The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-03-22
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bis hair and complexion were those of the
perfect blonde. The former was worn in un-
CUT ringlets, falling carelessly over his power
fully formed shoulders. Add to this figure
costume blending the immaculate neatness of
the dandy with the sxtravagant taste and
style Of the frontiersman, and Won have
''Wild Bill" then as now the most f,mops
scout on the Plains.
Whether on foot or on horseback, he was
one of the most perfect types of physical man
hood ever saw. OF his courage there could
be no question; it had been brought to the
test on too many occasions to admit of
doubt. His skill in the use OF the rifle and
the pistol was unerring; while his department
was exactly the opposite of what might be ex-
pected from man of his surroundings. 1t
was entirely free from all bluster or bravado.
He seldom spoke of himself unless requested
to do so His conversation, strange to say,
never bordered either on the vulgar or BIAS
phemous. His influence among the frontiers
men was unbounded, his word was law; and
many are the personal quarrels and disturb
ances which he has checked among his COM
rades by his simple announcement that "this
has gone far enough" if need be followed by
the ominous warning that when persisted in
or renewed the quarreller ''must settle it with
me-" .- '''.-.--.-.
wild Bill'' is anything but quarrelsome
man; yet no one but himself can enumerate
the many conflicts in which he has been en-
gagged, and which have almost invariably re-
suited in the death of his adversary. l have
personal knowledge OF at least dozen men
whom he has at various times killed, one of
these being at the time member of my COM
mand. Others have been severely wounded,
yet he always escaped unhurt. On the Plains
every man openly carries his belt with its
appendages, knife and revolver, often two of
the latter. "Wild BilP' always carries two
handsome ivory-handled revolvers of the large
size he was never seen without them. Where
this is the common custom, brawls or person.
al difficulties are seldom If ever settled by
blows. The quarrel is not from word to a
blow, but from word to the revolver, and
he who can draw and fire first is the best
man. No civil law reaches him; none is ap-
piled for. In fact there is no law recognized
beyond the frontier but that of ''might makes
right" Should death result from the quarrel,
as it usually does, no coroner's jury is inn
pannelled to learn the cause of death, and the
survivor is not arrested But instead of these
old fashioned proceedings, meeting of citi-
zens takes place, the survivor is requested to
be present, when the circumstances of the
homicide are inquired into, and the unfailing
verdict Of '.justifiable," "selfdefense'', ETC.,
is pronounced. and the law stands vindcated
That justice is often deprived of victim
there is not doubt. Yet in all of the many
affairs of this kind in which ''Wild Bill'' has
performed part, and which has come to my
knowledge, there is not single instance in
which the verdict of twelve fair-minded men
would not be pronounced in his favor.-''My
Life on the Plains" By Gen. G. A. Custer,
in April GALAXY.