The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-06-18
WHY THE FIGHTER REFORMED.
Discovered That the Strangers Spurs Were
Sharp and That Hc Could Use Them.

discovered That the Strangers Spurs Were
Sharp and That He Could Use Them.
Everybody, and a great many other
people, who ever put in any time around
Dogtown either knows or knows of Bill
Morris. There used to be a great deal
of mining going on around Dogtown-
placer mining, and BiHwas 4 celebrity
all the way down Butte crecl, from
Hupp's Mill to Chico. There vas hard
ly man of any fighting proclivities 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
strength and agility than science, and
his invariably successful experiences
in this line persuaded him that he had
dead c;nch on anyone who was fool
ish enough to engage with him in Il dis
cussion as to who was the best man.
This feeling of security tended to make
Bill arrogant, not to say naughty, and
his manner to strangers was tinged
with an offon3ivcncss as pronounced as
it was unmistaliaEle. 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 hut to resent the provocatiOn
given him and join issues there and
then.
Bill went up to Nimshew one day on
some business, and while lie was in the
barrooEl of the hotel talking TO some of
his mining friends tall. sl.l.: ran came
riding down the mountains ca q small
brorcho. The traveller h:tchCd h S horse
TO a post in front Of the hotel ard walked
intosthe barroom to get drink. lie at
tractcd no particular attention except
that it was observed by some present
that he had particularly lcrg Ices. Bill
noticed this fact also, a 4 it occurred
to him that il would be s7urca of great
amusement to show his +: lends what
stride the traveller had and TO illustrate
t IL making him get out of the room at
full speed.
With this laudable object in view, he
responded affably to the strangers
pleasant salutation, which was accom-
panied by an invitation to drink. In
the conversat;o that ensucd Dill 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 suuander
valuable time in riding broEen-tlown
hroncho 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.
Inns nettled the stranger somewhat,
and he threw out hint in the direction
OF how much more profitable it might
prove to attend to ones own affairs
than to worry about those of others.
Ouch 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
Jailed 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-
nlze this as valid, and the stranger.
with much reluctance, prepared to
meet as best he could Bill's onslaught.
No time was wasted in scientific dI.-
play. Bill closed at once and down to Nv
both went On the floor, Bill, as usual
on top. But the stranger knew his busi.
ness. No one had noticed tha. the fall
Slim man had on large pair of Spanish
spurs, which, contrary to custom wore
sharp. Bill was the first ane to mako tho
discovery, for the stranger, instead of
struggling, as he ought to have done
clasped Bill firmly with his arms. while
ne doubled up his legs and, planting. the
spurs on Bills back near the shoulders
he shot first one leg and then the other
down Bills back. He then reversed and
brought the legs alternately ur, Bits
back, eXerting all the time a violent
downward pressure. The spurs being
sharp, and Bill having on no coat the
points penetrated the fesl.. causing
great pain. Bill howled ar d STRUGGLED
put to no purpose. TIE stranger worked
MS legs rapidly, and with the regularity
q pistops, literally ripping him up the
back"
Bill Informed the audience in lam
guage which admitted of no misunder-
standing that he had all he wanted.
and he and the stranger were untangled.
The traveller set 'epl up and. mounting
his broncho, resumed his Journey R;Il
went back to Dogtown a reformed man.
lie rarely addresses stranger, and
when he does it is with great civility.
II you doubt the truth of this story
stop at Centerville, on Butte creek. and
ask Bill Hooper about it.-Washine-ton
Post.