The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-10-12

3eye4 several Nights In = mar.
nssa--vssschsr,s censessisn.
Captain Jack Crawford. the poet scout
Col. VIII visscher, . poet without bein,
= scout, and Wild Bill. scout without
being : post, were playing cards in q
Black Hills' saloon when swashbucklin0
bully from the plains entered the place
writes Opie Read in Fetter's Southern
MsRaxine. He had just broke fare
bank and was therefore wealthy; he bad
just shot cut mans eye and was there
fore gleeful. When be entered the place
he struck the bar with his hat and suore
that every man must take drink. wild
Bill said that he didn't mind taking
something and visscher made no obiec-
ton Whatever, but Crawford remarked
that he did not drink. But" said be,
ITO be sociable, I will take cigar with
you."
The swashbuckler looked at him scorn-
fully and said: mo; you'll not take a
cigar"
"Well, then, I'll take lemonade"
But" Crawford protested, 81 never
took drink Of whiskey in my liie."
'sWell, then, it's time to take one.
Come on here" and he laid rude hands
on Crawford's garments. Then Wild Bill
mildly protested. At this the terror Of
the plains few into a fit Of fury. ''Do ycr
want to take It up?' he howled. 1t WA
evident that he was not personally &C
qusinted with Bill.
''Well, yes, as haven't anything els
on hand at present, believe that I feel
little like taking 1t up;" and with tina
be knocked the fellow down. And nov
the swashbuckler. though on the floor
was In bis glory--he had an excuse to in
dulge bis sentimental yearning 70
slaughter; and he reached for his pistol
But with movement fiash-like in it,
Quickness, Bill had him covered with ar
iron that had killed twenty men. At this
moment man who had just entered ths
saloon quietly remarked: Hello, Wild
Bills got another sucker"
Hold onl" the terror howled. "Ar,
you Wild Bill?'
That's what they call me-"
well, now, / want to say that you
friend may take wa-what he pleases. Ans
TO show you that I'm sorter sociable in
ciined, Ill take lemonade myself
This incident appealed to the quick in
stincts Of visscher. He was teuderf Dot
and was therefore impressionable. A few
days later he was In mining town broke
He had nothing save honor and appetite
Honor could take care Of itself, but appe
tite must be huniored. The truth is, h,
wanted great deaf OF Ticker and b,
wanted IL at once. He went to severa
saloons, but no one asked him to drink
and he IA, 10 proud to hint that b,
ought to be invited. That was wher,
honor was the enemy Of appetite. A
thought struck him: an idea nimbl,
tripped across his poetic fancy. He re
called the Wild Bill incident and h,
would turn 1t to account He went into
saloon and sat down near table; b,
threw himself back and began to talk
Fine lot Of people out here" he de
clared. Gallant and determined gang
men. saw o rough just now force poo
fellow 10 take drink Of whiskey. I'd lik,
to see man try that game ON me; catcl
mo pouring stuff down my throat merel,
70 crafty the within Of fool. There's no
body In this town that can make me tax,
drink against my wishes. I've com,
here to foster the Murphy movement"
A lank cowboy turned from the bal
and gave visscher asearching look. IN,
friend. e said be, "ain't you putty bold p
You bet Pm bold"
And you won't take drink"
mo, won't"
DO you want to know what you'll do
You'n Just take six right now. Com,
here" He drew his revolver. yissche
began 10 stammer.
= Ny friend" he said. in the hope tina
the fellow would make ID twelve, 81 neve
took drink in my liie.''
That so7 Well you'll take six RICH
now. Barkeeper, put six drinks on til,
bar, just foot apart." And when til,
barkeeper had done this the cowbo,
added: 'sNow, Mr.. Pinkfoot, begin at tina
end and drink your way down here.n
Visscher mumblsd that he had left bill
pistol at the hotel.
= don't care anything Tor your pistol
drink your way down here"
Visscher made the journey with but ,
breath botween each glass, and the COW
boys roAred with laughter; but chill
fell upon their mirth when visscher re
marked: Gentlemen, II you'll have
these glasses filled again I'll drink M,
way back
But this Is only little episode in Col
Visscher's multitudinous and multifari
ON career. At all periods Of his life h,
has accomplished feats in literature, jour
nalisni and poetry that his best contem
pgary workers might envy, and today, a
the period Of advanced middle-age, having
divorced himself from the joviality o
short-lived convivialism finds himself a
fresh and vigorous intellectually, and a,
versatile as ever, always delighting hi
readers and auditors by his naturainess
and spontaniety, as well as by the vigo
Of bis ever-fowing human sympathies
At recent Kelley League entertainment
In Chicago, Colonel visscher read the fol
lowing poem, picturing what the famou
Kelley cure had done for mankind.
knew youth
OF strength and truth,
And mein OF manly man.
who marched along
with laugh and song