Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-12
BLOODY BILL, THE TERROR,
His Meeting with n Quiet Stranger in
a Texas BRrrOOm.

a Texas BRrrOOm.
From the Houston Post.
"Thoopla, whoop!" thundered hairy. her.
cuiean, heavily-armed terror Of terrible fellows
as he kicked open the rickety door OF the
Frontier saloon and glanced threateningly upon
the quiet crowd within. With quiet swaggel
and many horrible oaths he advanced to the bal
and said:
flows biz ter-day. Toddyman?"
Dull. Bill, dull. Can't yer help me out?'
'of co'se can-an' WILL answered the ter
rOr
Turning, he called out to the loafers scattered
about the room:
Come up, hyer, come up. yer id coyotes!
an treat yo'sets, an me, too, at yO' own ex-
pense. That's right" he continued. as the ten
or twelve persons addressed sprang nimbly
from their key perches and smilingly expressed
their willingness to accept any invitation, how
ever worded, the said terror might extend
Hump er long. -, an in q hurry" he
growled, savageiy, as he noted one solitary ex-
cepflon to the unanimity of the acceptances.
"or by the crook of my elbow I'll hurt yer; hurt
yer bad
Inc single exception, however, quietly re-
tanned MS seat, and neither by gesture nor
speech did he show the slightest consciousness
OF the presence and the language OF the most
famous and Infamous, desperate and dreaded
devil that had ever frightened western sheriff
into temporary ciyiity
Great was our TerrOr's amaZement and greater
his wrath when he became convinced that it was
aetuallythe intention OF the rash stranger to ig-
more MN ana his mandatory invitation. With
huge, self-acting revolver In hand, he started
toward him. AS he approached nearer the silent
unknown uncOiled his long legs, and extended
himself gradually upward, and upward. and up
ward until at last he presented to our aston
ished vision the towering form of the tallest and
tninnpSf mortal had
When within three or four feet the Terror
paused and said: II gives yer tn understan I'm
Bloody Bill, the terror Of Sherrufs an the pat
tern saint Of undertakers. Dyer hear me?''
"Oh, yes; I'm not deaf" was the reply, In a
cool, steady voice.
AN I'm the favOrite Of hell an the rival of
de'th an docktors," continued the desperadO.
''First-rate record, that" was the reply.
I'm jumping jumbo-am the very fe'ther
that broke the camers back-Tm Texas steer
saw-an yer! look out. for I'm gOin'
ter shoot" simultaneously with the elevation
OF the revolver, the strangers foot flew forward
and upward, the ball meant for his heart went
crashing harmlessly through the roof-and then
with rapidity OF movement that gave to his
russell brogan the appearance of a chunk of
lightning in mighty hurry he kicked Bloody
Bill under the chin. behind the ear in the stOm-
ach, in the back, on the chin with first one foot
and then the other, and so effectually, too, that
tfiC dStOHsHcu dilu tUOTOuSUly sIOCkeu mall
eater found it impossible to use single one of
the half dozen weapons attached to his belt. But
the terror was really brave. and he struggled
pluckily to uphold and preserve the sanguinary
reputation so dear and profitable to him. until
his slim and supple antagonist finally termina-
ted the fight by dOuble-foOted kick that
stretched Bloody Bill prone and breathless upon
the floor.
When restored to consciousnesshe approached
the great unknown and said:
Fur de las'-but, fust what shall call yer /?
Gener'l-DOOk-Presde
Plain mister" said the other.
"What! Yer plain mister' exclaimed the
terror, incredulously.
"JussO."
"Allright, all right, sense you say so; by thun-
der! yer deserve prOmOshun. Now. mister, for
sum years I've thOt was a whole menag'ry in
myself lyon, elephint. wulf, an all that-but
Ill be darned eff hit don't look ter-day like I'd
been runnin twO-bit side show all er along
Eff argreeyble, sir, I'd like to Earn who an what
yer air.
81" replied the stranger. in deep, grave
voice. "am the Great Amerikin Mule"
God be thanked" gasped the trembling Ter
ror, "that you didn't have on yer iron shoes"
How the Ku KIux Made Impressions.
From The Century
The Khan had large membership; 1t exerted
vast and terrifying power; but its influence
"e"o nv WI at any tllit UtptLucut Ou. VI
toned to, its membership. 1t was in the mys-
terry in which the comparatively few enshrouded
themselves. 1t is an error to suppose that the
entire male population of the south were Ku
klux, or even a majority of the people were
privy to its secrets and in sympathy with it's
EXTREMIST measures. To many OF them, per-
hars to majority, the Ku Klux Khan was as
vague. impersOnal and mysterious as to the
people of the north. or of England; they dido
to this day-attribute to it great good
One or two incidents will illustrate the
methods resOrted TO to play upon the supersti-
tious fears OF the negroes and others. At the
parade In Pulaski. while the procession was
passing corner on which negro man was
standing, a tall hOrseman in hideous garb turned
aside from the line, dlsmounted and stretched
out his brIdIerein toward the negro, as if he de-
sired him to hold his horse. Not daring to re-
fuse. the frightened African extended his hand
to grasp the rein. AS he did so, the ku KIux
took his own head from his shoulders and offered
to place that also in the outstretched hand The
negro stood not upon the order of his going, but
departed with yell of terror. To this day he
will tell you: "He done It, suah, boss | seed
him do it," The gown was fastened by draw
string over the top OF the wearers head. Over
this was worn an artificial skull, made of q large
gOurd or of pastebOard. This, with the
hat, could be readily removed. and the
man would would. then appear to be headless
prevalent among the negroes-that the Ku Klux
could take themselves all to pieces whenever
they wanted to. Some of the ku Klux carried
skeleton hands These were made Of bone or
wood, with a wrist or handle long enough to be
held in the hand, which was concealed by the
sleeve Of the gown. The possessor Of one of
these was invariably of a friendly turn and
offered to shake hands with all he met, with
what effect may be readily imagined. A trick Of
frequent preparation in the country was for q
nj ov,6 II,
before the cabin of some negro needing a
wholesome impression and call for bucket of
water. II dpper or gOurd was brought it was
and the bucketful of water demanded.
AS if consumed by raging thirst, the horseman
grasped it and pressed it to his lips He held
1t there till every drop of the water was poured
into gum or oiled sack concealed beneath the
Ku Kux robe. Then the empty bucket was re-
turned to the amazed negro with the remark:
That's good. 1t is the first drink of water /
have had since was killed at Shiloh" Then
few words OF counsel as to future behavior
made an impression not easily forgotten or
likely to be disregarded
The Hot Car Stoves.
From the Boston Transcript
'My! how hot it is?" exclaimed fleshy lady
IA, entering the car, her eyes fell upon the
stove. "What an idea! A fire such day as
his! What in the world are they thinking OFF,"
And she shoves up the window and fans herself
ike all possessed.
An elderly gentleman next enters. He sits
Town to read his newspaper first glancinp at