The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-13
WILD BILLS DEADLY AIM.
Hts Duel with Dave Tut In the Public Square
at Springfield, Mo.

at was in TIE spring of 1865 that Wild Bill
and Dave Tut. ex-chief OF Confederate scouts,
tried conclusions in the public square at SPRING
field. Mo-" said DR.. Hogeboom. surgeon of the
A, T. and s. F. Railroad. THE war was over,
as far as fighting in the field was concerned, but
the peculiar vindictiveness that characterized
all the warfare on both sides in Missouri still
existed and showed itself in many ways. A
strong force of United states troops occupied
the town, the Kansas regiment to which I was
attached among them. A picturesque and strik-
ing figure among those who had fought on the
Union sido was Wild Bill, whose daring and
valuable services as a Federal scout were
fresh in the minds OF men. There were many
ex-Confederate soldiers in town. and Tut, a
brave and desperate man and a dead shot, was
the leader OF that element. They lost no oppor-
tunity to show their i'll will to the Cnionists. and
between Tut and Wild Bill bad feeling was
strongly manifested. 1t came to the point of an
open quarrel one night when Tut. with his
gang. came into n saloon where Wild BIZ was
seated at a game Of poker. He had been win
ming. and with the pile of money before him on
the table was a gold watch and chain that some
one had wagered and lost. Tut had come for a
quarrel. He watched the game a few minutes.
then said suddenly:
"'Bill. l want you to pay mo the money you
owe me-
".I have paid you once. isn't that enough =
said Wild Bill. looking up from the hand of
cards he held.
Tut reached over and took the gold watch
and chain from Wild Bills pile OF winnings.
".You owe me that money he said III
keep this watch to satisfy the debt
wild Bill looked at him with perfect calm.
ness. Better put it back, Dave he said.
You'll be sorry II you don't
Tut laughed and put the watch In his
pocket. which ended the matter for that night.
Next day he sent word to Wild Bill that on the
following Saturday. at noon, he should carry the
watch and chain across the public square. enter
ing it at the northeast corner. This was a chal-
ieRge which wild Bill could not ignore.
I'm BIO there" he said, when the message was
oiled his pistols. He did not show himself much
about town until Saturday noon came. Then AZ
Tut appeared at the northeast corner OF the
public square, Wild Bill walked in at the south
west corner. As the two men approached, each
other, walking from the corners diagonally op'
posite. ii was seen that a group OF TUFTS friends
were gathered at the corner to the left OF Wild
Bill, and nobody present doubted that they were
there to take n hand in tho shooting II the fight
went against Tut.
start was about lao yards. They walked
steadily toward each other, with pistols In the
belts. until about fifty PAGES separated
his pistol. Instantly Wild Bits pistol came up
and. holding its butt with both hands without
sighting, he fred at Tut, who thEew up Ri,
hands, staggered. and fell dead on his race, shot
with the crack of his pistol Wild Bill wheeled
and faced the grSSSp Of Sad THtt, Sn fr isnir w pis1Sl IN
but they put them, up in a, hurry, and DECLARED
that the duel had been q fair one. Wild Bill was
king of the town after that; as he was chief fol
tough frontier towns