Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-09-22
John A. Anderson's Dance.

The following story concerning the
late John A. Anderson and Wild Bill
was related Sunday in the Kansas City
Times, purporting to come from Daniel
Moran, one of Clusters scouts. 1t may
or may not be true, but it is quite a
story all the same:
Il recall an adventure that Wild Bill
had with the late John A Anderson il
junction City, Kansas
John Anderson was only Presby-
terrain minister then. That was years
before he represented the Sunfower
state in Congress. His church then
stood as it now stands. on the west side
OF the public square. Anderson was a
minister to the poor as well as everyone
else and was very popular. Nearly
everybody went armed in those DAYS.
The Indians made several attacks on
the railroad hands and killed . number
of them at different times, so that they
went armed with needle gums. One day
there was q construction train of from
300 to 400 men in Junction City. 1t was
pay day. Wild Bill was there that day.
Whisky ran like water. It seemed as
though everybody was drinking. There
were innumerable braWls and street
fights, but nothing serious until BIZ
and some OF his old friends mounted
their ponies and started out to do the
town. Their reyolvers cleaned in the
sun and occasionally a yolley Of shots
would ring out a. their horses plunged
through the streets. Rev. John 4. An
derson was holding church services that
day. A large crowd filled the church
building
''Wild Bill and his party finally grew
weary Of racing their horses through the
streets, and finally Bill reigned IN his
horse before the church. The door
stood open and the pastor was in the
pulpit. Bill urged his horse toward the
doorway. Obedient to its riders COM
mand, the little animal entered the
church. Wild Bill sat in his saddle and
surveyed the minister and the congrega-
ton. The preacher paused IN his dis
course and gazing unfinchingly at the
bold intruder, ordered him to leave the
church. Bill answered the preacher
with an oath and asked him what he
was doing
9 I'm preaching the gospel" said
Rev. Anderson.
=" No you amt preaching said Bill,
drawing back his revolver. You're dane
ing. That's what you are doing Now
dance and dance lively commanded
Bill.
The preacher demonstrated with
Bill. Ladies crept under the seats and
the male part OF the congregation sat as
though paralyzed There was nothing
else for the preacher to do but dance.
1t was dance or die. So he danced. A
courier hurried to the train, where a
Qrt II
ported Wild Bills actions. There was
4 Mexican scout who could throw lasso
with wonderful precision We took
him and hurried to the church
Bill was still seated on his horse laugh
ing IN drunken glee at the preacher, who
was dancing for dear life. The Mexican
'rept up to the door. He paused, twir!
I'd the lasso above his head
"Ihere was q swish through the air
md the loop fell over Bill's head it
lropped below his shoulders and the
Mexican gave it q quick jerk. The rope
1rew tight about Bill's body, it pinned
lis arms to his side. A strong pull IN
seated Bill and we hauled him out OF the
church. You can imagine that the
felt relieved. Services were
dismissed. 1t was a mar
'ow escape for Rev Anderson, for Bill
would surely have killed him had he
lot complied with his commands. We
,ook Bill to the train and kept him I'M
il he sobered up. Then he went to
Rev. Anderson and apologized. The
episode was hushed up as much as pos
'ible at the time. This was the first act
hat helped to destroy Wild Bills power
N the frontier, for John A. Anderson
vas a very popular man, and OF course
he story OF the affair spread far and
lear 1t was not long after this that
Wild Bill pulled out for pastures new