Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-02-04
WY TAg FIGHTER REFORMED.
Discovered That he Strangers spurs Were
sharp and That lie Could Use Them.

Sharp and That He Could Use Them.
Everybody, and great many Other
people, who ever put ia any time around
Dogtown either knows or knows of Bill
Morris. There used to be a great deal
OF mining going on around Dogtown-
I placer mining, and Bill vas a celebrity
all the way down Butte creek from
/ Hupp's Mill TO Chico. There was hard
I ly man of any fighting proelivities in
that part of California who had not in
the course of his career tried Bill on to
his sorrow
! Bill was shining success as a rough
and tumble fighter. depending more on
i strength and agility than science. and
/ his Invariably successful experiences
IN this line persuaded him that he had
Z dead cinch on anyone who was fool
ISL enough 10 engage with him in a dis
/ cussion as to who was the best man.
( This feeling of security tended to make
Bill arrogant, not II say naughty, and
his manner to strangers was tinged
with an offensiveness as pronounced as
it 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 aiming friends a tall. slimman came
riding down the mountains on a small
l. I.
to post IN front of the hotel and walked
into the barroom to get drink lie at
tracted no particular attention except
that it WINS observed by some present
that he lad particularly long legs. Bill
noticed this fact also, and it occurred
10 him that it would be a source Of great
amusement to show his friends what |
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 affablv to the strangers |
pleasant salutation. which was accom- |
panied by an invitation TO drink In I
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 a 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.
&c. -
and he threw out hint in the direction
of how much more profitable it might
prove to attend to ones own affairs
than 10 worry about those of others.
Such holiness was not calculated to in
duce the conversation to anguish. 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 Bits 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 Bits 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 a 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
mis- legs rapidly. and with the regularity
Of pistons. lit, rally ripping 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 reformed man.
He rarely addresses a stranger. and
when he does il 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.
Fooled After All.
During the Peninsular war number /
of Eng ish officers had established d |