The daily sentinel., 1904-01-29
Big Bill Devere
Some True Facts About
Noted Character.

Hoyt's "a Texas Steer has ap-
peared in this city. with big Bill"
Devere in the title roll as the "Conun-
try Editor Nothing funnier has
ever been given here. There are few
however that knew that big Bill
was a soldier of fortune in the San
Juan country in the early days. He
was though. and among his compan-
ions was Editor Curry of the Telluride
Journal.
In recalling his death the journal
editor has the following article.
In the article is a piece of poety.
but it is too lengthy to give. but is
full of pathos and delightfully."- written
All old timers who have ever heard
"Big Bill'' or. for that matter. seen
him. viii read the following with
interest:
"a Denver paper chronicles the
death of "Bill' Devere. known as the
Tramp poet of the Rockies" The
paper gives his age as seventy four
years, which is an error. as he is about
fifty eight years of age.
III liit StNtHtAtH Dill ar a
character in the San Juan. when he
and the Journal scribej were quite
chu nmy sort of running mates.
''B -lly' was poet and n printer. but
IN those davs absolutely worthless
without ambition or object in life
further than having good time.
There were no tailors in the conn
try then. only ready made. hand me
down very common ready made cloth
ing. and owing to his gigantic physi-
cal proportions ''Bill' could find no
ordinary garments that he could get
into and all summer long he wore a
big canvass overcoat. without vest or
undergarments, except rough shirt
he made himself out of California
blanket.
''Bill" had the run of the printing
office at Silvertou and occasionally he
saloon, do the work himself and de-
liver it. which would entitle him to
run a several days account at the bar.
One night in the summer of seven
| ty-nine the writer and ''Bill" were
wandering about Silverton and drop
ped into the variety and ''Maison de
Joie" run by Tom Cain and Bob Rob-
erts. In one of the most abandoned
of the coryphees fitting about the
place 'Bill'' recognized womann
whom he lad known rs an innocent
girl, school mate friend of his youth
back in New York. Calling her to
him thev briefly talked over their
youthful days. and finally we left.
The incident made deep impress
ion on Bills mind, and as we
strolled up the street we invested our
last two-bits in sack of peanuts
which the two of us Quietly munched
as we walked along. "Bill'' declining
to talk. very unusual circumstance
with him. Dropping into Ed Cor
mans Rosebud we went INTO the
back room, deserted at that hour.
and seating ourselves at round table
"Bill'' dumped the peanuts out tear
ing the manila bag into two sheets,
wrote thereon some verses.
'Bill" handed us the manuscript
and by accident the beautiful senti-
ment was preserved. He published
several volumes of poems. but the
above appears in none of them.
Mr.. Devere had unusual stage tai
ent, and was an actor of more than or
dinarS Aerit. Some ten or twelve
years ago he "5raced up. j" and dur
ing the latter part of his life managed
one of Hoyt's companies. PLAYING the
star part. that of the County Edi-
tor, - for number of years in ''The
Texas Steer. Two years ago. while
the Company was at the Tabor Grand
for week we visited him and had a
royal time reminiscing of the old time
San Juan days He was then a model
of industry and thrift. and had accum-
utlated a modest competence. About
fourteen years ago he married and
three children came. which he named
Denver, - Frisco and spokane. -
His publ lished volumes of poems