Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-03-01

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border men that we have ever read. II.
lures of real character named "Wild
Bill" whose education as frontierman
and a mountaineer admirably qualified
him to act, as he did though the war, as.
scout. The eventful career of this re-
markable man, both bebre and during the
war, is admirably sketcied by Col. Mich
OILS, who became personally acquainted
with him in Missouri ind got the story
from his own lips.
We give one of the most remarkable of
= Wild Bits" adventures, promising that
he was man osYTemendous physical
strength, which had been developed and
trained by his mode of LIE, and that he
was an unerring shot. The substantial
facts of the affair were bld the writer by
an officer of the regular army, who, an
hour after it occurred, saw Bill and his ten
dead opponents. The story rs told by
Bill himself is as follows;-
1t was in 81, whtn Iguided a detach-
ment of cavalry who were comm in from
Camp Floyd. We had nearly reached
the Kansas line, and were in South Ne
braska, when one afternoon went out of
camp TO go to the cabin of an old friend of
mine, a Mrs. Waltman. | took only one
of my revolvers with me, for though the
war had broke out, didn't think it zee
essary 10 carry both my pistols, and 10 all
or'nary scrimmages, one is better than a
dozen, eff you shoot straight. | saw some
wild turkeys on the road as l was going
down, and popped one Of 'em over, think
ing he'd be just he thing for supper.
Well, / rode up to Mrs. Waltman's,
jumped off my horse, and went into the
cabin, winch is like most of the cabins on
the prairie, with only one room, and that
had two doors, one opening in front and
t'other on yard, ike.
How are you, Mrs. Waltman said,
feeling as jolly rs you please.
"The minute 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 a'goin to kill me r said T.
There's two that can play at that game
Its McKandlas and his gang. Theirs
ten of them, and you've no chance,
They've just gone down the road to the
corn rack. They came up here only five
minutes ago. MeKandlas was dragging
poor Parson Slipley on the ground with
a lariet round his neck. The preacher
was most dead with choking and the hor-
ses stamping on him. McKandlas knows
yer bringin in that party of Yank ee cav
airy, and he sweafs he'll cut yer heart
out. Run, Bill, run But it's too late ;
they're comm up the lane
+" While she was talkin' remember
cd | had but one revolver, and load gone
out of that. On the table there was a
horn of powder and some little bars of
lead. l poured some powder into the
empty chamber and rammed the lead af-
ter it by hammering the barrel on the ta-
bic, and bad just capped the pistol when
| heard MeKandlas shout:
"There's that id Yank Wild Bills
horse ; he's here, and we'll skin him
alive r
eff had thought of running before, ii
war too late now, and the house was my
best holt--a sort of fortress like. i new
thought | should leave that room alive y
The scout stopped in his story, rose from
his seat, and strobe back and forward in
a state of great excitement. ....
Il tell you what it is, Kernel" he re-
sumed after while, 81 don't mind a
skrimmage with these ielers round here
shoot one or two of 'em and the rest run
away. But all of McKandlas' gang were
reckless, bloodthirsty devils, who would
fight as long as they had streangth 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 McKandlas. When /
heard that felt as quiet and cool as if l
was goin 10 church. l looked around
the room and saw a Hawkins rifle hang
ing over the bed.
"Is that loaded p said to Mrs. Walt
man.
Yes" the poor thing whispered. She
was so frightened that she couldn't speak
out loud.
Are you sure" said /, as l jumped to
the bed and caught it from its hooks. AL
though my eye did not leave the door,
yet | could see that she nodded Yes ,
again. ] put the revolver on the bed,
and just then McKendIas poked his nose
inside the doorway, but jumpel back
when he saw me with the rifle in my
hand. ,as