, 1890-06-19
CATAmOUNT NIL,
He Notched His Revoiysr aud WA
Terror with HIS Mouth,

NoRDEs. Neb., June o. Special 20 the
Bee. The discovery near the mouth OF
the Plum, on the Niobrara river Of
skull, thigh bone and a rusty, water.
stained, old-style Colts revolver, with
twonty'nine notches filed on the barrel
probably reveals the final resting place
of William Stebb!ns, better known to
old timers as "Catamount BILL" the
"high pressure liar of the Northwest"
From ''Pap' Woodson, u veteran on
the frontier, your correspondent gleahcdt
a few facts concerning the checkered
career of "Catamount Bill" etc, ON tho
creek. as the Niobrara was called in
those day.
"It Is about twenty years since first
became acquainted with 'Catamount"
remarked Pap, as no shifted a quarter
Of pound of long green, to the oppo-
site side OF his mouth. He struck our
camp, near Tunnel Rock. on one OF the
mennest nights IL has ever been my luck
to DO out In. IL was early In the spring
and II had been raining all day. Myself
and two pards were cinched 10 the camp
lire trying to keep warm, when suddenly
ono OF the gaw kie.t looking specimens
OF humanity that ever wore legs stepped
into the Hare. of the camp hr. There
WAS general movement on our part for
NfuIollFt but tllt htIAtlktI
smile that made one OF our bronchos
who happened TO catch glimpse Of
H. break his picket rope, and
said, Don't be alarmed, gentlemen, I'm
harmless; alsod-d hungry !..We turned
him loose on the grub box, and he eat
like bound boy at hussing bee. AZ.
ter lowering our provisions to n frightful
extenthe ltt his pipe and joined our cir
clo around the fire. | sized him up to
be about 10 years Old. lie was tall. thin,
and had hair the color of sage hen
that struggled down over bis shoulders
three or four inches HIS lace waa
ircCklod and his eyes mottle a
gray, ana they bplsed out like an owrT
He Ind nose like a hawk, and n inou4h
TINT seemed TO reach from ear to eat
When lac laughed IL gave q person On
uncomfortable impression that unlez,
he hobhed his Jaws he was In danger OF
uneouplins his head. lie wore pairof
buckskin pants that had evidently been
picked before they were ripe, and they
lacked three inches OF making connec-
tions with the moccasins on his teet. A
long-tailed coat covered his bOny franc,
and small coonskin cap was porched
on the side of his head IN a rakish max.
ucr. Thrust In rawhide belt was the
aiterward famous no,ched revolver
He was about the strangest looking
duck that had ever struck creek.
"tatamount," continued Pap, re.
mnined With US for some time AID then
pulled his freight up the creek. We
liked the whelp, but ho kept his tongue
wngging SO Internal much that we were
afraid he would hOodoo all the game In
that vicinity, and he was such q spon-
taneous vivid and entertaining liar that
wo really hated TO SEQ him go. When
he struck our camp he had seven no,ohes
iiled on the barrel of his revolver. lie
returned in few weeks and proudly
exhibited five additional notches. And
then We discovered that wo had been
entertaining u destroying angel un-
awares. According to his story, each
notch IN his trusty gun represented the I
death wall OF Sioux warrior. lie gayi
u out that he was bold, bad man irQ2
beyond way back, and claimed tNy
lie was foaled at tho headquarters "a J
Bitter creek and claimed that he had
crimsoncd both banks OF that stream 10
Its mouth with the litc-blood OF many,
many braves of the Sioux nation. II
any body doubted his CORY tale he would
show them the notches. Cat got kind
Of fuzz-liko one day by side remark
that old Jone ECKER dove tailed into ono
OF his orntorica. efforts. Jono observed
that all Cat needed to wipe out the BAL
ance OF tho Sioux tribe was long breath
and new ilic
Game was abundant that season."
said Pap. and we hud our hands full.
Cat was with us part OF the time and
done little work, but seemed to prefer
rowing around. According TO his story
ho planted an Indian about every
wcck.-and had tho notohes to show
for itl
"fhe last saw of Catamount" con-
tnued Pap. with q far-away look In his
eyes, was late In tho fall. We wero
getting about ready to load our traps
and plundcr and leave for winter quar-.
tcrs when lac made us one OF his period
ica visits. Hle seemed down-hearted
and said he was not feeling we'll, and
thrt he was thinking some Of going back
TO his old home near Chicago, but hated
to return without tile pile that he came
west TO make. He left our camp at Tun.
mel Rock In few days and started down
the river In % canoe. IL these nro hh
bones, of which / have no doubt, lie
made n short trip. How lie met his
death can not Imagine. Probably wayi
taken sick and died hore all alone. Poof
Cat, peace TO his ashes. and here's !
luck"