The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-06
WILD BILLS FIRST BATTLE.
Story of the Most Remarkable Con-
fiict in Border Annals.

L. G.. Little, in ENel!Douys Magazine.
Forty years ago. in December. ten
men on bay horses galloped across the
drv bed of Rock creek. skirted a little
clump Of cOttOnwOods, and drew rem
befor the bars of the Overland stage
company'S horse corral on the Call
fornia trail few miles north Of Man
haitian. Bill McKandlas. jumping
from his horse. put his hand on the
top bar A tall. slender young man
stepped to the door of the dug-out
few yards away with gun in his
hand, and eyed the McKanlas gang
with dark disfavor. He called out
with some emphasis that he would
shoot the first man who took down
bar. and made some comments on
their parentage.
A few hours before they had gone
by his quarters jerking an old preacher
at the end of a lariat. AS they passed
they announced that they would come
back for the stage horses in the corral
at three O'Clock in the afternoon. The
young man with the gun had replied
that he would be there when they
came back He was paid to feed. mar
ness and protect the company's prop
erty and intended to earn his money.
The ten visiting gentlemen tied their
horsse to the corral and turned to the
more cheerful duty of eXterminatinS
the imprudent and forward young
Waterman. He returned into his dug
out dOmicile barred the door, ana
stood waiting with rifle in hand. Even
then he had the habit of not shoot
ing until the occasion really demanded
it, The hghwaymen hunted up log
from among the cottonwoods. and with
praiseworthy industry proceeded to
batter down the door.
Jim McKandlas, with Il revolver.
bowie-knife. Il whOop. and yell leap
ed across the threshold and into eter-
nifty. 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 We're to come. me SIX
somewhat startled horse thieves VINO
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 Mckand-
las struck with bowie-knfe, only 10
bury it in the table and with bullet
in his heart, TO suddenly terminate
career which had furnished an infinite
variety of interest for the sheriffs and
vieilants of several counties. The
rusty stove fell from its insecure fOun-
dation across the surging combatants.
mixed in inextricable and sanguinary
confusion, Outside horse broke his
hitching strap and galloped away. The
little table broke down beneath its
weight of thousand pounds of shoot
ing, stabbing, swearing frOntiersmen.
The faitest bandit rolled toward the
door. and catching II glimpse of the
brown prairies outside, which looked
good To him. suddenly reached the con-
clusion that he did not really need
any stage company horses in his busi-
and bolted
BY this time the affair had ceased
to have for the other four horse fam
cers that enticing interest which had
Grdwn them into it. As he afterwards
expressed it. the young man in charge
of the stage station had gone wild"
Covered with wounds and freckled
with bullet holes, he had lost every
thought and instinct except the lust
of death and victory. As they fought
he struck the sixth man i'm the throat
with the bowie. and the man fell dead
across the little pile of blankets The
three who We're now ON their feet re-
treated through the door and toward
their horses. their host staggering
after them with the sleam of battle
still i'm 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 Miles, the asso-
ate, had lost golden opportunity.
While he was out shooting quail Fame
had knocked at the dug-out door,
handed a laurel to James Butler Hick-
Ok and passed on Hickok wrested
the gun from Miles hand, and killed
another of his fleeing foes before they
We're fifty yards away. One, badly
wounded, sped down the little creek.
found his way to Manhattan and died
within two days. The ninth, more for