The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-10-05
THEY WE'RE BAD MEN
THE FORMER INHABITANTS OF ELLIS
WORTH AND HAYS CITY.


WORTH AND HAYS CITY.
Back In the Sixties These Towns Were
Not So Quiet as They Are Now-How
Some of the Citizens Settled Down-wnd
Bill and Jim Curry.
Ellsworth shouted brakeman OH
the Union Pacific railway, Kansas divi-
sion, as the train swept through a
prairie valley and slowed up at sleepy,
cottonwood shaded, prairie enciroled
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?" I asked of
the gray bearded man who had shared
my seat for the last 30 miles.
THAT is the Grand Army grounds
and building, " he said. at belongs to
the old soldiers, and they hold reunion
there every summer "
They have picked on a very Quiet
town in which to rendezvous. "
Yes, this is quiet town now, but l
can remember, 30 years ago, when Ellis
1 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
I 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. 1t was 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
to 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 permanent residence out Wonder
because a bartender got the drop on him
one night and added about two ounces
to Bills weight in the shape Of lead
placed where it would do the most good.
Comstock Charley, half breed Chey-
enne scout, tough and general all round
bad man, also became quiet citizen of
the place where they planted 'em in
those days on account of puncture put
into him by Henry Whitney, sheriff.
g 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 I knew Jim Curry when he
" as an engineer ON this road. He be-
came enamored of a woman, married
her, and they settled down in Hays
City, keeping little restaurant there.
There was a regiment of negro soldiers
CHARTERED at Fort Hays The negroes
took offense at Jim because he refused
to serve them with meals at his house
They came around to clean out the
place. Jim went ~ shooting, and when
he quit Uncle Sans army was deci-
mated to some extent
Wild Bill was nervy 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
position where his keen eye and ready
revolver were not master Of the situa- |
ton, but he did allow the drop to be !
got on him twice to my knowledge. The
first time was present, and the next |
time-well, Bill was was gone himself |
when the second time came to climax.
II will tell you the story of the time
was present. Now, never knew Bill |
to 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
peaceably if he could, forcibly if he
must. Jim Curry was coward, but he |
was determined to acquire reputation |
as bad man, and, as Bill Hiokok held /
the championship of the world at that |
time as killer, Curry thought he |
might safely run bluff on Wild Bill. |
$50 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 Currv's talk, not considering
him in his class.
Zone day met Curry on the street
in Hays. We went into a saloon kept
by little, nervous, excitable German. |
Wild Bill's tall form and long, black |
hair doomed up at table in the back |
part OF the room. His back was toward /
Curry and myself. Curry walked over |
to the table, standing directly behind |
Bill. Before any one suspected what he |
would do he had his gun against Bills |
head and said, Now, you long haired
-, I've got you, and you're going
to die. Bill never batted an eye nor
moved a muscle, but said, You would
not shoot man down without givin
him show to defend his life, would |
your Wouldn't 1? What show did you
ever give any one, you ---F
The Dutchman was dancing around
like mad, imploring Jim to put up his
gun and for him and Bill to shake
hehOS" OuOy WOuAAy ITO WOulQ stduu
treat for the house. which proposition
was finally accepted. Wild Bill and
Jim Curry shook hands, after which
Bill said: Now. Jim, I got nothin
sg'in you, and don't want to kill you,
but if you are bound to get a reputation
there's a town full of tenderfeet here
and lots of sassy niger soldiers. Go
practice on them. You'll have to git
more of 'em to give you a reputation,
and it will take more time to git thar
than if you held discussion with me.
but / think you will live longer to en-
joy it and be happier than if you kept
up projectin with me. So now les jes'
drop this, or may get the idea into my
head that you're in earnest, and that
might be bad for you indianapolis
Journal
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