Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-09-16

WILD BILLS STORY.
It was In 1851, when guided de-
tacbment of cavalry who were CON-
ing in from Camp Floyd. We had
nearly reached the Kansas line, and
were In South Nebraska, when one
afternoon went out of camp to go
to the cabin OF an old friend of mine,
Mrs. Wastman. took only one OF
my revolvers with me, for although
the war had broken out, didn't
think 1t necessary 10 carry both my
pistols and in ordinary scrimmages
one is better than a. dozen, IL you
shoot straight. saw some wild tur-
keys ON the road as was going down
and popped one of 'em over, thinking
he'd be just the thing for supper.
"Well, l rode up. to Mrs. Walt
mans, jumped Off my horse and
went into the cabin, which Is like
most of the cabins on the prairie with
only one room, and that had two
doors, one opening in front, and the
t'other on yard like.n
"How are you Mrs. Mailman? ?" l
said, feeling as jolly AS you please.
The minute she saw me she turned
as white as sheet and screamed, sis
that you Bill? Oh my God they will
kill you!r "Who's going 10 kill me?''
said 1. There is two that can play
at that game.
ats M'Kandlas and his gang
There's ten of them and you've nc
chance. THEY'VE jest come here five
minutes ago. M'Kandlas was drag
cling poor Parson Shipleg on the
ground with a 1ariat round his neck
The preacher was most dead with
choking and horses tramping on him
M'Kandlas knows yer bringing In
that party of Rebel cavalry, and he
swears he will cut your heart out. =
Run, Bill, run! But it is too late
they are coming up the lane"
While she was talking l remem.
Der had but one revolver; and u loaC
gone out of that. On the table there
was q horn of powder and some little
bars of lead. ! poured some powder
In the empty chamber and rammeC
the lead after it by hammering the
barrel on the table, and had just cap.
ped the pistol when ! heard M'Kand
las shout:
"There's that id Reb. Wild Bill'.
horse; he's here, and we'll skin hin
alive!n
If had thought of running before
it was too late now, and the house
was my best holt-a sort of fortres.
like. l never thought l should leave
that room alive.n
The scout stopped in his story, rose
from his seat, and strobe back anC
forward IN state of great excite
ment.
II tell you what it is, Kernel" h,
remarked, after while, ~ don't mine
n scrimmage with these fellers rOunC
here. Shoot one or two of them ant
the rest run away. But all of M'Kan
dlass' gang were reckless, blo0dthirs.
ty devils who would fight as long a
they had strength to pull trigger.
had been in tight places, but that
one of the few times said my pray
ers."
"Surround the house and give him
no quarterv ' yelled M'Kandlas.-
When ! heard that, l felt rs quiet anC
cool as If was goin' to church.
looked around the room aud saw .
Hawkins rifle hanging over the bed
as that loaded? said / to Mrs
Mailman.
Eyes" the poor thing whispered
She was SO frightened she couldn't
speak out loud.
"Are you sure :" said 1, as l jump
ped to the bed and caught 1t from its
hooks. Although my eye did not
leave the door, yet l could see she
nodded, EYES," again. put the re.
volver on the bed, and just then
Nj Kandlas poked his nose in the
doorway, but jumped back when he
saw me with the rifle In my hand.
"COme in here, you cowardIy dog "
I shouted "come in here and fight
me! ~
M'Kandlas was no coward II he
was a bully. He jumped inside the
room with his gun leveled to shoot I;
but he was not quick enough. My
rifle ball went through his heart
He fell back outside the house, where
he was found afterwards holding tight
to his rifle, which had fallen over his
head.
His disappearance was followed by
yell from his gang and then there
was n dead silence. put down the
Tile anu tooh tnc itNOiNSit ohN ooih
to myself, "only six shots and nine
men to kill. Save your powder, Bill,
for the death hugs a.coming! j
don't know why ii was" continued
Bill, booking at me inquiringly, but
at that moment thugs seemed clear
and sharp. | could think strong"
There was few seconds Of that aw-
ful silence, and then the ruffians
came rushing In at both doors. How
wild they looked with their red,
drunken faces and inflamed eyes,
shouting and cursing. But l never
aimed more deliberately IN my life.
One two -three-fOur, and four
men fell dead
That didn't stop the rest. Two OF
them fired their bird guns ut me, and
then l felt sting run all over me-
The room was tull of smoke. Two
got close to me, their eyes glaring
out of the clouds. One 1 knocked
down with my tist-"you are out OF
my way for a WHILE" | thought; the
second ! shot dead. The other three
clutched me and crowded me on the
bed. l fought hard. l broke with
my hand one mans arm. He had
his fingers round my throat, before l
could get to my feet l was struck
across the breast with the stock of a
rifle, and felt the blood rushing out
of my nose and mouth. Then | got
ugly, and | remember got hold of a
knife, and then IL was all cloudy like,
and was wild, and | struck savage
D A