The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-12
The TYPICAL PLAINSMAN
GENERAL ANDREW BURT TALKS IN
TERESTINGLY ABOUT HIM.
This Frontier Character Not at All as
Pictured by Cartoonists-Buf-
faIo Bilrs record.
correspondence of the indianapolis Journal.

booted. big mustachios, the whole pictur-
ing a ferocious pirate. The legend explain
ing such a picture usually gives the inn
preston that this long-haired ruflan is dis
turbing the equanimity of some peaceful
newcomer, called a "tenderfoot." The pop
ular mind has been schooled TO believe in
this presentation of long-haired scouts on
the frontier; that he is a bluffing fraud and
montebank. There is no greater popular
error, either in the makeup" as given
them by the cartoonist, or their ordinary
lives-at least such men as 1 have met of
this genus homo.
During thirty-two years of service on our
frontier, beginning as far back as 1866. L
have met most of the men who have given
10 the world the phrase I'm a ba-ad man
from Bitter creek" The ''ba-ad'' is my
substitute for a more forceful and vulgar
term. There were no more unassum-
ing, quiet individuals in their appearance
and demeanor than such men as wild
Bill"' (Hicoc), Neil Howie ("The Man from
Montana'). Frank Hunter. Jack Watkins,
Jack Common. Bill Reed C'Missouri Bill'),
Wash Blakely. Sam Kraus C'Dutch SAM,
into a 'gun play" (Which is not a Western
term, by the way, their bearing as a rule
was cool and notwithstanding ferocious
or blood-thirsty in it. As for a display of
weapons, ordinarily the armament was a
pistol In the pocket concealed by a coat
skirt. otherwise carried in a holder, which
quick action was anticipated, Perhaps the
most formidable of these men was "Wild
BILL" and his favorite weapon a Winches-
fer rtAa With tbic p,p he c,bl,,al the
wild gangs of cowboys from Texas. who
were wont to get hilarious and joyfully
shoot up the town of AbiIene-back in
the seventies a great cattle town. 1t was
and is still on the Kansas and Texas bor-
derland, the meeting place for the vast
cattle drives from Texas en- route to East
ern markets by the railroad. or for pur-
chase delivery to the cattle kings of Wy
eming and Dakota.
WILD BILL RESTORED ORDER.
The good citizens and the bad of Aberline
were equal sufferers from the incursions of
these cowboy raids. 1t was the fashion for
these cowboys to load up on 'forty-rod'
whisky, burst into Aberline on horseback,
dash up the principal street firing their pis-
tolls right and left-shoottng toward any
living thing in sight, not necessarily to kill,
only to brighten people. TIL shooting
changed to a deadly character If anybody
demonstrated by look or word. To stop this
hish-handed practice and to restore the
town to a somewhat normal condition of a
civilized community the resident citizens of
Aberline held a meeting at which it was
resolved to appoint Bali Hicoc town mar
shall. They sent for Bill and asked him If
he would take the office and what salary
he wanted.
well. gentlemen, It's a pretty tough prop
~osition." Hicoc replied. "A good deal de-
Ponds on what you want me to do"
I'VE want you to keep order in this town
when a drive comes in.'
oh! It's not to put me In a glass case
with a big badge on my left breast!"
mo; we want you to stop this blank
shooting UP the town. How many men do
you want as deputies to help you make ar
rests. and how much salary?'
Don't want any deputies, and the jobs
| worth S."
After some dickering a compromise was
made on a smaller sum, and Wild Bill
was sworn in. The mayor presented him
with a tin badge to be worn as an insignia
Of office. Bill wouldn't axe the ''blank
thing" as he called it, remarking: This
will be a personal matter between me and
the cowboys. The only badge I'll need will
be my Winchester"
Sure enough, the next day a big drive ar
rived. The outfit camped outside the town
limits, of course, as the cattle had to have
grazing grounds. After setting the night
herders the rest rode into town peaceably
enough, not having "tanked up" Whisky
had given out on the trail. There was no
serious disturbance that night, though the
cowboys caroused all night. Before they
had gone very far with their drinking Hicoc
went into the saloon where the ''punchers"
were congregated, and told the boys he had
been appointed town marshal, warning them
that it was his sworn duty to preserve peace
and order in Aberline. He wound up his
speech with: Boys. I'm surely goin' to
try and fill the bill" His speech was re-
ceived with derisive shouts and side remarks
requesting him to go to a hotter place than
Texas.
The next morning the whole gang charged
into the town, whooping. yelling and firing
their pistols. Bill was on the street, his
rifle resting in the hollow of his left arm.
As the cowboys dashed towards him, Hicoc
raised his hand, shouting halt" 1t was
not believed they intended to kill the town
marshal, but as the gang rode b. they
gave him a volley. Bills hat was knocked
from his head, one bullet grazed his arm,
another pierced his left foot. That shot
brought Bill to his knee; as he rose he be-
gan pumping his Winchester. Well, there
were seven riderless horses that galloped
out of Aberline before wild Bill quit
shooting. 1t was some time before the
Texas cowboys again tried to paint Aberline
a vermilion hue by shooting up the town..
TRIBUTE TO BUFFALO BILL.
1t may have been noted that Bill Cody
c"Buffalo Bill') and Captain Jack Craw-
ford, the poet scout, are not mentioned in
the list of names 1 have given in the be-
ginning OF this story. The reason 1 omitted
them is they were never classed among the
cutters and shooters bad men from Bit
ter creek. Bill and Jack were essentially
Indian scouts. Very peaceful and respecta-
BILE men in their line. When they had TO
fight Indians, then they were strictly in IL.
and as good mixers as you find the world
over. / know both the gentlemen well. In
fact (asking pardon for intruding), / wrote
May Cody. or Lost and Won," Buffalo
Bills most successful play" quoting his
own words. 1t was played for three sea-
sons in this country. Therefore. l feel COM
petent to speak knowingly about this-one
of the most widely advertised men in Amer