The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-08
SRQDGH TINE
lAdventure Among Indians, Cow
boys and Cholera.
sridants in the Career of Mr., Harvis,
While Building the Kansas Divis-
ion of the Union Pacific Rail-
way. The Mans Reckless
Characters Encountered.
Ysnscfa, corresponaence.1

May Congressman
aTris of Kansas tells some good stories
80 his adrentSres while building the
Kansas division Of the Union Pacific
hilway. ~ had a pretty rough time
Fifth Indians, cowboys, settlers and
{4lolera. says Mr. Harris. GAS we
flushed along with the line of rails new
Gent towns would spring up in night.
Rsherc was always q town at tho termi-
fins Of the line, and rs this moved every
Hay the terminal city had to travel with
Ehe rest of US. The citizens of these ond
nc the line towns We're graders and bull
Fhaokers, and the aristocrats were the
gamblers and dance hall proprietors.
|9shey were pretty lively camps l re-
Ine1nber seeing six men laid ont in one
Ispc+ as the result Of All epidemic of shoot
ing that broke out one evening.
The Cheyel,yes were troublesome
lkll the time. AN our werkmen had to
Larry arms, which were put Oh the
f1Sronnd within easy reach We kept n
lockout, too, for tho redskins had way
BE gneaking up the draws or ravines
5and surprising u.s. Once was with
Fsarty when our sentry fell asleep, and
Die Indians got between as and our
{f9na. Twenty-Five Of our graders were
7ENea.
wild and reckless 1hen were every
5gsker6. There was Jim Curry. He was
Ia locomotive engineer. We had lust
E5hFown q skeleton bridge, wooden bents
with stringers and crosspieces, over
tgorge. The rails were laid, but had not
5been bolted in place. Some one said it
would be impossible to run train over
ssSliat bridge without an accident, but
Furry said it could be done He accept
I'D wager Of s10 TINT he could do it,
:knd despite all protests sent his locomo-
fsiTe flying across that gulch at rate of
40 miles nm hour. was in the bottom
lpf the ravine watching tho bridge, and
this timbers shook like bushes in u wind
fstorm. But the engine went over all
fright, with daredevil Jim sticking his
face ont the window of his cab and
(grinning rs if it were great joke.
|Shortiy after that he killed man, but
[bid himself in the water tank of his en-
|gine and escaped. The last 1 heard of
|Efim he had just killed an actor in q
Restaurant down in Texas.
One of the most interesting charac-
|ters knew i'll those days was Wild Bill
EATER long career rs fighter, with n
Sbelt full of scalps to his credit, he was
b,eleoted town marshal and ut once settled
down as q courageous and conscientious
|rreserver of the peace. The rough ele-
ssnent were all afraid of him, and he
ruled the town with an iron hand. On
one occasion gang of tough chaps from
Farther west thought to run the town for
IN day, when some ono called their atten-
;tion to Wild Bill and to his fame as a
naarksman. The newcomers said they
didn't believe he could shoot worth a
scent Just then Bill came up, and this
sremark being repeated TO him he whip
ipsd out two revolvers, used one in either
hand, and with almost simultaneous
shots put both balls through tho same
hole in the top of hat on the head of Il
IlInan standing 20 PAGES away. That was
~ feat which he often performed, and he
rs the only man ever saw that could Go
s5t 1t appeared to be gift like Bend
Esm's performances on the piano"
WALTER WELLMAN.
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