Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-04-29
BIG BILL

Back Of Laramie, Wy, there is
range of hills that would be called
mountains anywhere else Here you
can find deep gorges, ravines and valleys.
Some twenty miles above the city there
ia a road that winds up and up into the
hills. over acres OF barren rock, and then
descends down into beautiful valley
where grass is growing luxuriantly, and
sheep and antelope are grazing Follow
the road by a miniature lake. and by and
by it will lead you around the base of
tall mountain, and there you will find a
little log cabin beside willow lined
stream, and you will see there large
sheep corral
was lounging on the ground few
years ago in front Of the little cabin
smoking peacefully, and listening to the
wind signing through the willows and
pines, the bleating Of the sheep in the
corral and the howl Of the coyote up in
the hills
"As far as | know Big Bill and me
were the first white men who herded
sheep up here in the hills, said the oc-
cupant Of the cabin, AS he sat in the
uDOIWAN with BNDN III hto AAbAhA-
I'VE came up here from the home
ranch down on the Laramie river and
built this cabin and the corrals in n
We had about 5000 sheep TO look after,
with the dogs to help us, and 1t was
pretty hard work, for then the hills were
full Of mountain lions, and they din't
know the difference between the sheep
and the antelope, but we got along all
right AS the old man sent some Of the
sheep down on the plains and others 10
the home ranch. Bill and me didn't have
anything to do, 50 we went up in the
northern part of the state rounding cat
tie. but in the latter part of 1887 the old
man sent for us, and so we came back
look after.
"We hadn't been here long before a
young tenderfoot came up from Omaha
to help us. the old man said. but in real
ity he only wanted little outdoor exer
else. Jim was a mighty good fellow
though. If he was a tenderfoot, and he
and Bill became warm friends Jim was
small thin and pale, and Bill was big
bronzed and full bearded, with hair that
fell down on his shoulders. Jim Just
used to stick by Bill as close as sicl
kitten Ia hot brick, and used to follow
him away over by Dirty En- mountain
and Ragged Top, and when he came IL
at sundown he would look like "A corpse
but after a while he got as strong as al
OK and slept like horse. After suppe
they would take their pipes and tobacc,
and 20 out there under yonder tall pine
and would talk until long into the night
and used TO sit here and wonder wha
the mischief they would talk about. Blu
Jim was the best natured fellow tina
ever lived. excepting, of course .sBig Bill
All that summer they were as insepara
BILE as the lamented Siamese twins, ant
when one went down to the home rancl
or To Laramie the other would go too.
"One day Jim wasn't feeling well, an
I'm blessed If Bill didn't camp right b
his bedside all day long, and me an
Shep. the dog, had to look after tn
sheep Jim was only sick couple c
days, and the next Sunday when tn
men FROM down on the ranch came up I
bring us some papers and canned stu
they brought letter for Jim from hl
employers down in Omaha asking ths
he come home at once. When jun gC
ready to 90 | am an Indian il he an
Big Bill didn't cry, and Bill he wall
clear up 10 the top Of the hill, and s.
down on a bowlder, and kept his ey'
fastened on the wagon as II turne
around the serpentine road. and watche
IL until it disappeared on the plain b
low and then he came back here al
II aud - 4 Ina tn I
Jake. Jims AN all fired good fellei
lyon bet he Is.
That's all said, but Big Bill unde
stood me. Every Sunday when the me
from the ranch didn't come up Bill ust
TO walk clear down there and get u
letter that would be sure To be there L
nm from Jim. aud he would bring
mack mn here. aud we used 10 work pret
hard 10 read IL, even II II was writt'
with typewriter, for You know nelth
Bill nor me had ever had any schoolln
They were awful good letters. thong
and once he sent us some hne wool'
SHIRTS and mittens. and some CRACK
bacco aud couple Of pipes. TINS Is o.
of them now About month after
left we got letter saying he was goii
to be married and he was dead aIAlu
for Big Bill TO come down aud take It
but Bill wouldn't do IT, because he sa
jun might be ashamed OF hun: but 81
wasn't that kind OF u fellow. rs IN goi
To tell you pretty soon
About three years after his marria
Jim wrote letter asking both Bill
me 10 come down and see him ana
wife and the kid, and there was lot
scribbling. which Jim sad was
baby's invitation Course knew II
Big Bill they wanted to see aithou
Jim and me were good friends. out
Bill allowed he wouldn't 70 Il J ana
20 with him. consented TO 20 ana
when the sheep had been moved down
the ranch we went down TO Oma
We didn't tell hin we were coming