The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-09-15
WILD BILL, THE SCOUT.
what an Old Associate Says OF Him.


What an Old Associate Says OF Him.
Jack Malone, a frontiersman, fur
nishes the st. Louis Globe Democrat
with some interesting incidents in the
life of "Wild Bill, alias Jas. B. Hickok,
who was killed at Deadwood City
short time since by Jack Mccall,
Black Hills desperado. Hickok was q
native of Illineis, and his mother and
sisters yet live near Galena, in that State.
His brother (named William) is a wagon
boss in New Mexico. According to
Malone, Wild Bill was the only from
tiersman who would take his pistols off
and fight square fight with
any one who wanted to settle
q dispute in that way. He was al
ways anxious to avoid a quarrel, but, if
he found Inc was going to be forced into
one, took good care to get the drop on
his enemy, and he was sure shot. He
would rather indulge in poker than eat.
on one occasion having played in his
last earthly possession-a black and tan
terrier.
Bill was generous to fault (Mr. Ma
lone continued, in his remarks to the
reporter), and although he had found it
necessary to kill about O score Of men in
his time, still it is to be regretted that
he himself was shot down without
show" In 1860 Bill was driving bull
team ut Leavenworth, but afterward took
train to Denver, Col. One of his FIRST
fights was with gang in Dovertown,
two miles above Fort Kearney. He and
Bill Story killed three men there. He
was next heard of at Virginia City,
where great rivalry existed between two
sets of road agents, and n was there that
into the biggest fight of his life. He
cane across the plains as Union scout
with the Second Colorado in 1868.
While they were encamped on Walnut
creek, near Marysville, Kan, Hickok
called ON Mrs. Walters, having been
great friend of her husband. She
begged him, for Gods sake, to leave,
saying that ten men from Virginia City
had arranged to come and kill him,
"Well, little woman, don't be fright.
ened. Get behind the chimney, and
we'll stop 'em," was the scouts reply.
The gang finally surrounded the house,
and the leader shouted, Is Wild Bill
here 2" "Yes, come and get him, >" was
the answer, and two of the invading party
were shot dead as they endeavored to
enter. The others turned and ran. Bill
stepped to the door, rifle in hand, and
at distance of $50 yards shot and in
stantly killed third one of the party.
He always considered this the best shot
he ever made.
In 1866, while the deceased was keep
ing livery stable at Springfield, No..
he 9uarreld with Joe Tut over card
table, and next day Mr.. Tut was
gathered to his fathers-being shot
through the heart in the public square.
Wild Bill never waited to see the effect
of his shot, but wheeled on TUFTS
friends, and asked if any more shooting
was wanted by them. They appeared
to be satisfied.
In 1868 Hickok turned up as Sheriff
of Ellis county, Kan, with headquar
ters at Hays City. A fellow named Sam
Strawhan had followed him from Spring
field to avenge the death of Tut; but
Wild Bill got the drop on him, and he
fell dead, shot through the neck by the
man who never missed his mark. The
next man whose turn it was to die at the
hands of Wild Bill was Bill Mulvey, q
notorious rough from st. Joseph, Mo.
He was shot back of the right ear. For
this service Sheriff Hickok was rendered
vote of thanks.
Wild Bills next difficulty was with eight
or ten soldiers of the Seventh Cavalry,
who invited him into bar-room at
Hays to take drink. While standing
at the bar he was knocked down by one
of the blue coats. The minute he struck
the floor his pistol was out, and, unfor-
tunately, he killed man who was trying
to make peace, and also another who par
ticipated in the attack. Hickok then
fed, and subsequently, turned up as
Marshal of Abilene, Kansas. Here il
was that he killed brother of Mccall,
the mau that murdered him.
During the last year or two Bill had
been playing the gentleman in Kansas
City, St.. Louis, and elsewhere, organ
izing Black Hills expeditions, etc.