Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-10-30
Wild Bill HicAk'S Rnmar.ca

Lailin Mills, rs we were borne south-
ward over the Chicago and Alton road
one afternoon last week. ..Bil! and |
had an entire sleeping car to ourselves
from Kansas City to Chicago. Whenf
introduced myself to him | was "A little
surprised and quite pleased to lcarnA
his identity. He was Il fine lookiO
man, past forty years Of age, with re-
markable eyes-quick and restless as a
greyhound's, bright and clear, and the
color of cold, blue steel. He was "A
vain fellow, and justly proud of his
hands, which were small, white and
shapcly.
'Of course | talked to him about
himself. asked him how many men
he had killed. He replied that he had
killed thirty-two in private fights and
he didn't know how many he had killed
in the war Of the rebellion and in from
tier skirmishes. He related many of
his shooting experiences, and added,
impulsivcly, that he had never killed a
man unJustly--that in his fights he had
always been in the right. said, Ger
talnly, Mr.. Hickok; | have no ioubtA
it, You can readily see that | did NJ
care to take issue with him on that
question.
He said he was born and raised in
La Sale county, H., and had gone
west when he was a Young man,
twenty-five years before. He WAS at
the time marshal Of AbiliEe, Kas., a
very bad town. where he had in his Of
fetal administration Killed six men in
a. many months. IL was compelled %
do this, he SAID. TO restore order. as the
cowboys had taken possession Of the
town. and the good people of Abiline
had made him marshal, knowing that
nc loved peac" and would have il.
ii asked him if hc had ever visited
Chicago. He said be- had, a few wears
before our meeting. and then he told
me the one gentle romance of his life.
General Phil Sheridan and party
had engaged Bill rs u guide on a buf-
falo hunting expedition. Shei idan
took II liking TO Bill and insisted upon
his returning to Chicago with him and
making II visit. Eli came and re-
manned for some time at S~heridan's
house. The first Sunday after | got
to Chicago said Bill. Sheridan said to
me that he was going to church and
would like to have me 90 along. |
said | hadn't been to church for TWEEN
ty years, but Id just as lief 90. So
we went to Plymouth church down on
Wabash or Michigan avenue.
The fellow at the door knew Sheri
dan, n he took us way up in front
near the preacher. About the time the
sermon began an old. white-haired man
and a young lady came into the pew
in front of us. | could see only the
side OF the woman's face, but | felt
sure | knew her. | didn't hear the
sermOn at all; | Just kept looking ut the
woman with a strange sort of feeling
AS if | was haunted, and my thoughts
kept going back to when | was = boy
down in LaSalle county.
''Well, when we all got up TO receive
the bcnediction | saw the young wo-
macs face, and my heart come right
up into my neck, for | knew her.
There was the only woman | ever loved.
and loved her ever since | was n boy,
down in LsSalle county. She was
Maria Baldwin, and the old man was
her father. Herman Baldwin. | won't
tell You why didn't marry her, but
my love for her was one Of tho reasons
why went out west.
"When saw her face and knew who
she was, ! just holted down the aisle
and out Of the church. and stood guard
~ the door waiting for her. When
she came out went up to her and
said: ''Maria, do you know mc?" She
looked at me a minute, ind said:
"'No. sir: l do not" .
We'll, said |, kind-a-bracing Mp,
II am Willie Hickok."
"'Well, You should-a seen her. The
tears came in her eyes. and she too
my hand in hers and held it. She tJs-
the old man who | was. and the old
man said Why. Bill. is that your ami
he shook my hand and was glad to see
me. Then both of thrm insisted on my
going to dinner with them, and | went.
We talked all the afternoon and away
into the night about old times down in
LaSallc county. and | ten YOU it was
the happiest day Of my life. Bat |
couldn't stand il 10 STAY in Chicago any
longer, and started - he west the
next day
Il was much interested IN this story"
resumed Mr., Minis. "tor | knew Mr..
Baldwin, and | felt more kindly toward
Wild Bill.' | asked II nj il he expected
10 return To the west after his visit t.
Chicago. He SAID he did. and iha
when he left me he would bid me good
by forever. He had ma e a great
many desperate enemies, and from his
calculation Of the law of chances he
could not live more than a wear. HA
expected to be shot and t. die with hi
boots on. Sure enough. within ten
months of the time | met him on the
train he was shot in the back and
killed in a saloon out west.
The NasGaphnsatts branch ~ thn TraroI