The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-04-18
oUR AWFUL FIGHTER.
A True Story of Why He Joined Us and Why he
Left Is

It having become noised asout that we were
going to make horseback trip through pOr-
tiOn of the cattle country, various individuals
made applications for situations. We needed
only cook and a man to take charge of the
baggage, but the applicants kept coming and
the day before we left a chap appeared who in
troduced himself as Awful Davis.
" Look here, felieTs,' he began in business
way, want TO be counted in on this In
deed, it's slight on me that you hadn't ap-
piled for my services. You'd have been i'm a
purity pickle to have gone without the under
signed
When asked to explain what peculiar value
his services might have to us he uttered long
whistle Of surprise aud replied:
well, you are innOcents and no mistake.
Who's going to do your fighting FOR yoU ?"
As the Indians were at peace we didn't ex-
pect any trouble.
"Oh you don't! Bless me, but what dear,
good little boysl Injuus! Nobody said Injuns.
It's the white men you've got to look out for.
You're going among the tuffest lot in the whole
world They are right on the fight all day and
all night Any one OF the gang can turn him
self loose and hammer Halifax out Of the whole
five of you in ten minutes"
He wanted to 90 along to do our fighting. He
would furnish his own mule and make the trip
for dollar day and his keep. When asked
If he had any recommends he put on an injured
air and answered:
"And you never heard of Awful Davis :
Newer heard of the man who has fit ffty-six
fights and come out on top every time! Pur-
| tend that you want certificate of character
from feller who fights standing, kneeling or
lying on his back This makes me weary" !"
We talked it over and finally engaged him,
and when informed of the fact he replied;
very well, gentlemen. From this moment
you are in my keeping. Just pint out the kuss
you want pulverized, and I'll do the business.
l sha'n't put airy limit on you. I'm to fight day
or night and to lick six men day. If you
| could bring about three or four day for the
next week l should feel obliged, as my liver is
leete torpid, and / want exercise
During the first days ride we met but few
people. One of these was an old Indian, lame
in the left leg and Awful Davis halted the
party and observed:
"Gents, did hear any of you tell me to lick
this copper reptile?"
None of us had told him so.
g beg your pardon, gents. I want you to
! understand that I'm allus on hand. I'd like to
git down and hammer him for the benefit OF
my liver; but of course Pm under orders"
We had pitched camp and were waiting for
supper when n cowboy rode up. The greetings
were friendly, and he got down to have bite
with US. He was hardly on the ground before
he saw our Awful fighter, and uttered humph
of disgust.
"What you got thar?" he asked.
''He's our fighter"
Your fighter Did you bring him along TO
fight anybody or anything?"
:" He hired to us to do our fighting, but he's
had no show yet"
Well, I'll give him show Come out o
that you cowartly kyote!"
The Awful was skulking behind the baggage
He rose up at the command, and the cowboy
shouted at him:
bill Wheeson, know We, and owe ye one
Come out here and earn yer hire!"
SIS that you, Jim Phillips2" queried our
Awful. as he advanced a step.
"Of course it's me, you yaller cur from the
bottom lands :"
6 And you want to ight?"
want to show these ere gents that you al
/ the biggest liar and coward in America Come
cut here!"
Gents, is it your wish that I produce a
funeral here?" asked the Awful, as he turned
to US; "shall / bang his feechurs into one
bloody mass-kill him deadern a beef bone
with one blow?"
We ans red that it was.
HereSsie one hand behind me-tie both
hands behind me-tie my feet together, and
I'll lick him then :" howled the cowboy.
Jim Phillips, you havn't got too minits tC
exist? y solemnly announced the Awful. "Tm
comm fur ye like dozen cyclones billed into
| Onel Look out, now!p
He spit on his hands and stepped back, as i
to get a running start, and next thing We
heard was the thumpl thump! of his feet as ht
fed afar into the darkness. Some time during
the night he returned for his mule. Next
morning we found the following explanation
scrawled on piece of paper and stuck into a
split stick: "Seezed with a sudden yillness-
good BIZ"