Richland beacon., 1888-04-21
NOBODY'S DARLING.
The Blood -Curdling Stories a Cow
boy Evangelist Tells.
TFrom the s.. Paul Pioneer.

TFrom the s.. Paul Pioncorl
The announcement that Charles W.
Hiltz, the converted COWBOY" Was to
speak at the young mems meeting at
Westminster Church yesterday after
noon attracted rather larger audience
than usual. Anybody who supposed
from the announcement that Mr.. ltiltz
is any ''spring chicken" in the cowboy
business was very much mistaken. He
is still young man, and although lie
has an honest face he he's square jaw
and general look on his "mug" that
would seem I, indicate that he could he
pretty dangerous sort of a cowboy if
he wanted to be. But he isn't cow
boy any more. For some nineteen
months he has been engaged in evan
gelistic work, in which he is very ear
nest and efficient.
The story he told yesterday WAS sim
pie and straightforward, and oil the
more graphic and impressive ON that nc
count. 1t was a brief Occount of his
life up to the present time. He was
born in Baltimore, and ran away from
home at very early age. At the end OF
two wears he WAS so bad that when he
went home nobody but his mother
would have anything to do with him.
His own father advertised him IN the
papers. From that time he rapidly grew
more tough and desperate, and as his
hand was against every man and every
mans hand was against him, he got the
name of "NobOdy's Darling" which he
bore up to the time of his conversion.
He finally drifted out on the plains,
where for many years he found con
genial field for his eccentricities. He
worked on ranches and he drove
stage, but it got SO he couldn't keep a
place more than two weeks. He was
fighting and drinking all the time, and
had many experiences. He was many
times chased by the Indians and some
| times chased them. Sometimes, too, he
would sleep out Oh the plains with only
the howling winds and bowling coyotes
for company.
His simple accounts of some OF his
fights were quite refreshing. For in
stance, at one place where lie went t(
work he got into fight with one of the
men the first meal. He picked the fel
low up and threw him into the middle
Of the table, and followed him will
such force that the table wds split II
we, nh. ~ .,....i, ;iI4,, All C'., a
down IN ~ Il ", v,cre ia y lad it ou
together. He didn't work long at that
place. He must have been formidable
sight in those days, with his long hair
his rough beard, his big white hat OF
which was written his name, "NObody'
Darling" in letters so large that the,
could be read rods away. And all hi
garb was in keeping. As he roame'
about, swearing horrible Oaths, it wa
enough to drive terror to the heart of
timid man. And even those who wer
terribly courageous didn't banker afte
tussle with "Nobodys Darling" i
this garb and without doffing any of hi
personal characteristics, by some I'LL
cantrollable impulse-divine guidanc
he now considers it-he came "East" a
the way to Iowa. He made o big ser
satiOn wherever he went.
For instance, he would go into stor
and pass down the whole length of II
swearing SO horribly that the citizens
were struck dumb with terror. In on
| place Ln0C uo WIS Ill Tie NctIIOulSto Wei
holding a camp meeting, or, as he e,
pressed it at the time. "raising hell an
keeping a fellow from getting an
Sleep But lie got to going to til
meetings, and at one of them he wa
converted. He tried to get up and sa
something, but he couldn't, and SO g
down and cried like q baby. The fir:
tears he had shed since childhood.
Since that time he has been in til
work, and has had good success in ge
ting converts. As he was rather an in
petuous cowboy, 80 he is an ardel
evangelist. His experiences in goin
from town to town are very trying, I
would be if he didn't have the gosp
to comfort and sustain him. As it i
he can bear to be spit upon, or put OF
of saloons, or ordered from town, (
anything else. He says he wouldn't e
. change what he has got for all the m
, terial wealth Of the universe. NJ
Hiltz's language still smacks OF IL
plains somewhat, but he is evident
very sincere and earnest.