Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-06-21
WILD BILLS FIRST BATTLE.
story Of the Most Remarkable Conflict
in Border Annals.

in Border Annals.
Forty years ago, in December, 10
men on bay horses galloped across the
dry bed OF Rock creek, skrted little
clump of cOtton-woods, and drew rein
before the bars of the Overland stage
company's horse corral, on the Cali
fornta trail, few miles north of Man
haitian. Bill McKandlas, jumping
from his horse, put his hand on the
top bar. tan, slender young man
stepped to the door of the dug-out
few yards away with a gun in his hand,
and eyed the McKandlas gang with
dark disfavor. He called out with
some emphasis that he would shoot
the first man who took down a bar.
and made some comments on their pa
rentage.
A few hours before they had gone
by his quarters jerking an old preacher
at the end of a lariat. AS they pass
ed they announced that they would
come back for the stage horses in the
corral at o'clock in the afternoon.
The young man with the gun had re-
piled that he would be there when
they came back. He was paid to
feed, harness, and protect the com.
his money. The 10 visiting gentle
men tied their horses to the corral.
and turned to the more cheerful duty
of discriminating the imprudent and
forward young Waterman. He re-
tired into his his dug-out domicile.
barred the door, and stood waiting
with rifle in his hand. Even then
he had the habit of not shooting until
fha nnpuGinr1 L L MI
highwaymen hunted up a log from
among the cotton-woods, and with
praiseworthy industry proceeded to
batter down the door.
Jim McKandlas. with a revolver. a
bowie-knife, a whoop, and a yell leaped
across the threshold and into eternity
AS the others rushed through the door
the man inside fired three shots. with
that accuracy of aim for which he was
so much admired in the years that
were to come. The six somewhat
startled horse thieves who remained
alive swarmed across the dug-out floor.
and piled upon the young station
keeper with revolvers and bowie
knives. One beat him over the head
with gun, and Bill McKandlas struck
with bowie-knife. only to bury it in
the table, and with a bullet in his
heart, suddenly to terminate a career
which had furnished an infinite varie.
ty of interest for the sheriffs and vigi-
lants of several counties. The rusty
stove fell from its insecure foundation
across the surging combatants. mixed
in an ineXtricable and sanguinary con-
fusion. Outside a horse broke his
hitching strap and galloped awav.
The little table broke down beneath
the weight of a thousand pounds of
shooting. stabbing. swearing frontiers
men. The latest bandit rolled tow
ard the door, and catching a glimpse
of the brown prairies outside. which
looked so good to him. suddenly reach
ed the conclusion that he did not really
need any stage company horses in his
business and bolted.
BY this time the affair had ceased
to have for the other four horse fan
ciers that enticing interest which ha
drawn them into it. AS he afterward
expressed it. the young man in charge
of the stage station had gone wild.
Covered with wounds and freckled
with bulletholes. he had lost every
thougLt and instinct except the lust
of death and victory. As they fought
he struck the sixth man in the throat
with the bowie, and the man fel
across the little pile of blankets. The
three who were now on their feet re-
treated through the door and toward
their horses, their host staggering af-
ter them with the CLEAN of battle still
in his blue eye. That morning his
associate in the company's service had
gone hunting. to return on the run
barely in time to witness the close of
the tragedy Doc" Mills. the associa-
ate, had lost a golden opportunity.
While he was out shooting quail. Fame
had knocked at the dug-out door,
handed a laurel to James Butler
Hickok and passed on. Hickok wrest-
ed the gun from Mills's hand, and
killed another of his fleeing foes be-
fore they were so yards away. One,
badly wounded, sped down the little
creek, found his way to Manhattan,
and died within two days. The ninth.
more fortunate. mounted a horse. and
followed the fat deserter across the
prairie.
When the stage from the East came
running in, half an hour later, they
found this hero of the most remarkable
conflict in border annals insensible
and at the point of death The floor
of his dug-out looked like the deck of
vikings war ship after a glorious
triumph. Six months elapsed before
he recovered. He had beaten 10 men
in fair fight, killing eight of them,
but he had won his fight, saved his
employers property, and henceforth
he was wild Bill" for all time
f. c. Little in Everybody's Magazine