The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1889-01-30
LIFE In THE ROCKIES
A RICHMOND'S BOYS AD-
+ VENTURES IN THE FAR
WEST.
Hand-tO-Hand Encounter with
n Border Rufiian.

"Yes, sir, / have seen some rough
times in my travels" said Mr.. vii.
liam IL. Ralston DIETER known as
William II. Gresson). who is now
visiting bis brother, Mr.. +. r. Rail-
ston, Sergeant at Arms of the City
Council.
Mr.. Ralston was one of the lead,
ing members of the Checkered Life
Combination, which is composed Of
cIwb 'ys. and who played an engage
ment at the Opera House week be
fore last.
Reporter When did you leave
Richmond?
MIR. Ralston: When I was eigh
teen years old there was an insurrec-
ton in Cuba, and I shipped on the
United States frigate Worcester. that
was ordered to Cuba. When the
Worcester reached Cuba we found
that the United States ship Tornado
had preceded us, aud had put a stop
to the killing of prisoners. After re-
manning in the navy some time, and
seeing that there was no prospect of
a war IN Cuba, l obtained o dis
charge. Being i'll bad health, and by
the advice of my physician, / went
West in 1874, and for a time was en-.
gagged in the cattle business. The
life was not very pleasant and | was
looking out for something, when /
accidentally met with an Old trapper
by the name of Perry, who had come
/" III Paso with a lot Of furs to sell.
The old man was a good talker and
he entertained the boys fpr several
hours one night, telling them about
his adventures in the Rockies. | saw
u great deal of old Perry while he
was in Paso, aud warm friendship
sprang up Jetween US. Hearing that
was a pretty good sho., he persuad-
ed me to join him, and after laying
in supply OF ammunition and other
necessary articles we took our de-
prrturc for Perry's shanty, which
was located in the Rocky Mountains,
where bears, deer, beaver and other
wild animals were plentiful was a
hunter and trapper for four years
In 1878. while in III Paso. / heard Of
Frank Frayne giving public exhibi-
tiOns of rifle shooting. Knowing that
| was pretty good shot, 1 determine
ed to follow Frayne's example. There
was a young fellow with me by the
name of Hartman, from Illinois, who
was also an expert in rifle. shooting
WHO offered to JOIN me iu the enter~
prize. We came east, and among the
places where We appeared was this
city at the Richm md Theatre. AT
that time it was thought wonderful
thing to shoot an apple on a persons
head but we got the thing down so
fine that we could shoot peanuts of
the heads Of each other.
Reporter: Have you ever been hurtl
Mr.. Ralston: On one occasion my
partner shot at a potato on my head.
The bullet split, and u piece of it
ploughed through my cheek and
lodged in my ear.
DID you ever have trouble with 10.
diansg
No, sir. In al my travels in the
Far West never had any trouble
with indians, but have frequently
bad fights with border rufiians, aud
have scars all over my body from
wounds received during hand.to hand
conflicts with those rutI'ans. had a
narrow escape once in Mexico, and |
really thought my time had come. In
the camp was Mexican greaser who
was q great bully, but like all such
fellows he was a great coward. One
night | dropped Ia a saloon, al d as
soon as ! entered the fellow tried to
provoke difficulty with me. For
some time | paid no attention 10 him.
Fintlly he became so offensive | rec
tor.ed. Quick as q fash he had his
knife out and was coming at me, but
| was ready TO receive him. We
fought for sometime, and the crowd
seemed to enjoy il very much. Both
Of US we're bleeding like stuck pigs
but kept at 1t until | succeeded in
knocking the knife IRON his hand and
giving him an ugly cut in his side,
which settled him. Last year, while
with the Wild West Show in Peter.
bore Ontario, Canada, | was stand
ing talking TO an Indian chief con.
noc;ed with che show, when a pistol
shot was heard, and the Indian drop.
ped to the ground dead. Turning
around ! saw a big burly fellow, who
was crazy from whiskej, pointing the
Nas Il n. A II