Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-11-10

The most astonishing crop the Plains
ever produced was the one of ''Bill''
heroes. If an ambitious frontiersman
named William chanced to see an Indian
or kill few bison, he at once took unto
his name an addition, and became a
character. But let it not be supposed
he was hero among his companions.
To them he ever remained plain Bill,
or, at the best, with a Jones or Brown
added, as the ease might be. l remem-
Der one particular teamster whose name
was William Hobbs. He could not have
placed a bullet from his carbine in a
barn door at one hundred PAGES. And
vet, without any provocation whatever,
he seized upon the word California and
wore it, although that wonderful State
had never, to my certain knowledge,
been favored with his presence. This
man had not been cut out for hero.
His becoming one was in direct VIOLA
ton of natures laws. He was fat, short
of wind, red-faced, and timid as hare.
As the frontiersmen expressed it, having
never lost any Indians, he could not be
induced by any consideration to find
one. However, by lying in wait for
tourists and correspondents, he often
managed to get business as a guide. He
had dOnned a suit of buckskin made in
st. Louis, and would state to the gaping
stranger, ''My names California Bill
here; over thar it's 'Pache, on count of
my fightin' the tribe" He could not
have told one of the latter from Dig
ger; vet soon the Eastern papers came
back with thrilling descriptions of this
noted scout and Indian slayer. "1ron
muscles wrapped in buckskin, piercing
eyes, dead shot at redskins" and so
forth. And vet have known this dead
shot to miss, four times i'm succession, a
bison at fifty yards; and on one occa-
sion, having mistaken Mexican herder
for an In9ian, he fled so fast and far
that he lost hat and pistol and ruined
his horse. After this he was fain to go
East and perambulate Broadway i'm long
hair and dirty buckskin, and be hefalded
by open-mouthed newsboys as "Forny
Bill, the feller 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 entree of saloons and hotels.
But when forced back by want to the
haunts of the frontier, the breecnes of
skin, broad hat, and swagger are put
away, and the usual garments of the
plain adopted. Out there, where the
poverty of spirit lurking beneath is
known, lions skin does not change
the character ofthe animal borrowing it.
Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill, whom
met often on the plains, much more
fairly deserved their names. The for
mer knew first as teamster, then bar
tender, and finally scout. He certainly
knew more about the plains than any
one ever met. Wild Bill, during the
years that l was cOgnizant of his actions
filled at intervals the positions of scout,
salOon-keeper, refugee, and sheriff. The
number of persons l knew him to kill
was five, three at Hays and two nj
Abilene. 1t seems as if such men As
Bill were designed by Providence to aci
as sort of carniyore for keeping down
the increase Of their species. In all OF
my residence upon the frontier, during
which sixty-two graves were filled by
violence, in no case was the murder
other than benefit to society.