Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-04-05
! WILD BILLS STORY. :

ncnt of cavalry who were coming In from
Camp Floyd. We had nearly peacbed the
kansas line, and were 10 South Nebraska.
when one afternoon went out of catup 10
go to the cabin Of an old friend Ct NINE
Mrs. Wa'tman. ] took only enc of my re-
volyers with me- for although the wsr had
broke out, didn't think Il necessary 10 car
~ both my pistols, and in all ordinary scrim-
images one Is better than dozen, if you
shoot straight saw some wild turkeys on
the road ms was going down, and popped
one OF EN- over, thinking he'd be just the
thing for supper
"Well, rode up 10 Mrs Waltmar's, iump-
ed of my horse and went into the cabin.
which 10 like most of the cabins ON the
prairie, with only one room, and that had
two doors, one opening Ia 'front.' and t'o,her
on yard like" T 20 n
How are you Mrs. Mailman u | said.
feeling rs jolly as you please.
Inc minute she saw me she turned white
as sheet and screamed, sis that you Bill
Uh, my GOD, they will kill you RUM run
They will kill your
who's going TO kill me 2" said I, "There
Is two that can play at that game"
ATS hKandlas and his gang There's
ten Of them, and you've no chance. THEY'VE
jest come here only FIVE minutes ago.
M'Kandlas was dragging poor Parson Ship.
leg ON the ground with lariat round bis
neck. The preacher was most dead with
choking and the horses stamping on him.
d kandIas knows yer bringing in that par
~ OF Rebel cavalry, and he swears he will
cut your heart out. Run, Bill, runl But it
is too late; they're coming mp the lane"
While she was talking | remembered
had but one revolver, and load gone out
at that On the table there was horn of
powder and some little bars of lead. !
poured some powder into the empty cham
Der and rammed the lead after il by ham,
mering the barrel on the table, and had lust
cnpped the pistol when heard MKandlas
shout:
"There's that id Reb Wild Bills horse /;
he's here; and well skin him aliveir
If had thought of running before, il
was too late now, and the house was nv
hest holt-a sort of fortress, like. never
thought should leave that room alive"
The scout stopped in his story, rose from
his scat, and strobe back and forward in A
state of great excitement. an
~ tell you what it is,. Kernel" he re-
marked, after while, ~ don't mind a
scrimmage with these fellers round here
Shoot one or two of them and the rest run
away. But all of MKandlas gang were
reckless bloodthirsty devils who would fight
MS long as they had strength to pull trigger.
have been in tight places, but that's one
Of the few times said my prayersg
"Surround the house and give him no
quarterl" yelled MKandlas. When heard
that felt as quiet and cool as if was a.
goin' to church. looked round the room
and saw Hawkins ride hangin' over the
bed.
sis that loaded2' said to Mrs. Mailman
ayes" the poor thing whispered. She
was so frightened she couldn't speak out
loud.
Are you sureW said ], as jumped to
the bed and caught 1t from ITS hooks. Al
though my eye did not leave The door, yet
] could see she nodded "Yes," again. put
the revolver on the bed, and Just then Nc
kandas poked his nose inside the doorway.
but jumped back when he saw me with the
rife in my hand. -.-
"Come in here, you cowardly dogr' |
shouted; "Come in here and fight me pr
Mkandlas was no coward If he was q
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
be was found afterward holding tight to his
rifle, which had fallen over his head.
His disappearance was followed by veil
from his gang, and then there was dead
silence. / put down the rife and took the
revolver, and l said to myself, "Only six
shots and nine men to kill. Save your pow
der Rill fpr fbo laath h,,o
don't know whysit was" continued Bill.
looking at me inquirngly "but at that mo-
ment things seemed clear and sharp. could
thiuk strong.
There was few seconds of that awful
Stiffness and then the rutiians came rushing
In at both doors. How wild they looked
with their red, drunken faces and inflamed
eyes, shouting aud cursing But | never
aimed more deliberately in my life.
Decentralization and four men
fell dead.
That didn't stop the rest. Two of them
fired their bird guns at me; aud then felt
sting run all over me. The room was full
of smoke. Two got close to me, their eyes
glaring out of the clouds. One | knocked
down with my fst---"You are out of my
way for while thought; the second /
shot dead. The other three clutched me and
crowded me on the bed. fought hard. |
broke with my hand one mans arm. He
had his fingers round my throat. Before I
could get TO my feet was struck across the
breast with the stock of n rifle, aud felt
the blood rushing out Of my more and mouth.
Then got ugly, and remember that got
hold of knife, and then it was all cloudy
like, and was wild, and ! struck savage
blows following the devils up from one side
OF the room, and into the corners, striking
and slashing until knew that every one
was dead
All of sudden II seemed as if my heart
was on fire. was bleeding everywhere. -
] rushed out to the we'll and drank frcm the
bucket and tumbled down in a faint.
Brcathess with the intense interest with
which had followed this strange story, all
the more thrilling and wild when its hero,
seeming TO live over again the bloody events
OF that day, gave way to its spirit with wild
gestures, | saw then what my scrutiny of
the morning had failed 10 discoyer-the IL
ger which lay concealed beneath the gentle
exterior.
You must have been hurt almost TO
DEATH" said.
There were eleven buckshot in me. |
carry some OF them now. was cut in
thirteen places. All Of them bad enough to
let out the life Of man. But that blessed
old DR.. Mills pulled me safe through IT, after
bed sege Of many long week"
What prayer of yours Bill, may have
been moro potent for your safety than you
think. You should thank God for your
deiverance.'
ITO tell you the truth, Kernal' respond
ed the scout with certain solemnity In his
grave face, al don't talk of SIGH ter the