Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1895-10-18
IN THE WILD WEST
Some Characteristic Incidents of
Life in Early Days
AT BILL TAOMPSON'S SALOON
Two Valuable Lessons, One at Fort Ben,
ton and the Other at Fort Nc.
Leod--Bully RebEked.

| Hon. w. A. Thompson of Fort Ben
| ton, Mont, was character. He kept
the best saloon in town and dispensed
| the best wines, liquors and cigars. By
some turn of fortune he was elected
| to the legislature in the early days, and
of course assumed the title of Honor
| able" In addition to his other accom-
! plishments, Bill-as he was Familiarity
| called--was an indefatigable fisherman,
and a practical joker withal. In order
that he might keep fresh fish constant
| ly on hand, he built tank In front of
| his saloon, about eight feet long. with
a cover to prevent the fish being sto-
| len.
One day he was standing in front Of
| the saloon with some friends when he
| spied a tall stranger, very much under
the influence of liquor, coming down
the street.
do you want to see some fun?" said
| Bill. "Now you just watch me-"
| As the stranger came by Bill grabbed
him and laid him out in the trough and
shut the cover down. After giving him
time to soak and nearly drown. the
man was taken out. put on his feet, and
he staggered quietly away.
The next afternoon Bill was summing
himself in his accustomed place when
the stranger again appeared on the
scene taking UP the whole sidewalk.
Bill called his familiars and said: "Now
we will soak him again, and see II we
cannot sober him up"
The stranger was near Thompson,
who gave a wink to his friends and laid
violent hands on the man. He had nc
sooner done so than the stranger
Strengthened up, drew back his fist and
hit Bill terrible blow between the
eyes. Those who saw the affair said
Bill landed fully ten feet into the street
and as they picked him up, the stran'
ger walked quietly away, saying as he
went, "By gum, you can't always tel
but you may be entertaining angels I'M
awares." Bill wore his eyes in mourn
ing for some time, but was never aftel
known to tackle strangers.
THE BULLY OF FORT MLEOD.
English George was a fighter; a.
least he said so, and everyone believed
it because he was big, burly, muscu
lar fellow and had bluffed everyone In
to believing that he was a scienced pu
gilist. His was a bloodless victory; NJ
one dared to truckle him, SO he remain
ed the cock of the roost at Fort Nc
Leod until the fatal day when he los
prestige, and was the laughing stock O.
the little community at the fort.
George was the cook at the Traders
store, but he had everyone so cowet
that he imposed upon the boys There
were about 80 men who took their meals
there, but after the first table not
f dish would be washed and the boy:
must eat after their fellows. So thu
boys had no sympathy with him on hi'
defeat.
He was defeated by a young mar
not half his size, and here Is how /
came about. One forenoon Bob Coul
> ter, a mounted policeman, came int
, the store when George was getting
some beans for dinner. Bob spoke civ
lily, although he had been drinking
(Fort Mcleod was not total abstinence
them, when George, without furthe
provocation, hit Bob a stunning blow
on the side of the head, drawing blood
Bob approached him and remarked
George, what did you do that for?
have never done anything to you"
GO away" said George; Il wan
, nothing to do with you," and just t.
give emphasis to his remarks he hi
: Bob again.
e "All right" said Bob, and he walked
d out of the store. In about an hour h
!, returned and went into the kitchen
|, where George was at work. No one eve
:, knew what passed during the 15-minut
t interview, but in about that time bot
n of the men came into the quadrangl
: and each squared for the fray-Georg
in boxing attitude, Bob wary and eau
It tious. George made lunge at Bot
a but did not hit him. Bob ran in an
clinched, depriving George of the Us
5, of his arms, and by back-handed blow
e was furnishing him numerically. TIL
3 spectators went out and closed In
gate and left them to fight 1t out.
n Tt was not two minutes before 30
a had George down and was poundin
8. him in good shape. The punishmer
was too severe and he beloved like
calf for the boys to take Bob off. Som
s. of the fellows came to the rescue, bt
IN Bob had by this time let up and Gale
Is on him to rise, and as he did so gay
him a kick where it would do the mos
good.
of George was sight; both eyes blacl
h, ened. the blood trickling from his nos
TX and tears from his eyes. Bob's partir
Of words were to the effect that in the II
ture he would be more civil
g. people who had done him no injury.
ed George was a broken hearted ma
h The next day he left for Pincher cree
es and did not visit Fort Mcleod for mo
ed than three years.
re- AN OLD MINERS VACATION.
70. An old miner can never quite rid hir
av self of the habit of prospecting
ID matter how rich he may have becom
on he will always prospect when he
Ct tees indications with which he Is I
,as miliar. A man who accumulated a &c
| tune in the early days in Montal
went to his home in Michigan to VII
his people. While there he noticed t
,s- gravel in the creek, which had !
miliar look. He produced his pan a
"a shovel and proceeded to wash the
luvial soil with the astonishing RESI-
n, of finding colors. "Well," he remark'
ny eff that was in Montana I would foll'
IA it up, but being in Michigan 1 wol
bother with it." While no gold b
been found in Michigan, 1t has be
found in northern Minnesota and Me-
Her itoba.
Admiral James Robbart Drummond
Engiand, gentleman usher of the Bla
gotl Dod IA eer1aant at arms IL dead at