Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-08-12
Wild Bill'S Deadly Aim.
Ills DUEL WITH DAVE TUT IN
TIE PUBLIC SQUARE AT
SPRINGFIELD, MO.

1t was in the spring of 1868 that
Wild Bill and Dave Tut, eX-chief
Of Confederate scouts, tried conclu-
sionS in the public square at Spring
field, No." said DIR. Hogeboom,
surgeon Of A., T. and S. +. railroad /.
The war was over, SO far as fight
ing in the field was concerned, but
the peculiar Vindictiveness that char
acteriZed all the warfare on both
sides in Missouri still existed and
showed itself in many ways. a
strong force of u. $. troops occupied
the town, the Kansas regiment, to
which | was attached, among them
"A picturesque and striking figure
among those who had fought on the
Union side 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, brave and desperate man and
dead shot, was the leader of that
element. They lost no opportunity
to show their i'll will to the Union
lists, and between Tut and Wild
Bill bad feeling was strongly mani
tested. 1t came to the point of an
open quarrel one night when Tutt,
with his gang, came into saloon
where Wild Bill was seated at q
game Of poker. He had been win
ming, and with the pile of money
before him on the table were gold
watch and chain, that some one had
wagered and lost. Tut had come
for quarrel. He watched the
game few minutes, then said sud-
denly
Bill, | want you to pay mo the
money you owe me-
have paid you once. Isn't that
enough?' said Wild Bill, looking uu
from the hand of cards he held.
Tut reached over and took the
gold watch and chain from Wild
BilPs pile of winnings.
You owe me that money he said
'Ill keep this watch to satisfy the
debt
Wild Bill looked at him with
perfect calmness. Better put il
back, Dave he said. sYou'u be
sorry if you DON'T
Tutt laughed and put the watch ir
his pocket which ended the matter
Tor that night. Next day he sen,
word to Wild Bill that on the follow
ing saturday at noon he should carry
the watch and chain across the pub
lic square, entering it at the north.
cast corner. This was challenge
which Wild Bill could not ignore.
'ill he there he said when the
message was given him, he wen,
nome and cleaned and oiled his pis
tolls. He did not show himselfmucf
about town nuntilSaturday noon came
Ihen, as Tut appeared at the north
east corner ofthe public square, WILD
| Bill walked in at the southwest
corner. As the two men approached
each other, walking from the
corners diagonally opposite, it wa.
seen that group of TUFTS friend.
were gathered at the corner to the
lett OF Wild Bill, and nobody doubted
that they were there to take a hant
In the shooting if the fight wen
against Tut.
The distance between the two meI
at the start was about 14O yards
They walked steadily toward eacl
other, with pistols in the belts, unit
about 90 PAGES separated them, thel
Tut made a motion as if to draw hi
pistol. Instantly Wild Bill's pisto
came up, and, holding its butt witt
both hands, without sighting he fire,
at Tut, who threw up his hands
staggered, and fell dead on his face
shot through the heart.
With the crack of his pistol Will
Bill wheeled and faced the group O
TUFTS friends, pistol in hand. Som
of them had drawn their weapons
but put them up in hurry and dc
clared thatthe duel,had been fair ono
Wild Bill was king of the town afte
that, as he was chieffor many a yea
afterward on the plains and in tn
tough frontier towns"