New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-09
q" POKER BILL"
AND KINDRED FEATURES OF FROM
TIER LIFE.


TWO BAD MEN-CRIME's WORK on PIONEER RAIL-
RoADs-CHANGING CHARACTER OF COMMUNITIES.
IFroM SPECIAL CORRESPOND Mt OF THE TRDUNE.]
FLAGSTAFF Arizona. Aug 1O.-"Poker Bill" is
not John Oakhurst, although he is professional
gambler. In fact, my experience goes to show that
gentlemen of Mr.. John Oakhursts type are ex-
tremey rare on the frontier. Poker Bill" may
have been endowed with an equally exalted spirit
but regret to state that during my stay here he
has been rudey buffated by fortune. His place of
business is in of the dozen rude log-huts burrOw-
ed into the hillside and shaded by the pines. Thence
Poker Bill emerged the other morning wearing
a grim and truculent aspect. and started rapidly
down the so-caled street. The loungers who sit all
day beneath the deers head nailed to the font OF
the chief store reused themselves from their patient
waiting for somebody TO" set up the pizen." and
originated the proposition that "somethln's up"
For once they unwittingly told the truth. Poker
Bill" took bis way down the track to the depo:-a
term applied to freight car fitted up as an office.
Presently he returned to his cabin and
when he reappeared his six-shoo:er
was beted to his side. The loungers
became vjsibly animated. When Poker Bill" was
seen to be bound for the depot again. air of cheer
full expectancy pervaded the group. Ii was felt
proper that either the Justice of the Peace the
store-keeper, who were sitting on barrels near the
bar, should invite the crowd to "irrIgato in view
OF the stirring times which had so suddenly come
upon them.
BADLY KNOCKED OUT.
Meantime Poker Bill " had teen stopped and
questioned by a friend who carelessly drawled in
parting: THAT thar station agents bad man."
But Poker Bill would not be deferred. His beady
eyes gttered wickedly and his hand softly caressed
the handle of his revolver When he disappeared
into the depot he looked the dime picture of
bloodthirsty and invincIble desperate. Among
tho leungers il was whispered that dispute had
arisen between Bill" and the station agent regard
ing the payment OF charges on an express bundle.
few bets quietly made on the question
whether the station agent would be killed or
MANNED. The Justice of the Peace. although fully
alive 10 the interest Of the OCCASION recollected
business elsewhere, for he had no desire 10 enter
into a relation unpleasantly antagonistic TO
Poker Bill"
Suddenly all the patient walters leaDed to their
feet. although there had been no sound of shots.
Such a sight as they beheld had never been seen
since Antelope Spring known TO the white man.
Out from the door Of the station agents car. plung
ing headlong to the ground, came Poker Bill"
propelled by terrific kick. He was without his
six-shooter" his waistcoat had b. en- torn off, and
his remaining clothing bad collected most Of the
dust from the floor. He gathered him.
self up, lodged under the car and ran up toward
the town. shielding his head with his arms and evil
IDENTIFY expecting to be followed by q bullet There
was no need of explanations. "What did yer do
with yer gun, Bill ~ asked one of the noIonger
respectful crowd as he PASSED. lett it, snared
bill, and the point wasnot pressed, as bill" was
known to possess other weapons. He equipped the
Justice and two others with sbotguns and rifles.
Thus heavily loaded the force moved upon the car
and demanded the return OF Bits" gun and waist
coat. Having obtained thee articles, accompanied
by much satirical language from the agent Bill"
retired his CABIN. From its door tbrou !hout the
day ISSUED mighty stream of highly favored and
pcturesquely enbellIshed profanity. Poker
BIlPs" sun had set and his enemies had seen his
fall. Nevertheless the great saw-m IN the opening
across the track buzzed on as usual The cool wind
swept down IRON the MOUNTAINS through the pines,
but Poker Bill" cursed himself with exceeding bit
because he had failed to add fifteenth grave
to the little Boot Hill Cemetery" near the corral,
where eleven out of the fourteen dead cano to their
deaths by violence.
AMENITIES OF RAILROAD BUILDING.
For the route of the new road which has opened
Northern Arizona has. like the course of every
Western railroad been stained again and again with
blood Back at Coolidge. five desperadoes held the
town in terror some two years since, until brief
but stirring conflict left three rutfians dead, one
diving and .wo citizens pierced with balls.
Hero at Far at. The heart of the great pine
forests the caiaps wood-choppers and tie-cutters
offered ready asylum to thugs and outlaws. Every
new railroad the far West has been full of cost TO
human life First come the engineers daring the
perils of Indians and the wilderness. Then follow
the gangs of "navvies," who build the dump and
lay the ties andrais rough, wild set. the refuse of
the cities. With them come swarms Of blood
suckers, gamblers thieves and keepers of dance
halls, careless whether they a mans money by
a rirged faro bank, or hold him up" or shoot him
in the back dark night No one knows their
origin. They disappear on the completion
of the railroad and knows where they
CO. They leave few graves behind Them and
these deep woods are Swallowed by many an un-
known tragedy.
Life at the head of railroad is like life nowhere
else. The laborers are a source of profit TO every
one except themselves. They eat and sleep in long
trains of freight cars; and their eating and sleeping
fill the pockets of some contractor They build
the road and receive their wages. and the wa are
promptly transferred TO the keeper of some gambling
tent groggery, or dance hall. Finally they dis
charged They return cooped up like cattle in flight
cars they make for the mining camps or provided
with 'tie pass" they pack their blankets on their
backs aud set out on the tramp along the track.
Tho best of them are kept for the section gangs;
the others vanish utterly away. With their depart
ure anc that OF their attendant evil spirits calm
succeeds the storm. The stranded gambler talks
mournfully of the lively times when the road was
here" but the Eastern visitor possesses his soul in
peace and no longer fears to be held up" in the
street.