San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-11
THEY WERE BAD MEN
THE FORMER INHABITANTS OF ELLIS
WORTH AND HAYS CITY.

Some OF the Citizens Settled Down-wild
Bill and Jim Curry.
"Ellsworthi' shouted brakeman on
the Union Pacific railway, Kansas divi-
sion, as the train swept through a
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 shar ed
my seat for the last 20 miles
"That is the Grand Army grounds
and building" he said. ''It belongs to
the old soldiers, and they hold reunion
there every summer"
'They have picked on very quiet
town in which to rendezvous.
''Yes, this is a quiet town now, but
can remember, 80 years ago, when Els
worth was hell's half acre. Yes, worse
than that, for all the cussedness going
on in this town in the sixties couldn't
have been crowded ON to less than hell's
half section. Times was mighty dull in
Ellsworth them days when there wasn't
work for the coroner six days in tho
week, and he generally had to work
overtime on Sundays. Itwas the tough
est place ON the plains until the rail
road moved ON west, and the killers,
toughs, gamblers and their female COM
panions followed on to Hays City. Then
the carnival of crime and the contract
| for filling the graveyard was transferred
| to Hays. But today both towns are as
quiet and orderly as a New England
| village. Some of the bad men of those
days settled here in Ellsworth perma-
nently and became quiet citizens-after
they became residents of the graveyard
ON the hill yonder.
Apache Bill, scout and tough, took
up 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 Chey-
enne scout, tough and general all round
bad man, also became quiet citizen of
the place where they planted 'em in
those days ON account of puncture put
into him by Henry Whitney, sheriff
"Bill Hickok wild Bill gained his
fame at Hays City, west Of here, as
also did Jim Curry, who later on shot
and killed Ben Porter, an actor, at Mar
shall, Tex. / knew Jim Curry when he
was an engineer on this road He be-
came enamored Of q woman, married
her, and they Settled down in Hays
City, keeping q little restaurant there.
There was a regiment of negro soldiers
quartered at Fort Hays. The negroes
took offense at Jim because he refused
| to serve them with meals at his house.
They came around to clean out the
place. Jim went to shooting, and when
ne quit Uncle Sans army was deci-
mated to some extent.
"Wild Bill was a r6rvy man anI 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, WIS always expecting trouble
and was always ON guard. Bill for years
had never allowed himself to get into a
position where his keen eye and ready
revolver were not master of the situa-
ton, but he did allow the drop to be
got ON him twice to my knowledge The
first time was present, and the next
time-well, Bill was was gone himself
when the second time came to climax.
II 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 secure the peace and quiet Bill al
ways hankered for and would have
peaceably if he could, forcibly if he
must. Jim Curry was a coward, but he
was determined to acquire reputation
as a bad man, and, as Bill Hickok held
the championship of the world at that
time as killer, Curry thought he
might safely run bluff ON Wild Bill.
$50 he sent Bill word he would kill
him ON sight, not that he had anything
against Bill, but Curry had gone into
the killing business, and he proposed to
hold the center of the stage and show
that he was displaying energy and apt
itude in his business. Bill paid no at
tention to Curry's talk, not considering
him in his class.
Zone day 1 met Curry on the street
in Hays. We went into a saloon kept
by little, nervous, excitable German.
Wild Bills tall form and long, black
hair doomed up at ID 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 suspected what he
would do he had his gun against Bills
head and said, Now, you long haired
-, I've got you, and you're going
to die Bill never batted an eye nor
moved a muscle, but said, You would
not shoot man down without givin
him a show to defend his life, would
you?' Wouldn't /? 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 thew would. he Would stand