The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-07-03
A TENDERFooT's ADVENTURES
And the Way He Saw Miles in the
Wild and Woody West.

Bishop, from data presumably sup
piled by his father, Dave Bishop, a
deputy sheriff. The story is interest
ing:
Many years ago | was working for
a firm in Chicago, but the firm failed
so | concluded to try my luck in the
far west. Just week after losing
my job, boarded a coach and started
on my journey for Miles City, Mont.
After enduring many hardships,
I'VE at length came to standstlll IN
front of a few scattering log build
|ings. The driver jumped down. and,
as l alighted, a dozen or more rough
men appeared on the scene.
had on my city clothes and at the
sight of them big burly fellow set
up a shout. "A tenderfoOt! tender
foot
| afterward learned this fellow was
Bill Fam, better known now as I'm |
Gle Fam.
One big. tall, beardless, good look
ing young man came up and intro
duced himself as Tom Irvine. | liked
Irvine from the first time l saw him,
as he was very pleasant.
AS Irvine and | started down the
street.-The only one in town-a big
fellow came out of a saloon with
guns cooked and made a dive for
me, but you may be sure | got around
the corner of that building quicker
than | ever got around a corner be-
fore. | afterward had the pleasure
of meeting this man, who is now one
of your most respected citizens,
Judge NJ. NJ. Lockwood. But on he
came and ordered me to halt. which
order I promptly obeyed. Lockwood
came on, hollering for all he was
worth, lets see you dance and
began shooting dangerously near my
feet, and / responded to the best OF
nv ability. He afterward told me it
was all a Joke, for such things were
his favorite pastime.
One morning Henry Chambers ana
Bill Fam rode up on horseback. lead
ing a broncho, which they command
ed me to ride, quietly remarking, by
the way. that it was the worst bucker
in the country You can imagine
how badly scared | was. While they
held the deadly brute they forced me
to mount. after which he walked OH
without ever a buck or unpleasant
move. A great crowd had gathered
around and they gave me the laugh,
as it was all put up job to scare me.
That night as Tom and | were sit
ting in the saloon he pointed to a
short man who had a long look on
his face, and Tom told me his name
was Bob Nicol. Just then big fel-
low came in and began to boast loud
w about his bravery. the number Of
men he had killed. ETC.. all the time
brandishing his gun. FINAL yNlco
got up and slowly sauntered up tc
him and at length spit tobacco juice
in his eye, pulled his own gun anc
made the big fellow drop to his knees
and beg for his life. Then Bob tole
him to get up and hit the hike. he
did so. while everyone set up shou
for Bob.
In the course of time, Bob Nicol
Bill Fann Marion Lockwood, ron
Irvine and others, among whom wa
myself, orifted to Great Falls, wher'
one Fourth of July, we had a cele
brated celebration.
Among the gathering were mum
Der of Indians, and to amuse them
we decided to shoot a howitzer iron
the back of a mule. SO we collecte
near the bank of the river and point
ed out a spot on the bluff across tn
river to watch the dust fly.
Bill loaded the howitzer and fas
tened it to the back or the mul
with the assistance OF Nlcol, LOCI
wood and myself. so the muZzl
pointed backward over the mule
tail Tom Irvine stood in front
the mule and held him by the halte
We backed him (the mule) up, sign
ed the gun at a spot across the rive
and touched the fuse with mater
# soon began to spit and sizzle an
the mule became frightened ana o.
gan to run around in a circle In
only crow that felt safe was irwin
holding the halter. Every man
the crowd feared the gun would e
off lust as it was pointed toWal
him. so scattered in all direction
Riu Fam made break for the rive
bank and hid behind pile OF rock
Marion Lockwood swan hall wa
across the river, while Bob Nc
hung onto Irvines coat tails IN
dance, endeavoring to keep out
range of the gun
Finally, as the mule bumped n
hack in the shape of rainbow pr
naratorv to buck. the gun went
and the ball was buried in the groun
The Indians thought the stampede
the whites was part of the play al
stood their ground, wondering whe
the laugh came. At length | came
to Rayalli county and here met ma