Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-08-21
WILD BULL FIGHT.
Old Story Revived by Photograph Of
Three Noted PIainsmen.

hree Noted PlalnSmeh.
The Omaha World-Herald of July
~ reproduces a picture, made in
1878, the only one ever taken of the
great trio of frontiersmen, Wild Bill,
Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack. All of
these, it need scarcely be added, are
dead except Buffalo Bill. The Herald
adds:
Of the many current stories about
Wild Bill, the most remarkable was
that of his killing ten desperadoes
single-handed. It has been given
many versions, and has generally been
regarded as mythical, but is here
given as it was had from Wild Bills
own lips, as printed in an article in
Harper's Monthly in February, 1867.
In 1861 he was guiding detachment
of cavalry through northern Kansas,
and left the camp to see an old friend.
AS he drove up to the house the ter
rified woman told him that the terrible
guerrilla, McCandlas, was looking for
him with his band of nine men. He
had no sooner got inside before they
rode up, and, recognizing his horse
y
rifle, and dared McCandlas to come in
and fight him alone. Of the occur
renee, Wild Bill was quoted in Har-
per's as saying:
''McCandlas was no coward if he
was a bully. He jumped inside the
room with his gun leveled to shoot,
but he was not quick enough. My
rife ball went through his heart.
His disappearance was followed by
a yell from his gang, and then there
was a dead silence. put down the
rife and took the revolver, and |
said to myself: Only six shots and
nine men to kill. Save your powder,
Bill, for the death hugs a-comin'!" l
don't know why it was, kernel, but at
that moment things seemed clear and
sharp. I could think strong.
There was few seconds of that
awful stiffness, and then the rufians
came rushing in at both doors
How wild they looked with their red,
drunken faces and inflamed eyes,
shouting and cussing. But I never
aimed more deliberately in my life.
"One-two-three-four; and four men
fell dead
THAT didn't stop the rest. Two of
them fired their bird guns at me- And
then l felt a sting run all over me-
The room was full of smoke. Two
got in close to me, their eyes glazing
out of the Clouds One I knocked
down with my fist. You are out or
the way for a WHILE l thought. The
second I shot dead The other three
clutched me and crowded me onto the
bed. I fought hard. l broke with my
hand one mans arm. Before l could
get to my feet | was struck across the
breast with the stock of a rife, and |
felt the blood rushing out of my nose
and mouth. Then l got ugly, and l
remember that l got hold Of a knife,
and then it was all cloudy-like, and I
was wild, and I struck savage blows,
following the devils up from one side
of the room to the other and into the
corner, striking and slashing until l
knew that every one was dead.
"All of a sudden it seemd as if my
heart was on fire. 1 rushed out to the
well and drank from the bucket, and
then tumbled down in a faint"
"You must have been hurt almost to
death"
There were eleven buckshot in me-
carry some of them now. I was cut
in thirteen places, all of them bad
enough to have let out the life of
man"
]. B. Omohondro, "Texas Jack was
for years companion, hunter, trapper
and scout with Buffalo Bill. Born in
Fluvinana county, Virginia, a de-
scendant from Pocahontas of the Pow
haitian tribe, he in early boyhood de-
veloped penchant for the sport of i
hunting, thus acquiring a marvellous |
knowledge of the topography of the
country-every hill, dale, crossroad,
by-path, gap of mountain trail. This
became of immense value to scouting, i
guerrilla and cavalry parties of the
confederate army. Little Jack"
Omohondro became celebrated guide
for many midnight raid retreat or
surprise party. He was with General
J. E. S. Stuart, being with General
Stuart when he was killed. After
the surrender Jack skinned out" rode
across the country to Texas, where
he was known as Happy Jack" He
eventually drifted into the cattle trade,
and from his skill as a horseman,