Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1888-02-25
A FRONTIER HERO.

hardly one to impress either-that is, the
territory or myself-vith any very great
liking for the other. But we were both
young ct that time, and Dakota, at least,
has greatly improved.
It was early IN the 'T0s-Afteen years
ago-that I found myself on q Missouri.
river steamboat leaving Omaha and headed
up stream. Twas not altogether clear as
to where I was going, but I had an idea
that I would stay by the boat as long as
my money held out-which would not be
very long. hoped at least to reach Da.
kota. Not that l had any particular
reason for going to Dakota more than to
Texas; but, on the other hand, had Texas
been as near I should certainly have been
IS apt to have gone there.
About all I knew-or any one else, for
that Notwithstanding Dakota was that
Yankton, In the extreme southeastern
part, was the capital, and that there was
a little settlement in that region, q little
more in the northeastern corner, with per-
haps q very few scattering settlers along
the rivers elsewhere and q number of
forts, each with q few United States troops.
The reason that I came to think l was
going to explore the west was that several
weeks before I had run away from home
with that observation-disclosures a very good
reason, but the only one I had. My
reason for running away from home was
even less obvious. But I was away and
too proud to 60 back-thohgh subsequent
events reduced my stock Of pride several
hundred per cent.-if I may be allowed to
put 1t somewhat strongly. was almost
beginning to consider myself q man,
though ] have since looked back at the
time calmly, and could not remember that
anybody else ever acted rs il he consid-
cred me anything more than o boy.
On the occasion Of which l write the
boat Sadie Bolton plowed her way up the
thick, muddy waters Of the Missouri. The
mate swore at the deck hands as occasion
required, the pilot wore at the river, the
engineer swore at the fireman and pilot
by turns, and the captain occasionally ap-
peared aud swore at things in general.
Being Of an inquiring turn of mind, I
explored the lower deck aud got into con-
yersation with one of the crew. From
him I learned that Buck Hawkins was on
board. / had heard Of Buck Hawkins
as the most dangerous man in that part
Of the country. He staid up the river In
the n%cighborhood Of Yankton most Of the
time, but l understood from my inform.
mt had been down to St. Louis on some
sort Of business and was returning to
YnnSton. l felt anxious to see him rs
soon as 1 found he was on board. The
man told me l doubtless could do so il !
would take the trouble to hunt up the bar,
as he and some friends were i%ndulging in
a poker game in the immediate vicinity.
I soon found the place, and to my Wits
pered inquiry a spectator informed me
which Of the four gathered around the
card table was Hawkins. I was some
what surprised, Us he did not look as I
had pictured him. He was email, not
over five feet and seven OF eight inches,
and evidently weighed less than $50
pounds. lie had brown hnir and gray
eyes, and although his face showed deter
nination and force, there was nothing Of
tho reckless desperate which l knew he
had the reputation of being. watched
the game for some time. l learned that
the other three were all professional gam
blers and that Hawkins was losing. The
room was full of spectators, Us it seemed
to possess interest for every n on the
boat. Everybody expected trouble.
money on the table and Hawkins and the
Six shooter lying on the table In front OF
AAAt1 "A'AS SiAo AitS IJCtll
in their belts. Every ono knew that tho
gamblers were not playing n square
game, aud that 1t was only a question o1
time when they got nll Of Hawkins
money. That was tho time trouble was
expected. He had been drinking heavily,
and should he detect them cheating II
was known lie would not hesitate ia
shoot them all unless they shot him first
! All the Afternoon l remained close by
the table watching the game intcntly.
had become almost Gs much interested rs
the players. Hawkins money was slowly
but surely going. Once when Hawkins
was dealing he happened to touch IL pile
Of his chips and they rolled Off on tho
floor. Instantly I sprang unl gathered
them up and placed them on the table.
He just glanced at me and said THANK
you," and was deep in the game again.
A few minutes later there vas q jack pot.
Hawkins aud the gambler went in. They
raised each other till there was scvcraI
thousand dollars IN it. AT last they laid
down their hands. Hawkins had fou,
kings, but the gambler kad the four aces
J and reached for the money and chips.
II reckon that was all fair, parson9'
said Hawkins as he looked across the table
at his oppoucnt.
"Yc be: it was, Buck; ye know I never
play no other way" replied the gambler
showing som signs Of nervousness.
"l'm glad Of it, Z" said Hawkins, picking
up his revolver and holding it carclcssly
"ye all know what I'd do il L thought i
wasn't"
'.:Shoot, Of course, Buck, that would IL
all right-but it'a squar', nm We can be
on it."
"All right" and Hawkins arose FROM
the table and went out. ! saw nothing
more Of him that night.
The next day he approached ne on tlccl:
and talked u few minutes. lie guessed
that ! had run AWAY from homo and nd
vised me to return, saying that It was nc
country for boys. I could scarcely con
ceive as he gave me this advice, which !
knew to he good, that he had without
doubt killed q dozen men-perhaps more.
But it was q fact.
Hawkins left the bout at Sioux City and
/ went on to Yankton. The next Ave o,
! six weeks I spent in tho vicinity Of thu,
place working on various farms. I did
not get very high wages, but L managed
to make nay living. After some time ]
hired out to Il man who was driving some
stock up the river to the Yanhton Indian
agency. There were ON 200 On 300 head
ard there were several men along with
item. 10 make this trip I bad Invested
IN O pony. We arrived ut the agency
after several days, and, finding that my
services would no longer be required,
started to return on my pony. / wa
opposite Niobrara, Eeb., and back som
fouf or five miles from the river, when
met two men on horseback, each leading
string of five or six horses. Some of thu
ones which were being led were wild. ant
were giving the men considerable trouble
They hailed lne. and after, as l thought
asking an unnecessary lot OF question.
concerning who I was, where I came from