The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-08-10
LIFE ON THE FRONTIER.
PEr PICTURES OF SOME OF THE MEN
WHO SHOOT TO KILL.

'a.times that Mem Death--The Gun and
the Rope--SampIes of Adventurers who
Have No Fear.
"Tis funny how whisky scrapes a
nan s throat when he is not used to it.
he man who used this expression is
character. On the Southwestern from
ier his name is as familiar as household
kord. He was the terror of the Dor
er for many years, and has escaped
Bnching many tines. The lines which
ere introduce him give his tphrase
Ehen recovering from a spree. His
hroat was doubtless too familiar with
lad rum to be disturbed with anything
PISS than currycomb. He was
landing leaning against the counter
barroom in Silver City, New
Eexico, rs he made the above-quoted
Fmark. 1T was typical frontier gin
bill, and it was filled with strange
haracters. Here were two Indians
ting on a bench, a couple of
Funken freighters leaning against the
all, two regular soldiers half drunk,
no or three hunting dogs, several
7inchester rifles, pile of Indian
inkets and a half wagon load of
becimens of silver ore. A board
bvered with little red calico and a
hlf-dozen bottles stool for the bar.
Curly Bill was a harl man. and as
stood taking his whisky in this rude
lrroom he was perfect specimen of
rustler. His rude makeup of rough
Ents stuck in his boots, blue shirt,
ming red necktie and great sombrero
ded to bad counter ance much that
hs picturesque. He had knife in
S boot, two siX-shooters about his
aist, and was ready for frolic of any
nd, even at the risk of his life. He
as desperate of the dangerous sort,
d had killed many man. The boys
We b m ere Lit for having stocked a
ivate graveyard, and he was conse-
emily hero.
The drink was hardly down before
trly Bill whipped out his revolver,
d, for amusement, shot hole
rough the top of one of the freight
; hats. They then all got to banter
each other about their skill as
srksmen, and walking out into the
Fd they went to shooting silver half
liars out of each others fingers at
enty PAGES. Curly Bill soon tired
this monotonous excitement, and
ked one of the soldiers to hold up a
ver piece. The soldier agreed, and
ice he sent his bullet against the
n, but the third time, for pure devil
fnt, he shot the fellows front finger
When the soldier growled about
miss Curly Bills response was:
ph, 1 thought you had been soldier
G enough"
This ended the quiet sport for the
y. The men walked back into the
con, and l walked up to the farther
4 of the town. A few moments
erward a cry of fire was raised, and
gin-mill where Curly Bill and his
hpanions were was soon burned to
ground. While the building was
ming the clatter of horses hoofs
IS heard, and Bill and his compan-
S came riding up the street at rat
hg pace, and the landlord with them.
ley stopped at another favorite bar
m, and the landlord who had been
med oct said: "That cussed Curly
! got to shooting at the lamp and
her little too low, and it ex-
ded. He will pay the damages,
ugh"
jrinks were ordered for all the mot
crowd in the barroom, and then
y went to playing Spanish monte,
favorlte gambling game in the
e West. A few days after this
rly Bill barely escaped hanging for
se-stealing, and left for parts I'M
pwn. To-day there is a price upon
head in almost every territory. He
leen reported dead half-dozen
es, but he turns up in unexpected
ces to vex every community he
kes. Where he came from and
b he was before lie became a des-
ado no one knows. But he seemed
AVE had fair early training, and
ave drifted into this wild life from
ste for adventure.
Oh, hush p shouted long. lank
Nv, as he jumped upon a table
4 with rough men. The cause Of
JOY was the words of the dealer
tile keno bank, calling the num-
that made him winner of the pot.
am hard man, from Bitter Creek;
is bar meat, weigh 1000 pounds,
II like wolf, and the whiz of bull
is music in my ear" yelled the
bw, as he threw his sombrero off
a his Misunderstanding counte-
&C.
ne of the men who had been less
innate at the game hit him blow
er the ear just as he finished speak
and he fell like an OK. He picked
self up, looked quietly around the
e, and then said: "Well, this is
most sociable community l ever
ok. Come on, boys, let's liquor"
cost him IS to treat, but the ex-
ence he got was worth it.
hese two characters represent the
different classes of men you find
he border. The man who shouted
n he won the pot at the keno bank
braggart. He woull boast of
great exploits, of the horses he had
IN and of the men he had killed,