The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-01
WILD BILLS FIRST BATTLE.
Story of the Most Remarkable
Conflict in Border annals.

{ OrCV years ago, III OoCeIuDeT, zen
men on bay horses galloped across the
drv bed of Rock Creek, skirted a lit
tie clamp of cottonwoods, and drew
rein before the bars of the Overland
Stage Company's horse coral on the
California trail few miles north of
Manhattan. 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 q
few yards away with 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 OF their
parentage.
\ few hours before they had gone
by his quarters jerking an old preach
er at the end of lariat. AS they
passed they announced that they would
come back for the stage horses in the
coral 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, harness, and protect the COM
pany's property, and intended to earn
his money. The ten visiting gentlemen
tied their horses to the corral, and
turned to the more cheerful duty Of
exterminating the imprudent and
forward young watchman. He retired
into 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 the occasion
really demanded it. The highwaymen
hunted up log from among the cot
tonwoods, and with praiseworthy lin-
dustry proceeded to batter down the
door.
jim McKandlas, with a revolver a
bowie knife, 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 dealt him over
the head with gun and Bill McKand-
las struck with a bowie knife, only to
bury It in the table, and with a bull
let in his heart, to suddenly terminate
career which had furnished an in
finite variety of interest for the
sheriffs and vigilants Of several coun-
ties.
The rusty stove fell from its insecure
foundation across the surging combat
ants, mixed in inextricable and san
culinary confusion. Outside horse
broke his hitching strap and galloped
away. The little table broke down
beneath the weight of thousand
pounds of shooting stabbing, swearing
frontiersmen. The fattest . bandit
rolled toward the door, and catching a
glimpse of the brown prairies outside,
which looked good to him, suddenly
reached 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 fanclers
that enticing interest which had
drawn 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 be
struck the sixth man in the throat
with the bowie, and the man fell
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
after 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 asso-
ciate, had lost a golden opportunity.
While he was out shooting quail, Fame
had knocked at the dug-out door,
handed laurel to James Butter
Hickok, and passed on. Hickok wrest--
ed the gun from Mills's hand, and
killed another of his fleeing foes be-
fore they were fifty 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 horse, and
followed the fat deserter across the
prairie.
When the stage from the East came
rumbling in, half on hour later. they
found this hero of the most savage
and the most remarkable conflict in
border annals insensibie and at the
point of death. The floor OF his dug
out looked like the deck of vikings
warship after a glorious triumph.
Six months elapsed before he recover
ed. He had beaten ten men in fair
fight. killing eight of them, but. he
had won his fight. saved his employ
er's property, and henceforth he was
.sWild Bill'' for all time.-E. G. Lit
tie in Everybody's Magazine.
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