The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-11-11
The Festive Cow Boy.

FAduhc VI Nne COMbONS WHO OptT-
ate in Arizona. These lawless per
sons were made the subjects of a
proclamation issued in June last,
warning them to dispense, and
threatening the Intervention of the
military topreserye law aud order.
One notorious leader of the
gang OF cowboys, named "Curly
Bill" located himself at the end of
the San Simon Valley, and built "a
collection of huts. claiming to be
cattle men. They called it Cali
fornia City, and at times terrorized
the honest portion of the popula-
tion. 1t was common thing for
eight or ten of these cut-throats to
ride into California City, and enter
"a saloon, present pistol to the
barkeepers head, and demand that
the liquors be set out. AS the
fiery element warmed them up
they would often secure violin or
banjo aud improvise a regular
"stag dance.n Each fellow would
select partner from the crowd.
]
the musician would start up the
Arkansas Traveller" or some
other familiar tune, and the leader
would call out, Forward four
and the dance commenced. When
the figure, " Balance to your part
ners," was reached. many Il fellow
would "cut the pigeon-wing," and
the partner, not to be undone,
uldindulge some fantastic steps
which would do credit to the most
famed cl0g-dancer on the minstrel
boards. In the height of this rev
elry would begin a fusilade from
revolvers. Bang! bang! bang
and above the din the leader would
be heard calling out, "Tum your
partners, promenade all.n The
first figure being finished, every
fellow would begin to look at the
heels of his boots to see where
the bullet went. The result would
disclose that a large majority had
been hit about the heel with a bul-
let. This practice of shooting at
the heels of boots is common
among the cowboys; and so accu-
rate are they in their aim that an
accident seldom occurs. Shooting
the heels off one another's boots
is common recreation with them.
On the occasion of one of these
stag dancesn a cowboy who had
recently joined the gang partici-
pated. On examination at the
close of the first figure one Of the
members was found to be shos
through the foot. The festivities
were suddenly stopped. The lead.
er announced that an investigation
would at once begin to ascertain
the guilty party. A mock court
was convened, "Curly Billn was
selected for judge. Cone was
made sheriff. Tom Harper was
chosen clerk. The sheriff arrest.
ed the new member as the guilty
party, A prosecuting attorney
was chosen and the court assigned
counsel. to defend the /. prisoner.
The fellow acting as prosecuting
attorney read an indictment charg-
ing JoePalmer with felony in at.
tempting to shoot the boot heel
off Abe Sanders. The prisoner
pleaded not guilty, but, after wit
nesses were examined, the jury re-
turned a verdict of guilty, and the
judge sentenced the accused for
execution at sunrise. Palmer was
shot at the time appointed.
The true inwardness of the kill
ing of Palmer transpired after
ward to be this: He had but a
short before joined the gang, and
they soon became convinced that
he was a "stool. pigeon" or in other
words. an informer. SO they de-
dermined to kill him. The method
above related was selected for
their amusement. The few respect
able and law-ablding people in the
section of Arizona where this oc-
CURED dared not open their mouths
or resist the desperadoes. SO ter
roized was the country that to have
done so would have been certain
death, coupled with the stealing or
destruction of whatever property
they might possess. The frequent
stage robberies, murders and in
cendiary fires prevalent in the Ter
ritory one year ago had their ori.
gin and were successfully carried
out through the completely of some
of the officers of the law with
"Curly Bilps' gang. TO prevent
the ventilation of the conspiracy
several men were assasinated.
R-S-Z