saw me she turned as
white as a sheet and screamed: "Is that
you, Bill Oh, my God they will kill
you Run run They will kill you
"Who's goin' to kill me? said l.
"There's two that can play at that game"
"Its M'Kandlas and his gang. There's
ten of them, and you've no chance
They've just gohe down the road TO the
corn-rack. They came up here only five
minutes ago. M'Kandlas was dragin'
poor Parson Shipley ON the ground, with a
lariat round his neck. The preacher was
most dead with choaking, and the horses
stamping on him. MKandlas knows yer
bringin 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
coming up the lane" '> ..
While she was talkin, / remembered |
had but one revolver, and load gone out
of that. On the table there was horn of
powder and some little bars of lead, /
poured some powder into the empty cham
Der and ramed the lead after it by ham
mering the barrel on the table, and had
just capped the pistol when heard MKan-
dlas shout
"Theres that d--d Yahk, Wild Bills
horse; he's here, and we'll skin him
alive p
i'll had thought drumming before,it was
too late now, and the house was my best
holt--a sort of fortress, like. never tho't
| should leave that room alive.
The scout stopped in his story, rose from
his seat, and strode back and forward in
state of great excitement.
81 tell YOU what 1t is Kernel" he resum-
ed, after awhile, 81 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 a trigger.
have been IN tight places, but that's one
of the few times said my prayers"
"Surround the house and give him no
quarter yelled M'Kandlas. When heard
that felt as quiet aud cool as if | were
goin' to church. | locked round the room
and saw a Hawkins rifle hangin' over the
bed
"Is that loaded - said L to Mrs. Walt
man.
"Yes," the poor thing whispered. She
was SO frightened she couldn't speak out
loud.
"Ars you sure" said /, as / jumped to
the bed and caught it from its hooks. AL
though my eye did not leave the door, yet
! could see she nodded eyes" again. / put
the revolver on the bed, and just then M
Kandlas pokeI his nose inside the door
way, but jumped back when he saw me
with the rifle in my hand.
Come in here you cowardly dog"
shouted. ''Come in here and fight me y
M'Kantlas was no coward, if he was a
bully. He jumped inside the room with
his gun levelled 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 a
dead silence. / put down the rife and
took the revolver, and said to myself
"OnIy six shots and nine men to kill
Save your powder, Bill for the death-hug's
comm p
u don't know why it was, Kernal ; con-
tinued Bill, looking at me inquiringiy, "but
at that moment things seemed clear and
sharp, could think strong. -
There was few seconds of that awful
stiffness, and then the rufians came rush
ing in at both doors. How wild they
looked, with their red, drunken faces and
infamed eyes, shouting aud cussing i
But never aimed more deliberately in
my life.
'One--two-three-four, and four men
fell dead.
That didn't stop the rest Two ofthem
fred their bird-guns at me. And then |
felt sting run all over me. The room was
full of smoke. Two got in close to me,
their eyes glaring on. of the clouds, Ope
[ knocked down with nay fist. y"You are
out of the way for awhile" ] thought. The
second l. shot dead The other three
clutcb.d me and crowded me into the bed.