New-York tribune., 1895-06-23
WILDCAT BILL.
DESPERATE FOR REVENUE ONLY.


There was. a few years ago said Major Hotch-
k,es "a man at Badger Rock. Mont VINO )oyei IN
o,r,y himself wildcat Bill. the Rattlesnake OK
pondors Flat Not that that was his name, OF
course or that his name was Bill or even "iihah''
or that, 50 fer ! know. he had ever seen
wildcat or would have known ratuesnakc II no
had met one: and / am certain there was no such
Mace az Renders Fiat; but this is what ne was
nl.asod to call himself In point Of fact. his name
was Farnes, Wiibcrforce. or something OF that
sort, and he came originally from BalhihsVi"'
corn or some such mild. widcatless and non.
rattlesnake ncighborhooi
.rr the fellow had stuck to Baldnsville fancy
he'd have carried on country store ana IL MS
tastes had happened TO run in that particular
direction have perhaps become collector or post
arc stamps Even In Montana don't think he'd nave
become anything more sangulnary than u Jani'o' VI
a schoohouse II he had not felt himseIt drawn
10 a particular work. This was the consumption OF
u,ror He faced the problem earnestly ana dt
what he could. Had the stock not been increased'
7 am confident that ne could have soon greatly re'
ducel and perhaps have overcome tne Ns'o's
supply: but the manufacturers resor'ea 70 'Hs
underhand practice OF constantly MAKING more
louor so his efforts as naugh'. But ne dd
not despair. and remainei coHiior'ap'y 'H'oN~
from year TO year.
Naturally his prolonged efforts In this direction
reduced his finances. and the time came when some-
thing had TO be done He determined 10 take UP the
vocation OF desperate in a purely comhercia'
wav II Is unnecessary to say that he had never
shot a man. shot at man. or snot IN the o''ec-
ton OF where any man or other memoer OF the
human race was or had been. or expected to be-
Indeed you couldn't prove II by me that ne haa
ever shot or gun or knew trigger from a
trajectory Badger Rock was at that time smaii
town engaged chiefly in the business OF trans
rerring people from the railroad station TO the
stages which ran TO certain gold and silver mines.
A great many Eastern people capitalists ana SO
forth passed through H. but few stayed In the place
more than n few hours
"One day a hall hour before the train from tho
East was due the clerk Of the hotel was astonshed
10 see this man enter clad In most striking cow
hov costume wearing a belt with two revolvers
and knife In II. and carrying heavy douoe-
barreed shotgun with the barrels sawed on SO
that they not more than foot long. making
a weapon such as Is sometimes affected by desper-
ate characters. treasure-coach guards. deputy
sherlfs or other individuals engaged in turning their
hands against their fellow men, 1t Is a piece OF
ordnance which is supposed TO be loaded with
inorinate charges OF powder and irregular suss
OF lead. It makes excellent companion for one
gentleman to wait around the corner with for an
other gentleman who has been telling about town
that he che first gentlenan) is liar.
ITO the surprised inquiries OF the hotel clerk,
Wlberforce explained that he was now Wildcat BIZ.
the Rattlesnake OF Bender's Flat. and that all ne
asked the simple privilege OF waiting behind
the half-open door OF the Office for Pete smith, or
Patchn's Ranch. The cerN had never heard any
os these names before but us there was no RUE
against II he consented.
Il; was not long before the train arrived. and
an elderly and correct-apQearing man alghted ana
made his way toward the hotel lie was. IN TACT.
"A prominent Boston capitalist. and this was MIS-
first trip 10 the somewhat extensive region west OF
the Connecticut River As he entered the door OF
the hotel his eye caught the muzzle OF the shotgun
with its two cavernous shafts apparently about the
size OF sewer pipe which projected an inch beyond
the edge OF the open door glance behind showed
a most numerous individual breathing short and
with his finger moving nervously on both triggers.
The Boston man stepped quickly 10 the clerh ana
whspered:
"'Who-who Is that man.
THAT'S wildcat Bill. the Rattlesnake OF Ben
der's Flat answered the clerk.
"'Wha-what IL he doing?'
Waiting for Pete Smith. OF Patchlns Ranch
replied the clerk.
'Wili-wl he shoot him.
"IIe will blow him into pieces unless Pete shoots
first
"Is the-the- gentleman expected soonr went on
the man from the Hub.
"Pete comes In at 2:fJ for drink
"The visitor consulted his watch and found It
was $50
| is there no way to stop such terrible thinsr
| he inquired. earnestly. ~
| THE clerk shook his head No. he replied Bin
| has shot twenty-five mon. anl you see he's got a
| three cornered file In his mouth now TO iiis inc
twenty-thiri notch In his six-shooter after he gets
through with Pete. But added the clerk. coon-
hdentlay. perhaps he could be hired postpone ths
operation for a few hours-say I'LL after you have
| left for the mines
THE upshot OF 1t was that for $40 the Rattle
snake agreed not to shoot Pete IN after o'clock.
and the Boston man again drew full breath.
| NATURALLY, so easy ard rapid way Of makiny
money could not be left unculvated. and Wildcat
Bill became a regular thing behind the hotel door
At train time lie divided profits with the clerk. and
| they did "a thriving business. Hts terms for con-
senting to postpone temporarily the awful slaughter
| OF his enemy varied from * to $50 according to the
means or terror o. the subject. Only one attempt
| proved total failure. This was In the OF q
rollicking youth from Louisville. who sat down
and announced that no going TO walt and see
the fun. He was finally tired out by the nexplica bic
| failure OF Pete Smith 20 arrive.
| The game was kept up several years. and would
perhaps have been still going on bad It not been
FOR an unfortunate accident. one day man came
into the ofice with lkck ebony cane, HavIra
valse IN either hand he was carrying this cane ~
| horizontal position under his arm When the end
OF II poked around the door, wildcat Bll. the Rat,
uesnake or Benders Flat mistook II for the maszle
OF % some sort OF weapon. uttered an ason!sed cry
dropped MS own gun. leaped through q window. and
ran half.mile Tor safety. n unnerved him "a
sucn an extent that ne never returned TO his pro
(oSSiOQ. and 0nay mt Of