Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-02-14
wild Biil,s story.

following is extracted
at was in 81, when / guided de-
tachment of cavalry who were comm in
from Camp Floyd. We had nearly
reached TIE Kansas line, and were in
south Nebraska, when one afternoon
went out Of camp TO go TO the cabin OF
al ID friend oil mine, Mrs. Waltman.
Ito ; only one ot my revolvers with me,
.or ghough be war had broke didn't
thin IL nee, ssry to carry both my
pistol aud Ia all Urinary sorimmages
one IS better than dozen, et you shoot
straight. saw some wild turkeys on
the road as was going down, and pop
ped one of 'em over, thinking he'd be
Just the thing for supper
swell, / rode up to Mrs. Waltman's,
Jumped of my horse, and went into the
cabin, which is like most of the cabins
on the prarer, with only one room, and
that had two doors, one opening in
front and tother on yard, like.
"Eow are you, Mrs. Mailman ?"
said, feelin as jolly as you please.
The minute she saw me she turned
as white as sheet and screamed Is it
you Bill Oh, my God they will
kill you Run, run They will kill
you :"
Who's going to kill me p said |.
Theirs two that eau play at that game.
ITS Mkaudlas and his gang. There's
ten OF them, and you've no chance.
They've ies gone down the road to the
corn rack. They came up here only five
minutes ago. M'Kandas was dragging
poor Parson Shipley on the ground,
with lariette round his neck. The
preacher was most dead with choking
and the horses stamping on him, NJ Kand-
las knows yer bringin in that party OF
Yankee cavalry, and he swears hell cut
yer heart out. Run, Bill, run But its
TOO late; they're comm up the lane
while she was talking ! remembered
had but one revolver and II load gone
out Of that On the table there was
horn OF powder ana some little bars Of
lead. l poured some powder into the
empty chamber, aud rammed the lead
after it by hammering the barrel on the
table, and had just capped the pistol
when l heard MKandlas shout:
There's that id Yank Wild Bills
horse; he's here, and We'll skin him
alive"
'If I had thought of runnin before, it
war too late now, and the house was my
best bolt--a sort of fortress like. |
never though | should leave that room
alive"
The scout stopped in his story, rose
from his seat, and STROBE back and for
ward in state of great excitement.
L tell you what it is Kernel" he re-
sumed, after awhile, II didn't mind
scrimmage with these fellers round here.
Shoot one or two of them and the rest
run away; but all of McKandlas' gang
were reckless, blood thirsty devils, who
would fight as long as they had strength
to pull trigger. have been in tight
places, but that's one of the few times l
said my prayers.
Surround the house and give him no
quarter" yelled MKandlas. When |
heard that I felt as quiet and cool as if
was Acknowledgement. looked around the
room and saw Hawkins rife hangin'
over the bed.
is that loaded ?" said TO Mrs. Walt
man.
Yes" the poor thing whispered. She
was 50 frightened that she could not
speak out loud.
"Are you sure" said l, as jumped to
the bed and caught it from its hooks.
Although my eye did not leave the door,
vet could see that she nodded eyes, "
again. put the revolver on the bed
and Just then M'Kandlas poked his nose
inside the doorway, but jumped back
l. SuIYn tho rifle
hand.
Come in here you eowardly dog I"
shouted. Come in here and fight me =
M'Kandlus was no coward, If he was
bully. He jumped inside the room
with his gun levelled to shoot; but he
was not quick enough. My rife bal
went through his heart. He fell bach
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 there was dea(
silence. put down the rife and tool
the revolver, and | said TO myself: Only
six shots and nine men to kill. Save
you powder, Bill, for the death hugs (
coniu' (" don't know why it was Ker
mel continued Bill, looking at me, Blu
at that moment things looked clear ant
sharp. / could think strong.
There was few seconds Of tina
awful stiffness, sud then the rufiiau
came rushing ia at both doors. How
wild they looked with their red, drunken
faces and inhamed eyes, shouting anC
cussiug But / never aimed more de
liberate in my life.
Decentralization; aud fou
men fell dead.
They didn't stop the rest. Two o
them fired their bird guns at me auC
then l felt sting run all over me. TIL
room was full of smoke. Two got il
close to me, their eyes gjaring out o
the clouds. One knocked down will
my fist. You are out Of the way 70
while, thought. The second sho
dead. The other three clutched me ant
crowded me onto the bed. l Tough
hard, broke with my hand one man
arm. He had his fingers round IN.
threat. Before could get to my feet
was struck across the breast with tn
stack Of a rifle and / felt the hloot