Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-12-02
The Bill. Heroes.

The most Astonishing crop the plains
ever produced was the one oil BIZ
heroes. If an ambitious frontiersman
named William CHANGED TO see an Indian
or kill a few bison, he at once took unto
bis name AN addition. and became q char
acter. But let IL not be supposed he was
a hero among his companions. To them
he ever remained plain Bill, or, at the
hest with Jones or Brown added, az the
ease might be- remember one particu-
lar tearnster whose name was william
Hobbs. He could not have placed bul-
lei from his carbinc in barn door at 100
PAGES. And yet. without any proyocation
whatever. he seized upon the word Call
fornia and wore II. although that wonder
ful State had never, 10 my certain kno.l-
edge. been favored with his presence.
This man had not been cut out for hero.
His becoming one was In direct violation
OF natures laws. He was fat, short OF
wind red. faced and timid as hare. As
tho frontiersmcn expressed II, having
never lost any Indians, hc could not be
induced by any consideration to find ONE.
However, By lying la wait for tourists
and correspondents, he often managed 10
get business az guide. lie had donned
suit Of buckskin made in st. Louis, and
would state to the gaping stranger: Ny
names California Bill here; over thar it's
'pacle. on count of my fightin' the tribe. "
He could not have told one Of the latter
from Digger yet soon the Eastern pa
pers came back with thrilling descriptions
Of this noted scout and Indian slayer.
Iron muscles wrapped in buckskin,
piercing eyes, dead shot at redskins
etc. And yet / have known this dead
shot 10 miss, four times in succession,
bison al fifty yards and on one occasion,
having mistaken Mexican herder for an
Indian, he fled 10 fast and far that he lost
hat ana pistol and ruined his horse. Aft
er this he was fain 10 20 East and per
ambulatc Broadway in long hair and dirty
buckskin, and be heralded by opened
m0uthed newsboys as "Forny Bill, the
Teller what chaws up the Injun nation"
These specimens are also apt TO fall upon
some cheap story.writer, who embalms
them as heroes, and gives them the tntree
Of saloons and hotels. But when forced
back by want 10 the hauDts oil the frontier,
tic breeclles Of skin, broad hat, and swag
ger are put away, and the usual garments
Of the plain adopted. Out there, where
the poverty Of spirit lurking beneath Is
known, u lions skin does not change the
gIlAfhHLsT DI the hBiiltHl DDtloHluE lie
Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill, whom met
often on the plains, much more fairly de
served their names. The former | knew
first as teanister, then bartender and
finally scout lie certainly knew more
about the plains than anyone ever met.
Wild Bill, during the years that ! was
cognzant Of his actions, filled at intervals
the positions OF scout, saloon-keeper,
refugee and Sheriff. The number Of per.
sons knew him 10 kill was five, three ut
Hays and two at Abilene. 1t seems rs IL
such men as Bill were designed by Proyi.
dencc 10 act as sort Of carniyore for
keeping down the increase of their species
In all Of my residence upon the frontier,
during which time sixty-two graves were
filled by violence, In no case was the muir.
der other than benefit 10 society.-E. W.
Webb, IN Ha5per's Hagaziae for Noeemder.