The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-06-17
He Was Famed For His Nerve in a Country
Full of Plucky Men and That is Why
Arizona Mourns Him.
incidents in the Life of the Man Who Was in
Turn Miner, Journalist, Politician,
Judge and Soldier.

In Arizona, mems eyes light up
when they talk of ''Bucky" O'Neill, says
William Macleod Raine in June Out
ing. He was splendid type of the
chivalrous frontiersman dear to the
Western heart. His father was Capt.
John O'Neill, an officer of Co. K,
116th Pennsylvania Volunteers, which
was part of the celebrated Meagher's
Irish Brigade so prominently mention
ed in the annals of the Civil war.
Captain O'Neill was five times wound
ed at Fredericksburg, and during the
war received fourteen wounds, being
obliged to walk on crutches for the
rest of his life. Captain William
O'Neill, familiarly known as "Bucky,"
received an excellent classical and
legal education. He graduated in 1879
from the law course of the National
University, and went straight to
Phoenix, Arizona, where he became
editor and manager of the City
Herald.
From that time until his death, o.
Neill was prominent as miner, jour-
nalist, politician, business man, judge,
soldier, and sheriff. He was born
soldier, and by grace OF natural fit
ness, leader of men.
"Bucky" was reckless, soft-spoken,
dark-eyed man of unflinching nerve.
Personally he was very bashful among
strangers. His soft brown eyes grew
frightened at thought of making a
speech. His daring was Irish in it's
extravaganza, but it covered a very
tender heart. At one time the Pres
colt Grays, of which body he was an
officer, were called upon to guard the
scaffold during public hanging. AS
the trap was sprung one of the officers
keeled over in faint. 1t was "Bucky"
O'Neill, man whose nerve was fam
Gus all over a country full of plucky
men. He explained afterwards that
he could not bear to see man killed
without giving him chance to fight
for his life.
When the Santa Fe railroad was
being built through the territory a
gang of it's workmen Jumped" a
spring belonging to the Navajo In
dians. The Navajos were a company
of peaceable shepherds, and they were
not r;ady to fight for their rights al
though their sheep were about to per-
ish with thirst. Along rode "Bucky"
O'Neill, looking out for some of his
many diverse interests, and discover
ed the pitiable condition of the Indian
fiocks
His quick Celtic blood boiled. He
did not wait for any help but rode
straight to the gang of toughs.
"By God! you'll either treat these
people decent and give them their
water or I'll drive you out" said this
Don Quixote of the desert, roundly.
O'Neill armed the Indians and told
them to get ready to rush the spring
But the bullies had no mind to fight
body of men led by "Bucky" O'Neill
They retired voluntarily. The head
chief of the Navajos was so grateful
that he gave to 'Bucky" a great silver
ring as mark of his esteem. This
ring always commanded for O'Neill
the respect due to chief He after.
ward presented it to Thurlow Weed
in his generous way.
"Bucky" came into conflict with rail-
road interests later when he ran for
sheriff. He had had inserted in the
platform of his party plank to the
effect that the Republican candidates
if elected would assess the railroad the
full value of it's land holdings. The
sheriff was at that time the ex-offlcio
assessor of Yavapai county. "Bucky"
was the sole issue of the campaign,
and though bitterly opposed by cor
porate interests, ran far ahead of his
ticket and was elected.
The sheriff fulfilled his pledge and
incurred the enmity of the railroads
to such an extent that they were not
willing to ask his services TO capture
train robbers who had held up an ex-
press in Canon Diablo. They told