The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-06-30
THEY WERE BAD MEN
The FORMER INHABITANTS OF ELLIS
WORTH AND HAYS CITY.

WORTH AND HAYS Gil Y
Back In the Sixties These Towns Were
Some of the Citizens Settled Down-wnd
Bill and Jim Curry.
"Ellswortbl' 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 I'D
my scat for the last 20 miles
''That is the Grand Army grounds
and building." he said. 1T belongs 10
the old soldiers. and they hold reunion
there every summer. p"
They have picked on very quiet
town IN which 90 rendezvous.
Yes. this is 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 the
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
20 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 a permanent residence out yonder
because a bartender got the drop on him
one night and added about two ounces
20 Bills weight in the shape of lead
placed where it would do the most good.
Comstock Charley, a half breed Chey-
enne Sec, tough and general all round
bad man, also became quiet citizen Of
the place where they planted 'em in
those days on account of a 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 enamoEed OF a woman, married
her. and they settled down in Hays |
City, keeping little restaurant there |
There was a regiment of negro soldiers |
quartered at Fort Hays The negroes |
took offense Mt Jim because he refused |
10 servo them with meals at his house |
They came around TO clean out the |
place. Jim went 70 shooting, and when |
be quit Uncle Sans army was deci- |
mated TO some extent.
wild Bill was a neryy 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 a |
position where his keen eye and ready |
revolver were not master of the situa- |
tion, bat be did allow the drop to be |
got ca him twice TO my knowledge. The |
first time / was present. and the next |
time-well, Bill was was gone himself |
when the second tine came TO a climax |
II will tell you the story of the time |
was present Now, never knew Bill |
10 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
peaoeably if he could, forcibly if be |
must Jim Curry was coward. but be /
was determined TO acquire a reputation /
as a bad man. and, as Bill Hickok held |
the championship of the world at that
time as a killer, Curry thought he |
might safely run bluff ON Wild Bill
SO 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 met Curry ON the street |
in Hays We went into saloon kept |
by little, nervous, excitable German.
Wild Bills tall form and long, black
hair loomed up at table in the back |
part Of the room. His back was toward |
Curry aud myself Curry walked over |
10 the table, standing directly behind /
Bill. Before any one suspected what he |
would do he had mis- gun against Bills |
head and said, Now. you long haired |
-, I've got ycu, and ycu re going |
10 die. Bill never batted an eye nor |
moved a muscle, but said, You would /
not shoot a man down without givin |
him a show to defend his life, would /
you?' Wouldn't II What show did you
ever give any one. you ---Y
The Dutchman was dancing around |
like mad. implorin2 Jim to put up his /
gun and fo< him and Bill to shake |
hands. II they would, be would stand |
treat for the house. which proposition |
was finally accepted. Wild Bill and |
Jim Curry shook hands, after which |
Bill said: Now. Jim. got nothin |
ag'in You. and / don't want 10 kill you,
but if you are bound to get a reputation
there's a town full of fenderfeet here /
and lots Of SASSY Niger soldiers 60
practice on them. You'll have TO git |
more Of 'em to give ycu a reputation,
and il will take more time to git thar
than if you held a discussion with me,
but j think you will hive lcngcr to en-
Joy it and be happier than If yea kept |
up projectin with me- SO now les les
drop tins. or risy get the idea into my
bead that you're in earnest. and that
might be bad for you. indianapolis
Journal
saId EnOngh.
Two Turks were at a FreBch Lanquet
Toward the conclusion If the ff.,s,