The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-03-03

He Had to Have His Photograph Taken
and His Old Friend Was Restored to
Him for a Few Minutes-An Observer
Points Out the Fact That the Regard in
Which Guns are Held Varies in Different
Lccai;ties--ln the Indian Territory
Shooting Irons Become Companions to
Their Owners
~ saw Cherokee Bill. the OUTLAW.
nave his photograph taken at Fort
Smith the other day said y. T.
Warner, q travelling man of Chicago.
at the Manhattan last evening. In
order 10 get the desperate complete he
was allowed TO handle his rife for
few minutes and scene of affection
for the weapon on the part OF the VII
lain reminded me OF some observations
/ have made on the regard in which
weapons are held"
East of the Mississippi river men
take hold of a revolver or rife with a
positive show of fright. They hold
the gun away from them and hold it as
though it were likely TO explode of its
own sweet will whether they touched
the trigger or not. II a man comes
into d room with a gun on his Shout
der in the East and the room is crowd
cd, most of the men VIII retire quietly
Il once. They are not afraid the gun
bearer will hold them up, but they dis
like guns and want 10 get out OF reach
of harm. This fear OF firearms pre-
dominates in all classes. l have seen
John l.. Sullivan handle revolver
and he acted as though he wished
he could drop the thing and get away
quick. All the eastern policemen car
~ revolvers of course, but they thumb
them clumsily in using them. Even the
eastern thugs avoid the revolver ana
use the sand-bag chiefly, as less dan
gerouS weapon To themselves
las far west as Kansas you see
good many reVolVers and guns. No
body pays any particular attention TO
them. They are handled about with
little concern. They are regarded as
handy things in an emergency, and
most people can use them il they want
to. But usually they are stuck away
in some drawer or closet and do not
see the light once in a twelvemonth.
But go down TO the Indian Terri
tory among the Indians and near the
haJnts of the desperadoes, and Their
you see the rifle and the revolver in
it's highest state of Importance. The
rifle becomes human. 1t Is a companion
to the man that carries 1t In many
cases he names it. He VIII call II
Long Tom or "Old BIZ or some
thing like that. 1t is inseparable from
its owner He cleans it scrupulously
once every so often lie talks 10 it
about its springs and its cylinders
When he makes Il good shot he pats it
in appreciation. | have noticed these
men and they positively have great
affection for their weapons. Should
they lose a particular weapon or break
it beyond repair they VIII mourn IL LOT
months They will declare that II was
the only gun of its worth in the world
and that now that Il is gone they are
bereft and sick at heart Every man
swears by his own weapon and nave
no doubt that many weapons nave
been brought into deadly play as
result of discussions as TO their reSpec-
tive carrying powers and degrees Oh &C
curacy.
''The scene I witnessed at Fort
Smith last week will explain this feel
ing. Cherokee Bill (Golby) was brought
out of his prison cell and taken INTO
the iailor's Office TO pose before the
camera. and at his request the arms
were furnished him
when 3S-56 Winchester was HANDED
him Golby's face lit UP with a smile
lie took the gun eagerly and tenderly
caressed it II was like meeting an olu
friend. for his Winchester mad been his
constant companion for more than
five years. and he counted il his Uuest
and most trusty friend.
He examined it closely. 1t was
GOOD gun. When he thought the guards
were not looking, Goldsby took sly
GLANCE at the MAGAZINE OF the WincheS-
ter 1t was empty A single angry
glance from his eyes betrayed diSap-
noint1nent, but it was gone almost as
rapidJv as it came, and when he looked
nm there was no apparent change in
his countenance. spirits or demeanor-
when one OF the guards offered
him the belt we'll filled with pistol cart
ridges. Coldsby for the first time raised
II don't want that belt" said he.
s@Why not, Bill?" inquired one OF
the guards. -
.rTbose cartridges won't fit this gun,
he repIied. with "A sly laugh. The guard
cav the point of his joke. a very Sc
rio,,s one for them to carry out ana
smiled family. "Give me belt with
long cartridges IN it," added the cool
voune outlaw: these pistol cartridges
won't show in the picture.
.sHe was finally convinced that there
was no belt around the jail containing
the rife cartridges. or, as Bill called
them. long cartridges" ana ne &c
cepted the one offered him ana TOOK
his position before the camera
had Cherokee Bill been given cart
ridges to fit the rife. there can be no
dbIbt that the quiet OF the 9allof
office would have been dispeiled Dy
number Of shots and the place trans
formed into a slaughter house Tor ne