The Elbert County tribune., 1900-05-31
WILD DAYS IN KANSAS
TOWN WHERE MEN DIED WITH
BOOTS ON.
fop More Than Two Years Hay. City
was Ruled by the Gun and Score.
'~s Lives We're wiped out-wnd Bill
Mickok. a

ine recent decision OF Congress to
give old Fort Hays to the state OF
Kansas for use as branch OF the
State Agricultural College has started
= flood of "reminiscences about the
town of Hays City. which sprung up to
the north under the protection OF the
garrison.
Hays City started with the building
OF the first trans-continental railroad
across the plains. All the border char
acters who had followed the construc-
uon OF the railroad westward went to
Hays City. then known as Fort Hays.
There was neither law nor order there
for two years and half after the
town sprang up.
There were murderers by the score
in Hays City. Wild Bill Hickok was
the boss killer in Hays City He boast
ed that he had killed II white men In
his day. Over in a sun-baked ceme-
terry on side hill west OF Hays City.
lie all who died in the town until 1880.
There are about $40 graves, and near
ly 80 OF them were filled by tragedies
of some sort.
Only slight provocation was needed
for murder. The Empire Hotel.
frame structure with a few hunks and
much room for saloon and gambling.
was the scene of a sample shooting
affair. One day in December, 1873. a
gambler named Lewis, from Chicago.
had dispute with the bartender, Jim
DAILY, about how rich was a friend of
theirs in a dance hall down the street
Lewis ran to the door. and, turning,
drew his revolver and fired at DAILY
The latter snatched a pistol from be
hind the bar and returned the fre.
This was kept up until both men had
emptied their pistols, and then Daily.
being mortally wounded. went to the
back of the saloon. laid himself out
upon the billiard table and died. While
the shooting was going on little
stage driver named Freeland decided
to take a hand In the fighting. His
only weapon was ingle-bsrreled.
muzzle-loading pistol. Taking this in
his hand. he rushed up behind Lcwis.
and. at the distance of only few
yards, shot him squarely between tho
shoulders. Then, without waiting to
see the result of his shot, he dropped
the weapon and fled.
Lewis. who happened to be wearing
heavy overcoat. did not even know
that he had been hit. and continued
his main fight as If nothing had hap
pened. When about a mile from town
the fleeing Freeland met some men
and reported that he had killed Lewis.
FrhAt, he ., 10 oh
that day to this no human being ls
known to have seen him alive or dead
No story of the exciting days in
early Hays City is complete without
something about James William He
kok, better known as wild Bill. He
was a notorious desperate and man
killer. and on that score was hired to
keep order as city marshal in Hays
City. When a salary OF 5000 a month
was offered him he put on a silver
star and took two huge loaded revolv-
ers and started out on his new duties.
His revolvers were very heavy, and
his favorite way of using them was
by clubbing Grasping the handles. he
would pound an obstreperous cowboy
into insensibility with the utmost
ease. He never let up for a moment In
his endeavor to keep order. His treat
ment of his old companions among
the COW punchers and saloon men
made him many enemies. and they de-
clared they would have his life. He
never walked on the sidewalk, know
ing there might be an armed foe lurk-
ing for him. His bitterest foe was
Philip Cole who declared he would
shoot him on sight. One day Hickok
stood In front of the Daisy saloon.
Cole came up the street and neared
the sidewalk. There was a shot fired
at the marshal, whether by Cole or
some cowboys nearby will never be
known. but in an instant Wild Bill
drew both his reyolvers and placed
two bullets in Coles breast. The
holes where they entered were not
two inches apart. although the men
were twenty feet from each other The
shooting emptied the neigbboring sa-
looms and 100 or more men were on !
the spot in a moment Hlckok or
dered them to disperse and be quick |
about 1t. and they dispersed Before |
the bystanders had fallen back far |
Mike Williams, who had heard the |
shooting, came running up from an
other part Of the town. Either Wild |
Bill did not recognize him. or thought |
that Williams had turned against him.
for, with the same unerring aim that |
he had Just exhibited, he leveled both |
revolvers again and two more bullets
fnunA THAR Nt1Iianu L
to the ground.