Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-12-24
BILLY FISHER.
His Remarkable Experiences on the Plains
and His Meeting with Horace Greeley.


'sThere is the most noted man among
as" said prominent member of the
Utah delegation, drawing a reporters
attention to small, full-faced man with
pair of square shoulders and form as
straight as an arrow. THAT is Billy
Fisher, of Oxford, and he has seen some
tight places, where hair-raising was as
common as bees in bottle"
Being introduced to Mr.. Fisher, the
reporter asked him for little informa-
ton about himself.
Billy showed his modesty by MAX
ing an excuse to get away, but the re-
porter held on, and finally Mr. Fisher
said:
'.In 1854 left Kansas City whacking
bulls across the plains. Not long after
I reached Salt Lake City and engaged as
mail agent between Salt Lake and Cali
fornia. The mail in those days left twice
a month from each end of the line.
Later ran from Ruby Valley to Reese
River, distance of one hundred and
eighty-five miles. The mail was strapped
on pack mules back, and you can
guess that we didn't make railroad time.
had not been running the mules very
long when Miller. Russell & Co. got the
stage contract. and the pack mule sys-
tenn was abolished. Then l kept sta
ton at Grayely Ford on Humboldt
River, where white man. face was not
seen once in month. We used to cook
our meat in pang-going-go-pang-goo-
runy-kotob-enim-m -me-me-me.
IA what?'
Billy smiled as he explained to his
nearer that he meant a stove, and had
merely used the Indian name for it.
''My Indian name was Tosowich,
which, when interpreted, means White
kniIe, given to me on account of a very
fine ivory-handled knife that 1 carried
in those days. There met the famous
chief Paraguiuump, the fellow who,
with his band of Piute warriors, mas
sacred General Ormsby and company
of United States soldiers in the year
1857. After the pack mule was aban-
eAoned, we had the stage-line, which ran
tri4weekly- People thought that no
quicker means would ever be accom-
plished than the stage line Horace
Greeley passed over the line about that
time, and remember cooking his meat
On the pang-"
'.Never mind the stove" suggested
the reporter, and Bill continued:
''Old Horace was loved very dearly by
Western people, and when he reached
Placerville, Cal, the people tore his
coat off him and ripped it into shreds,
keeping them as souvenirs. Mr.. Greeley
was accompanied by Ben Holladav, the
greatest stage man the West has ever
known. A few years later the stage
coach was neglected as mail-carrier.
and the pony express was established. L
was the first man." said Mr.. Fisher,
modestly, selected to make trip. 1t
was from Rugby Valley, Nevada, to
Butte Station, then called Robbers
Roost. made my first ride, dis
lance of forty-fve miles, with only two
horses, in three hours and ten
minutes. Six months later the
'Go-shoot' Indians took to the war
path, killing thirty of our riders,
station-keepers and water-haulers.
was then making ride, carrying the
mail from Ruby to Salt Lake, distance
of three hundred miles. The Indians,
jubilant over their victories, seemed to
forget that l would be along, and
camped for the night. They did not
notice me until had passed, then they
mounted and took after me. 1t was a
race for life, pony against pony. For
p five hours we kept going. they firing at
l1C Wltfl Ills anu dIIo~S-
their aim was poor and nay pony proved
the best of the lot, and soon left them
far behind. 1 reached Salt Lake City
in safety, mail and all, having made the
trip in thirtytwo hours, using seventeen
horses. didn't get a wink of sleep
during that time The horse that saved
my life was called Bucking Billy. On
him I made seventy-five miles in six
hours. My escape was miraculous.
When dismounted my saddle was rid
died with bullets, but my horse and N.Y.
self were not touched.
1.-The pony express lasted eighteen
months, then came the telegraph. At
one time four of us were showed up in
the mountains with NO means of obtain
ing food, when Providence sent us
stray wolf, which Ralph Lezier killed,
and we all partook of a hearty meal.
Poor Ralph, he is dead now, having fell
a victim to the knife of the Piutes, and
his scalp adorns some wigwam to-day.
q One of the most touching scenes and
acts of heroism of Western life
has never been made public.
1t happened i'm this way: John Apple
gate was stationed at Dry Greek with
several others, when they were attacked
by Indians. All were killed except APP
plegate, who was wounded. Silas Nc
Candles and Lafayette Ball, two former
riders of the line, were camped a few
miles away. They heard the firing and
ran to the assistance of their fellow men.
They were Mortified at the scene. APP
plegate was too badly wounded to move,
and begged the boys to run for their
lives The Indians returned and out
numbered the gallant boys twenty to
one They refused to run, and John
took his pistol and blew out his brains
SO that the boys could save themselves.
was at Deep Creek at the time, two
hundred and five miles away. The news
of the death of my friends reached me
and made the run in twenty five hours,
using three horses. Two companies of
cavalry were dispatched under Lieuten-
ants Ward and Perkins, and the mar
auding Indians were wiped out of ex-
istence."
Mr.. Fisher is now fifty years of age,
but can mount a broncho as actively as
ever. He is at present engaged in imer-
,chandizing and cattle raising and has a
pretty home among the valleys and dales
of Utah--St. Louis Republican.
THE TERROR.