The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-19
Written for the Christmas Standard.

he came and went so quietly, but such
was the case. Had Bat Masterson, as his
name is known the world over. ridden
into Butte on a cayuse in 70 or there
abouts the citizens would doubtless
have known he was in town, but those
days have gone by and the man who,
IL is claimed. has killed more human
beings in single handed encounters
than any other living man. is much
like anybody else. little more watch
full with his eyes, perhaps-a trait he
acquired early in life-but otherwise
very ordinary appearing citizen. He
didn't stay long enough in Butte to
make the acquaintance of many peo-
pie. He didn't like the smoke. for al
though he was accustomed TO the smell
of smoke some years ago 1t was of
another kind. and as he didn't like the
smell of Butte's particular variety he
continued on his iournew to his Col
orado home.
The story of Masterson's adventures
in the early days of the West reads
more like blood and thunder novel
than a recital of the actual expert
ences of a human being. Born almost
with a gun in his hand and a pair of
spurs on his heels. he took early to the
prairies and developed a dare-devil
and a courage, nerve and skill in the
use of firearms which brought him
safely out. Masterson in his time has
killed 25 or IS men in personal encoun-
ter. If the Indians he killed in single
handed combats are to be counted.
which is said to be the record. Through
all this trail of blood Masterson has
come, so far as any man knows. with
out any faint of murder on his hands
and although some of his acts in TAX
ing human life will doubtless appear
questionable TO the people of to-day, at
the time of their occurrence there is no
doubt that there was the element of
justification on his side to appease his
conscience in every instance.
The most important of Masterson's
killings were made when he was sher
if of Ford county Kansas. In all of
these there is no doubt of his justifica-
tion and whether done under the cloak
of official authority or as private cit
izen, Ii is a significant fact that he
was never arrested for any of his kill
ings, the nearest he ever came TO IL
being his arrest once upon time for
discharging firearms in the city linz
its, just after he had deprived a man
of his life. During all his wild career
a spirit of fairness was manifested in
all his acts and in all his encounters
which proved fatal to the other fellow.
ii is not of record that he ever fired
fact that the other fellow never got
the chance to fire the second shot, with
one exception. Like the proverbial dime
novel hero, he seems to have borne
charmed life, for out of all the shots
that were ever fired at him he never
stopped but one bullet with serious
results. That was in his first personal
encounter in which he killed his man.
BY some peculiar measure of Proyi
dence 1t never occurred again, al
though many and many shot was sent
in his direction with the intention of
giving him passage into the next world.
The success that always attended the
mans undertakings was doubtless due
TO the elements of character in him.
He is absolutely devoid of fear, has
cool, steady nerve. excellent judgment
and an aim that was never known to
fail when his life depended on it. These
characteristics. backed by a determina-
tion which amounted to fecklessness.
were calculated to make the man prom
inent in his achievements. who was
endowed with them in the days of
Bloody Kansas"
Masterson's adventures have been
greatly exaggerated and many killings
Daniel Boone escapes, and Deadwood
Dick deeds have been ascribed to him
which had very little foundation in
fact. The truth is bad enough or good
enough, whichever may be the more
give it interest The true story Of the
most important Of Mastersons adven-
lures, as the writer once heard it re-
lated by the mans most intimate
friend, is given herewith:
II.
Masterson was born at Middleport
then as now a little hamlet in Iroquois
county, Illinois, in the year 1854. Tho
region was not exactly the frontier but
QfOzQ n and hnN n uf his
fathers farm to become. from boyhood
accustomed TO danger When Master
son was ID his parents emigrated 10
Wichita, Kansas. the Very outpost Of
civilization. in 1869. That was the last
year in which the Indians drew their
annuities from the government on the
Arkansaw, and the year in which the
Southern reservation. known as the
Cheyenne agency. was created, which
is now called Fort Reno. The Indians
Were not especially we'll pleased at he-
ing compelled to move on the reserya-
ton and confine themselves TO IL and
were at all times more or less trouble
some, which made IL necessary in the
sparcely settled country. that every
ranch house should be a small ar
senal and courage and skill in the use
of shooting irons a requisite TO personal
safety. all of which belongs more prop
efly perhaps 10 other history. hut it
serves to illustrate the conditions Sur
rounding the youth of this man of eX-
TraOrdinary nerve and more eXtraor-
binary deeds, whose life. up To the time
he attained his majority, was such as
IN equip him for duty as a govern
ment scout to lead the nations soldiers
over the painless plains in a bitter
Indian war. 10 develop in him a fear
less character. a marvellous mafksman-
ship. and make Of him man 10 hC
feared by even the most dangerous 81
the desperate characters whose. mis-
deeds stained the history Of early Dor
der days.
In the succeeding two years Master
son had many exciting experiences
which helped to develop him in this re-
snect. and in the next three years h,
got the experience by which he ac-
quired his knowledge OF the prairie:
which stood the government in geoc
stead later on. in 1871. when Il year.
old. he became a buffalo hunter ana
followed the business for three years
killing buffalo for their hides. He hunt