The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-07-16
Why THE FIGHTER REFORMED.

Discovered That the Strangers Spurs Wore
Sharp and That He Could Use Them.
Everybody, and great many other
people, who ever put in any time around
Dogtown either knows OF knows of Bill
Morris. There used to be q great deal
of mining going on around Dogtown-
placer mining, and Bill was celebrity
all the way down Butte creek from
Hupp's Mill to Chico. There was hard
ly man of any fighting proclivities in
that part of California who had not in
the course of his career tried Bill on to
his sorrow.
Bill was q shining success us rough
and tumble fighter, depending more on
strength and agility than science, and
his invariably successful experiences
in this line persuaded him that he had
dead cinch on anyone who was fool
ish enough to engage with him in dis
cussion as to who was the best man.
This feeling of security tended to make
Bill arrogant, not to say naughty, and
his manner to strangers was tinged
with an offensiveness as pronounced as
1t was unmistakable. He became fully
persuaded that it was his bounden duty
to harass and annoy every stranger who
came along until the victim was left no
resource but to resent the provocation
given him and join issues there and
then.
Bill went up to Nimshew one day on
some business, and while he was in the
barroom of the hotel talking to some of
his mining friends tall, slim man came
riding down the mountains on a small
broncho. The traveller hitched his horse
to post in front of the hotel and walked
into the barroom to get drink. He at
tracted no particular attention except
that 1t was observed by some present
that he had particularly long legs. Bill
noticed this fact also, and it occurred
to him that 1t would be source of great
amusement to show his friends what q
stride the traveller had and to illustrate
it by making him get out of the room at
full speed.
With this laudable object in view, he
responded affably to the strangers
pleasant salutation, which was accom-
panied by an invitation to drink. In
the conversation that ensued Bill made
an observation to the effect that it
struck him as rather absurd that man
with legs as long as those in the pos
session of the traveller, should squander
valuable time in riding broken-down
broncho when SO much more ground
could be covered by walking, closing his
remark by stating that an ordinary
jack rabbit wasn't in it with the man
to whom he was addressing his CONVEX
sation.
This nettled the stranger somewhat,
and he threw out hint in the direction
Of how much moro profitable it might
prove to attend to ones own affairs
than to worry about those of others.
Such boldness was not calculated to in
duce the conversation to languish. Bill
was unaccustomed to what he char
acterized as back talk, and the traveller
was promptly challenged to fight. He
failed to see the necessity for this, and
tried to excuse himself on the ground
of suffering with chills and In no con-
dition to fight. Bill declined to recog-
nize this as valid, and the stranger,
with much reluctance, prepared to
meet as best he could Bills onslaught.
No time was wasted in scientific dis
play. Bill closed at once and down they
both went On the floor, Bill, as usual,
on top. But the stranger knew his bust
ness. No one had noticed that the tall.
slim man had on large pair Of Spanish
spurs, which, contrary to custom, were
sharp. Bill was the first one to make the
discovery, for the stranger, instead Of
struggling, as he ought to have done,
clasped Bill firmly with his arms, while
he doubled up his legs and, planting the
spurs on Bills back near the shoulders,
he shot first one leg and then the other
down Bills back. He then reversed and
brought the legs alternately up Bills
back, eXerting all the time violent
downward pressure. The spurs being
sharp, and Bill having on no coat, the
points penetrated the flesh, causing
great pain. Bill howled and struggled,
but to no purpose. The stranger worked
his legs rapidly, and with the regularity
of pistons, literally tripping him up the
back"
Bill informed the audience in Ian
guage which admitted of no misunder-
standing that he had all he wanted,
and he and the stranger were untangled.
The traveller set 'em up and, mounting
his broncho, resumed his journey. Bill
went back to Dogtown q reformed man.
He rarely addresses a stranger, and
when he does it is with great civility.
If you doubt the truth of this story
stop at Centerville, on Butte creek, and
ask Bill Hooper about it.-Washington
Post.