, 1897-09-07
THEY WERE BAD MEN
THE FORMER INHABITANTS OF ELLIS
WORTH AND HAYS CITY.

"Ellsworth!' shouted a brakeman on
the Union Pacific railway, Kansas divi-
sion, as the train swept through a
prairie valley and slowed up at a sleepy,
cottonwood shaded, prairie encircled
western Kansas town. To the left could
located Oh the outskirts of the village.
"What is that building" l asked of
the gray bearded man who had shared
my seat for the last 90 miles.
"That is the Grand Army grounds
ana building" he said. 'It belongs to
the old soldiers, and they hold Il reunion
there every summer
"They have picked on a very quiet
town in which to rendezvous
Eyes, this is Il quiet town now, but l
can remember, 30 years ago, when Ellis
worth was hell's half acre. Yes, worse
than that, for all the cussedness going
OH in this town III the sixties couldn't
have been crowded Oh to less than hell's
half section. Times was mighty dull in
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 Oh the plains until the rail
road moved OF west, and the killers,
toughs, gamblers and their female con-
panions followed on to Hays City. Then
the carnival CT 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 citizcns-after
they became residents of the graveyard
Oh the hill yonder.
Apache Bill, scout and tough, took
up a permanent residence out yondef
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, Il half breed Chey-
enne scout, tough and general all round
bad man, also became IA quiet citizen Of
the place where they planted 'em in
those days Oh account of a puncture put
into him by Henry Whitney, sheriff.
bill Hickok wild Bill gained his
fame at Hays City, west of here, as
also did Jim Curry. who later OH shot
and killed Ben Porter, an actor, ut Mar
shall, Tex. l knew Jim Curry when he
was an engineer on this road. He be-
came enamorcd of II woman, married
her, and they settled down in Hays
City, keeping II little restaurant there.
There was a regiment of negro soldiers
r,,rt,rpl pt E,rt IJ,,, H.. ,,,,,,
took ofiense at Jim because he refused
to serve them with meals at his house.
They came around to clean out the
place. Jim went to shooting, and when
he quit Uncle Sans army was deci-
mated to some extent.
wild Bill was u 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 Oh guard. Bill for years
had never allowed himself to get into a
position where his keen eye and ready
revolver were not master of the situa-
ton, but he did allow the drop to be
got Oh him twice to my knowledge. The
first time l was present, and the next
time-well, Bill was was gone himself
when the second tine came to u climax.
Il will tell you the story of the time
l was present. Now. l never knew Bill
to pull his gun to kill unless it was in
self defense or there was nc other way
to secure the peace and quiet Bill al
ways hankered for and would have
~peaceably if he could. fOrcihly if he
must. Jim Curry was Il coward. but he
was determined to acquire il reputation
as a bad man, and, as Bill Hickok held
the championship Of the world at that
time as IL killer, Curry thought he
might safely run u 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 tho ENTER of the stage and show
that he was displaying energy and apt
itudo i'll his business. Bill paid no at
tention to Curry's talk, not considering
him in his class.
Zone day | met Curry on the street
in Hays. We went into a saloon kept
by u little, nervous. excitable German.
Win III > till lOIlh anu lpuR, liIh
hair loomed up at ii table in the oack
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
him Il show to defend his life, would
you?' Wouldn't l? What show did you
ever give any one, you ---"
1.-THE Dutchman was dancing around
like mad, imploring Jim to put up his
gun and for him and Bill to shake
hands. If they would, he would stand
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
ag'in you, and l don't van to kill you,
but if you are bound to get a reputation
there's n 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 u discussion with me.
but l 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 1 may get the idea into my
head that you're III earnest, Il that
might be bad for you. Indianapolis
Journal.