Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-07-30


'W y was the busy end OF
the Santa Fe trail. Hickok was mule
skinner" freighting to Santa re anu
back, and, in some street fight when
occurred in Independence, IN Which
Hickok had no original interest ne con-
Quoted himself with such limitless va
Tor. and appeared so utterly reckless
of results, that he was ever altcr"aro
called wild Bill"
wild Bill was like many OF his
sort, a profound, remorseless gambler.
1t was utterly useless to talk Of work
or reputable employment to wild
Bill" Through the war he was scout
for the Union army. He had Jew con-
| victions, but being born and bred IN
| Illinois, one of them was an intense
antipathy to secession 1t was thus he
| became scout in the Union army After
the war, wherein he achieved consld-
cradle fame for daring energy and
nerve as a scout wild Bill estab-
lished himself at Springfield, Mo. 1t
was there that he killed Tut, who had
been chief of scouts in Prices army
Tut, like wild Bill" was gambler,
and they often met, and while they
were in no degree in love with each
other they managed to get along. Still
| there were more men Of TUFTS politi-
cal convictions in Springfield who were
on the shoot than there were OF wild
Bits" They made up their mind to
run him out or kill him. He owed Tut
some money as result OF poker
game. One night wild Bill was
playing poker with some friends Tut
came up and stood looking on. wild
Biifs" gold watch was lying on the
table near him. Just as Tut came up
wild Bill won a jackpot with some
thing like 500 in it.
You seem to be flush, BILL said
Tut, in a half ugly tone. Suppose
you pay me that $40 you owe nc"
II owe you $780," said wild Bill"
land here it is" turning over three $40
bills to Tut, who took them, put them
in his pocket and then said: Give me
the other SO"
THAT'S all I owe you" said wild
Bill" and you have it,"
Tut picked up the gold watch that
was lying at wild Bill's" elbow, with
the remark: well, you still owe me
$40, and I'll keep this watch till You
pay it," He put the watch in his peck
ct and turned to go.
wild Bill took it very cooily and
said nothing. Everybody was some.
what amazed at the tameness of the
young Union scout. Just as Tut went
. out of the door he looked back a
wild Bill' with a sneer and the re-
mark: You don't seem to keer for thi:
watch much, Bill I'd supposed you't
set more store by it. If you begin t.
feel like you need it am going to pacl
it across the square at noon tomorrow
and You might be there to get it, if 70,
) know how"
, wild Bill" made no reply to wha
, was understood by all to be challeng
to a dnel and calmly went on with hi
, poker game, while Tut departed. Tha
night wild Bill" was found by
f:send at his hotel very earnestly clean
q ing and loading his pistols
, What are you going to do?" aske
: the friend, who was an army Office
stationed at Springfield.
II am going to kill Tut tomorro,
:. noon," said Bill, cor he's going to XII
: me-"
The next day at noon about all tn
male inhabitants of Springfield wer
in the square to see the fun. Tut
came into the square on the east sid
while Bill stood in front of the coul
,. house, diagonally across the corner {
~ the square from Tut. They were full
| narfo oil hn
diagonally to the line of fire betwee
u them. This is mentioned because
et makes wild Bills shot all the mo-
er remarkable. The minute Tut came
IS view he pulled his pistol, as did ais
y. wild Bill"
TT They were too far apart for Tut
i'd who had no idea that Bill could reac
him at that distance. But he didn
n know Bill. He raised his gun and fire
like a flash and Tut dropped dead wit
he bullet in his head fully $50 var
a. away.
\. wild Bill" was SO sure OF his al
n that he never paused, but turned on tt
" crowd behind him. several Of who
=. were friends of Tut and had half draw
9" their pistols to revenge him. Bill w
too prompt and quick. He covered Il
gang in a general way with both
Gu pistols and remarked:
OF WAS that ON the square, gentl
mem"
The effect of such witchlike skill
10. the nerves of the crowd was too muC
~ The general view seemed to be that I
killing Of Tut was ION the square
-. and that ended the business. xvi
-, Bill" stayed in Springfield as long
~ he pleased after that incident. His 8
sassin was hanged and his body II
in the Yankt0n cemetery. while t
.n' body Of wild Bill has petrified in
me grave at Deadwood.
the
she
NV Self Evideuce.
"Mr MOddlin" that gentlem0