Sunday Washington globe., 1902-04-13
Of the Type of Bill Wells, the
Texas Hunter.
ONE EYED AND HAPPY
with a Few Cattle Some Goats and
a Bunch OF Hogs He Is as Independ-
ent and Contented as a King-How
He Chased an Indian and Once Vis-
ited as Far as kansas Wants No
Near Neighbors


eucroachments of civilization and retained
their primitive ideas Of honesty and inde-
pendence. They represent class of unique
characters, who are only to be found on the
outskirts of settlements, where the country
admits Of scattered habitations, because Of
ruggedness or occasional spots of arabic
lands.
Such a region is found in the vicinity of
the Nueces Canyon aud its tributaries.
This section of Texas embodies one Of the
widest and most picturesque parts of the
state, and includes some Of the loveliest
views that the eye of man ever rested upon.
Withal, its healthfulness, combined with
many other attractive features, renders it
one of the most desirable localities for set.
tlemeut or for a temporary sojourn.
The valley of the Nueces. threaded by the
river and fringed on either side by noun
tain pinnacles, Is settled by good class of
people, who are prosperous and have be-
come thoroughly welded to their surround
ings, which are enhanced by many of the
advantages Of civilization. But back in the
mountains are found a few Of the class who
retain the pronounced characteristics of the
earlier fronhersmen II is the intention Of
this article to introduce one of the fast
disappearing types of our American cit-
zenship.
Bill Wells houors Kansas through his
nativity, but Texas nurtured all Of his bet
ter qualities, and the salubrious air of the
canyon all the hardness conspicuous in his
nature, as his parents found home there
when he was only FIVE years Of age. In his
youthful years he met with a singular ,acc-
dent which destroyed the sight Of one of
his eyes. His mother was trying to repair
gunlock with ie, when it slipped and,
as Bill was leaning on her knee the end Of
the instrument entered his eve and irrepar.
ably destroyed his sight
In those days agriculture received but lit.
tie attention and was confined at most to a
few acres of breadstuffs The supplies for
the family were secured through the chase,
and as the country was full of game and
wild cattle there was no lack of food, and
the pelts contributed to the familys humble
needs from distant markets Doubtless
Bills educational instructions were received
at home, and under the circumstances it is
supposed they were limited. At any rate
] he never aspired to literary distinction, and
his reading has been confined for years to
the Irish W0ria aud a Texas daily. AS a
consequence his politics are governed by
those journals, and he is a rank Fenan in his
opinions and takes great interest in political
affairs but no one preteuds to question the
honesty Of his views, however much they
may differ on the points at issue Physi-
cally he is rugged and coustitutionally he is
fearless. His record as a citizen is clean,
and his own integrity is so pronounced that
he'will subject himself to any Inconvenience
for an opportunity TO testify against a thief ,
indeed he once voluntarily rode all the way
to Lockhart to aid in couvicting one of the
fraternity with his evidence.
His uniform dress is pair of brown duck
pants, jacket and a hickory shirt while
his head is covered with slouched hat
His accessories are a belt full of Winchester
cartridges, to which is attached a long
butcher knife, and canteen for half of a
gallon capacity. When thus equipped he is
ready at a moments notice to undertake
any expedition. His reputation as a sue
cessful hunter is extensive, aud he has en-.
countered many thrilling adventures in his
sporting combats, particularly with bear in
which line of sport he is so famous that he
is known as the bear hunter" In his pur-
suit of these animals his great delight, in
his more active life, was to explore all the
caves he could 6ud and very often he would
encounter a bear, which, with the aid of his
torehlight, he never failed to kill
In one of his investigations in the ex-
tremities of one OF those subterranean cavi-
ties he discovered an underground stream
of limpid, cold water and il was one of his
great pleasures to guide parties to its almost
inaccessible location, where he delighted in
exhibiting its beautiful staactites and sta
lagmites in their curious forms under the
red glare of his torch.
1t may be inferred that Bill was never
addicted to laborious undertakings where
manual labor was required When he mar.
ried he settled on the headwaters of Montel
Creek, Ia the roughest part of the country,
because, as he said, he did not want any
close neighbors. There he built log cabin
on the side Of the mountain near a spring.
from which he irrigated.a blot of ground 90
by 10 feet and planted every year in corn
for the squirrels to eat up. There. he raised
a bevy Of children. His only work was
hunting and killing wild cattlelwhen they
we're too wild or too inaccessible to rope.
There were great numbers of them in the
mountains, and he roped and put his brand
on several thousand, which were turned
loose, bat as they were as wild as before
the general public laid an equaliclaim to
them, and in few years all were exter-
minated.
On one occasion he chased an Indian
several miles in the dusk Of an evening
thinking he was after a wild COW, and when
near enough he roped the animal. Much to
his surprise an Indian Jumped off the
ponys back and then, before attempting TO
escape, stabbed the animal several times
with his knife The shock was so unex
pected that Bill did not stop to recover his
rope or attempt an encounter with the saw
age, but Immediately turned his horse and
beat a hasty retreat.
Bill has fund Of stories which he de.
lights In relating and they with the add.
tion Of his fetching song, Bury Me Not
on the Lone Prairie, " makes him very com
panionable and contributes great amuse.
ment around the camp fires. His many
adventures If properly narrated, would
give zest to any sportsman's publications.
Bill Wells once made journey as far as
the state of Arkansas for the purpose of
disposng of a small farm which had come
into his possession by inheritance. and that
was his second and last trip away from