The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-23
THESE WERE TOUGH MEN
AND THERE WERE REASONS WHY
THEY DIED WITH THEIR BOOTS ON.
Days when Ellsworth and Hays City
Were Not Quiet Towns-WiId Bill
and Jim Curry in Argument.

"Ellswc ehv' shouted a brakeman on the
Union Pacific Railway, Kansas division, as
the train swept through prairie valley and
slowed UP at a sleepy, cottonwood-shaded,
prairie-encircled Western Kansas town To
the left could be seen a large and peculiar
building located on the outskirts OF the
village.
What is that building?" asked of the
gray-bearded man who had shared my seat
for the last twenty miles
THAT is the Grand Army grounds and
building" he said. at belongs to the old
soldiers of Kansas, and they hold a re-
union there every summer"
''They have picked a very quiet town
in which to rendezvous / remarked
Yes; this is quiet town now, but can
remember thirty years ago. when Ellsworth
was helPs half acre; yes, worsee than that,
for all the cussedness goin' on in this town
in the sixties couldn't have been crowded
on to less than helrs half section. Times
was mighty dun in Ellsworth, them days,
when there wasn't work for the coroner
six days in the week, and he generally had
to work overtime on Sundays. 1t was the
toughest place on the plains until the rail-
road moved on west, and the killers, toughs,
gamblers and their female companions fol-
of crime and the contract for filling the
graveyard was transferred to Hays. But
to-day both towns are as quiet and orderly
a New England village Some of the
bad men of those days settled here in Ells-
worth permanently and became quiet cit-
zens-after they became residents of the
graveyard on the hill yonder.
PERMANENT RESIDENTS.
apache Bill, scout and tough, took up a
permanent residence out yonder because a
bartender got the drop on him one night
and added about two ounces to Bills weight
in the shape of lead placed where it would
do the most good Comstock Charley a half
breed Cheyenne scout, tough and general
all-round bad man, also became a quiet
citizen of the place where they planted EN-
in those days, on account of a puncture put
into him by Henry Whitney, sheriff. Curly
Marshall, another bad man, was also a
killer from Killerstowp. but one night he
went up against Jack Nolan, a Texas stock
man, and when the discussion ended Whit
ney furnished a job for the coroner Nolan
was arrested in Texas, brought to Els
worth, tried, and acquitted on the grounds
that he had done valuable service to the
community.
Bill Hickok wild Bid gained his fame
at Hays City, west of here, as also did
Jim Curry, who later on shot and killed
Ben Porter, actor, at Marshall Tex.
knew Jim Curry when he was an engineer
on this road He became enamored of
wanton woman, married her, and they set
tied down in Hays City, keeping little res
taurS ut there. There was regiment of
ne. soldiers quartered at Fort Hays. The
negroes took offense at Jim because he re-
fused to serve them with meals at his hash
house They came around to clean out the
place. Jim went to shooting, and when he
quf le Sans army was decimated TO
cent; four OF them were removed
fro lie pay roll
~, lid Bill was a nervy man and did some
killing in his day, and he might have lived
longer if he had not grown careless. You
see, Bill like all men of his class was
always expecting trouble, and was always
on guard. Bill for years had never allowed
himself to get into position where his
keen eye and ready revolver were not mas
ter of the situation, but he did allow the
drop to be got on him twice to my knowl-
edge. The first time was present, and the
next time-well, Bill was gone himself when
the second time came to climax.
HICKOK AND CURRY.
ST will tell you the story of the time
was present. Now never knew Bill to
pull his gun to kill unless it was in self
defense or there was no other way to Sc
cure the peace and quiet Bill always
hankered for and would have-peaceably If
he could, forcibly If he must. Jim Curry
was a cur and coward but he was de-
termined to acquire reputation as bad
man. and as Bill Hickok held the cham
pionship Of the world at that time as a
killer Curry thought he might safely run a
bluff on Wild Bill. So he sent Bill word
he would kill him sight, not that he
had anything against Bill, but Curry had
gone into the killing business and he pro-
posed to hold the center of the stage and
show that he was displaying energy and
aptitude in his business. Bill paid no at.
tention to Curry's talk, not considering him
in his class.
"One day 1 met Curry on the street In
Hays. We went into a saloon kept by
little, nervous, exctable German. Wild
Bits tall form and long, black hair loomed
up at a table in the back part of the ROOM
His back was toward Curry and myself
Curry walked over to the table, standing
directly behind Bill. Before any one sus-
pected what he would do he had his gun
against Bits head and said, Now, you
long-haired -- - I've got YOU, and
you're going to die Bill never batted an
eye, nor moved muscle, but said, You
wouldn't shoot a down without givin'
him show 20 defend his life. would you?
Wouldn't I? What show did you ever give
any one, you - -?
1.-The Dutchman was dancing around like
mad imploring Jim TO put up his gun, and
for him and Bill to shake hands. If they
would he would stand treat for the house,
which proposition finally accepted.
Wild Bill and Jim Curry shook hands after
which Bill said: Now, jim l got nothin'
agin you, and 1 don't want to kill you,
but If you are bound TO get a reputation
there's a town full of tendergeet here and
lots o. sassy niger soldiers. Go practice
on them; you'll have to git more of EN-
TO give you a reputation, and it will take
more time to git thar than if you held
a. discussion with me, but l think you will
live longer to enjoy it, and be happier than
If you kept up projectn with me- So now
less jes' drop this, or 1 may get the idea
into my head that you're in earnest. an
that might be bad for you "
j. HENRY MARTIN.
Her Error.
New York Journal.