Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-06
Kansas Bill ON Guard.

The Chicago Times, in an account of the
strike, says: When one of the handsome
privates of the first regiment was ordered
to keep the crowd off the platform of one
of the depots the other day, he doubtless
thought it was about as easy and peace
full duty as q soldier could be called,
upon to perform. Keeping the crowd off
the platform! Pshaw, what was easierl
And the proud warrior pranoed proudly
to the place assigned him, and grasping
his gun firmly. to call general attention
to the dangerous weapon, said: Nov,
stand back, gentlemen"
A crowd, no matter how peaceably in
clined its component members may be,
is rude,s impoIite, unfeeliug thing.
Friction produces irritation The most
amiable man in the world is generally %
selfish brute in q crowd. This crowd was
as obnoxious as any crowd ever is. 1t
failed in the most exasperating manner
to appreciate the dignity of the young
soldiers position. 1t absolutely seemed
to lose sight of the fact that he was there
at all. 1t punched his elbows into his
ribs. 1t trsdmon his toes. 1t got him
somehow inextrioahly mixed-up with his
gun and cross belt and cartridge box.
He couldn't tell exactly which was which.
As long as he couldn't keep off the crowd
he Wished from the deepest depths OF his
heartA that the crowd would keep off him.
Once IN awhile piping voice could be
heard coming somewhere from the strug-
Cling mass OF heads, elbows and shoulders
saying: Now, gentlemen. you must
stand back. I've got orders to keep you
back
The train of which were the regulars,
whom the crowd was waiting to see, ar
rived just as the big bunion of the SOL
dier's left foot had exploded under a
crushing pressure, and lust as he was con-
templating the expediency of trying the
effect of shot into the crowd.
!, The hardy, sun-bronzed Veterans filed
ofthe train and fell into line with mill
tug despatch. and precision. "The men
there do seem to mind your guard
much" So Tie captain to one of the e Off
GERS of the road. mo-" the latter re-
sponded reluctantly.
"Send Kansas Bill here" said the cap
tain OF the regulars to an orderly.
kansas Bill" big mountain-hard-
ened Indian fighter, with tawny, stray
Cling beard and long yellow locks, a Ia
poets of the Sierras, came forward a mo-
ment afterward and touched his cap.
BILL"
"Yaas, sir,' with another touch of his
cap.
bill, go up there and keep the crowd
off the platform.
"Yaas, sir.n
Kansas Bill hitched up his breeches,
whipped out bayonet from its sheath
and fastened it on his gun with more
racket than a company of militia could
make.
Kansas Bill had been used to rough
ways. He had fought Indians out West
so long that he had forgotten all the soft
ways he ever knew, if, indeed, he ever
knew any. He didn't say, "Now, gentle,
men, move off," Oh, no. He said, in q
coarse, uncultured voice, "Get out O. here
get out O. here, get out o. here, or I'll
grease my sticker with We. Do We hear
now2 Take that, take that" and during
these CALCULATIONS began swinging that
bayonet around in such wild and utter
" reckless manner that the mob rapidly
made way for him. Then he turned
around and gave several departing loaf
/ ers a savage prod. Then he grabbed his
gun by the stock, brought it to right
shoulder shift, and when he had finished
| this performance, he shifted his quid tc
the other side of his mouth, expectorate6
gleefully, and had the entire platform tc
! himself,