Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-09-13

How n Cowboys Arsenal Fright
ened the PugiIistie Champion
Out of His Wits.


John L. sullivan told me a good
story Of his Western trip" said Buff
falo Bill. HE told il in this way: 4
arrived 10 Kansas City late In the
afternoon, aud when | finished my
exhibitions it was IL o'clock. |
strolled into a bar Of a hotel, intend.
ing to take a "nightcap" and 90 to
bed, but I'd hardly put my nose in-
side that room before a fellow with
long hair. big spurs, a widebrimmed
hat and a buckskin coat, slapped me
on the back
You're John l.. Sullivan, amt
your" ses he.
That's my name. SEES |.
Wa you've got the name Of be.
ing handy with your props, now ,havn't
ye; but | want yer ter distinctly I'M
derstand that | could kill yer inside
Of half a second. I'm handy with my
shooter, | am
When | heard that | wanted to
handle him very light, so said |, Come
and have a drink.
Don't mind whether | drink or
fight, SEES he; say the word an Ill do
either, --- you,
"And with that be threw his arm
around my waist as we walked toward
the bar. Thinks /, If | put my paw
around him I'll have him sure il it
comes to the worst and | slung my
right arm around him. But heavens
when | struck that arsenal around his
waist and felt that | didn't know what
time he might shoot, my arm went
like that shaking il and | dropped
it quicker than lightning. | set up
the drinks and kept settin' them up
in the hope hal he'd get SO drunk he
couldn't see to shoot, but the more he
drank the steadier he got, AT lait ses
he:
Come down street apiece till | in.
troduce you to my friends
"'0h, Lordl' thought l, but | was
afraid Of offending him if | refused,
so out on the street we went. We
didn't go far, but by the light Of the
gas lamps and stores | could see that
the street was full Of cowboys
Come in here said my guide,
when we came to a tough looking
saloon crowded with tougher looking
men. Gentlemen. this here is my
friend, John L. Sullivan, and if any
one of yer SEES ali, yes or turkey to him
I'll bore holes in YER They made
way for US at the bar and | shook
hands all round. and they griuned as
if they'd ike the fun Of shooting
pieces out Of me.
Says l, let me order these drinks
All, you - says he, my credits
good here. Bsrkeeper, give us some
fire, and be quick about it. Yer John
Il. Sullivan, eh? Well, dyer know
who | am --- your
mo, sir said |.
"'Well, I'm Comanche Jim, the
killer from Killers Town. Oh, I'm a
wolf, VOW; and it's my duty to howl
VOW. VOW
And with that he drew two shoot.
ers and danced on the floor and blazed
away at tho lights and bottles, the bar
keepers lodging around to get out Of
the way.
u had been getting more and more
scared all the time, and this finished
me. | was just sure he was getting
wound up to go for me, and | de-
termined to sloop while the walking
was good. So said l:
Excuse me, | want to speak to the
landlord and backed towards the
rear door.
Nov | want you back IN a = of a
hurry, said he, Mr.. John L.Sull,van.
champion of the East
II put out, and he sent two balls
after me as a reminder. One cut
through the tail of my coat and an
other put a hole in my hat. Hurry
up, John l.. Sullivan | could hear
him shouting.
u got out in the back yard, in a
region Of seven foot fences, but a seven
foot fence was nowhere. | don't be
lieve | touched that fence or the next
three fences, as | struck aoross lots
for my'hotel. Some mar at an upper
window Of one of the houses | passed
took a flying shot at me with a rife,
but that only made me 60 the faster.
| climbed 10 the back window at my
hotel, made a break up stairs, bolted
my window and door and tried to 60
to sleep. | could hear an awful row
begin down stairs in a few minutes.
and knew my friend had come for me.
A perfect battle ragged below for a
time, but after a time it ceased, and
| could hear them carrying out the
dead, | thought. | didn't get a wink
OF sleep until near morning, when |
dozed off into a horrible dream about
Comanche Jim standing on my neck
and ohopping my ear with his Bowie
knife. You can bet all you are worth
that | skipped cut Of that place right
at daybreak."