, 1877-12-15
Oregon Esill.
SOME FACTS ABOUT A NOTED SCOUT AND
HUNTER.

We clip the following from an East q.
ern paper and give it for the t?neft Of
thosc living in Oregon, who like oursclf,
never run across the subject of the ro-
mantle sketch "Oregon Bill"
"William Spence, alias Oregon Bill, is
in many respects a remarkable man.
Tn stature he is about five feet nine inch
es. His compressed lip and well set
jaws indicate determined will. His
nose is well shaped; his eyes are grew.
hut full of animation. and more especi-
ally when interested IN conversation. md
his forehead is well shaped and high
With these features he has long, flowing
black hair The whole personnel of the
mnn is pleasing 'and in marked contrast
with his reckless daring. He converses
intelligently and after the manner Of we'll
educated men. As hunter, trapper.
Indian fighter, marksmon and wanderpr
he is instlv noted. He hns hepn Tor
eight weeks, and is still. confined 10 his
bed from cnt in one Of his feet. He is.
however. cofvalescrnt.
His birth place ia Port Natal, South
Africa. and hc has hardly vet reached for
tv. His father having been killed in
battle his widow. with her son William.
the subject ~ this sketch. cmiprnted to
England. whore. through the influence
of friends. he soon wns placct. nj the
Roval Naval School Mt Greenwich. whore
his nr6grecs was satisfactory: hut he
could not he contented. His daring and
adventurous nature sought the sea, and
TO n man.ofwnr he went Tie wns Mt
sea for wears. and during the time dis
tinguiohed himself for hia bravery. in
two engagements with pirates on the
coast Of Africa. He participated with
credit 10 himself in the last war with
Russia. ind was Nrescnt at the fall &C
Ba'aklava. Becoming nverse IN heing
| further on the sna he came In America
and joined the Hudson Bay Fir Comra-
nv. For this Comnanv he travelled
much among the Indians. gathering rpI-
try. The ven; 1850 found him in Port
land. Oregon. From there he went 10 81.
Paul. Mimi, where "hr remained one
Winter and was emplovPd during That
that time nv General Solly in service
that was at once delicate and respnnsi-
hle, which lie discharged TO the entire
satisfaction of his commander. From
St. Paul he went to Kansas, and there
alternately engaged in driving tesms and
bnffalo hunting. From 1860 to 1865 he
was nm Indian fighter on the frontiers
of Kansas and Texas. and in an engage
ment with the rcd man on an OCCASION
in whicn the whites were victOrius. after
a bloody hand to hand fight he is said
u have killed seven warriors with his
pistol and h0wie knife. During this
period he 'anpnt ysome time in Missouri.
and was Mt Independence during General
Pice's raid. In 1879 he went East, at
tracing much attention. his exploits
having preceded him. His companions
were W. f. Cody, known as Btffal" Bill,
and ]. B. omahundra, alias Texas Jack.
In 1879 he was the bearer Of important
dispatches to Gen. Garcia, in Cuba,
which he safely delivered. Returning,
he came West, where he has since en-
gagged in trapping, hunting and acting
a. guide to foreign tourists. As an cyl
dence Of the mans wonderful accuacy in
shooting. and il must be said also Of
rccklessness, / will give two remarkable
instances. In Portland, Oregon, he had
friend, John O'Madipan. While
O'Madgisn was walking along the street
smoking his pipe, and at a distance OF
ten ieet, and ct about right angles, Bill
suddenly drew his pistol and fired, the
ball taking the pipe from the mouth Of
his friend, but doing him, no harm.
Again, last Fall, Bin was in Lake City,
with deer for sale, and seeing his old
friend o'Madigan passing up the street
on the opposite side, he called him.to
stop. When he had drawn his revolver
John did 50, facing him at the time.
Bill arcd,, and the ball passed thrsugh
the top ofshe hat Of his friend. o'Mad'
igsn in the best Of humor, called ont,
"Bnl, don't shoot any more; j. is too
close." The history OF this remarkable