Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1907-11-29
LIGHTNING GUN PLAY
One Time When Wild Bill HiCkok
Was Too Rapid.
He KILLED HIS BEST FRIEND.

NW1 FthONf MaF@Hal TAU 0eANiNo WIS
Leader Of Tho pssperadoss Who Had
Started to Shoot Up the Town When
Ne Made the Fatal Mistake.
In September. 1874. the good people
Of Dickinson county, Kan. had reach
ed the definite conclusion that Il was
a farming country and proceeded Il
emphasize this opinion by giving an
old fashioned county fair at Abilene
Six hundred thousand longhorns came
up from Texas that year. but their
owners took the hint and understood
that there would be no room for their
stock on the prairles of that country
the following season. They had sold
their cattle and were ready to depart
Abilene was to be their stamping
ground no more.
II was In order TO celebrate tho oc-
caslon in the old time way. and II was
generally understood that the ceremo-
niles OF the evening were to conclude
by killing the town marshal Wild Bill
Hickok, and metaphorically taking his
scalp back 10 Texas. A few OF them
drew lots as TO which should have that
dangerous honor. and Phillip Coe got
the short straw.
1t was a beautiful autumn day, and
tho county fair WIS great success
AZ the sun went down Pat McGonigal
and his brother tied their bronchos In
front Of the drovers' cottage. strolled
down Texas street. met their cowboy
friends, and the fun began A dozen
cowmen picked up Jake Karatosky.
the merchant, carried him down to the
Applejuck and had him set up the
drinks. A score Of more or less prolni.
nent citizens and cattiemen were used
~ the same manner and In quick sue
cession.
The crowd increased, and the liquor
and excitement spread. The cowboys
were giving Abilene her last Roman
holiday. Wild Bill was dining at Mrs.
Smiths restaurant. and the rolstercrs
went 60 drag him TO the bar. Bill said
they might 20 20 the Novelty bar and
get a drink on him. but polntedly de-
elined 20 accompany them aud called
particular attention 10 the ordinance
against shooting In the city limits.
ny 10 O'clock at night the mob surg
I'd from one end of Texas street to the
'other IN reckless abandon. Everybody
who claimed 20 be civilized hunted
cover Marshal Hickok aud Policeman
Williams were watching at the Novel
", where generally the most friction
occurred.
X was about this time that big Phil
Coe, keeping faith with his comrades,
but with no enger Rvldlty. leisurely
walked up 10 front Of the Alamo, then
packed with excited men. and fred bis
gun nc dog, as he claimed. wild
BIN told Williams to stay az the Nov
city, ran swiftly across to the rear door
and sprang into the crowded Alamo
roughly inquirlng as to who was doing
tho shooting
Goa stood at the well curb outside
and said that he had AIRED the shot
Immediately he aFed another. which
grazed WIND Riifs side as be stood
at the bar. With that wonderful swift
ness which stood him In good stead so
many times. BIN threw two guns ON
Coo and shot him twice In the abdo-
men, exclalmlng, I've shot too low!'
At the same instant he turned aud
fred twice at another man who came
running down the dark sidewalk and
burst on the scene, showing two guns
In front OF him. Coe fired one more
shot ard fell across the well curb. A
hundred guns clicked as Wild Bill
Aired his FIRST shot. but before the
fourth the place was cleared and not
one bad man was left to stand by
Coo.
The stranger, with two bullets with
In an inch Of his heart, threw both
hands In the air. dropped his guns to
dead. II was Mike Williams, the dep
uty, brave fellow, who. despite his
chiefs instructions TO remain at the
Novelty. could not keep away from the
Eight.
Wild Blll cried out that he had killed
his best friend, gathered tho little man
Ia his arms. aud. with eyes full OF
tears. laid him across poker table.
The fury that burned in bis veins
when no whipped the MeKandlas gang
sprang to life again at this accident.
and he proceeded TO hold the Texas men
responsible. That night the desperate
heroes % border strife hid IN cellars
and sunflower patches or ON swift POI
niles found their way to their cattle
camps. for they had made fzsle by
trying to shoot up the wrong town
Denver Field aud Farm.