The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-28
TELLS Of CALIFORNIA KATE
Old Pioneer Recalls Wild Deeds
in Frontier Days
THRIll|nG TALES OF FIGHTING
FRIEND OF wild BILL" TELLS
STORIES OF THE BIG WEST
WHEN TWAS YOUNG.
THR|ll|AG TALES OF ReHT|Ne

DENISON, Tex, Jan. 2S.-One of the
few surviving frontiersmen of the ear
ly days in the west is Louis McLane.
who lives on a farm in Comanche coun-
ty, Okla. He is spending the winter
here with friends. Despite the fact
that he is 80 years old, he is able to be
up and around with all the spryness
of young man.
Mr.. McLane drove a stage on the
overland route between independence
He was on the eastern division most of
the time, but he also drove on the more
western division. He was great friend
of James B. Hickok, who was known
as wild Bill" He was acquainted
with Ben Halliday, the pioneer stage
and mail route man.
1T was Ben Halliday who delivered
me and stage load of passengers out
of one of the worst billiards. that l
ever experienced in the west Mr..
Lane said
But for Halliday We probably would
have all froze to death. 1t was one
day in midwinter that left Fort Kear-
sage with a stage full of passengers.
Halliday was with me, on one of his
regular trips of inspection over the long
stage route. One of the worst snow
storms l ever saw set in, and all signs
of the road were soon obliterated. Hal
liday told me to keep the four horse
team moving He said that was our
only salvation.
Saved from Death in Blizzard.
I'VE drove on all the remainder of
that day and far into the night, found
ering through the snow. 1 had no idea
where we where. The wind died down,
and it was one of those terrible still
cold nights which were to be felt upon
the lonely plains. The passengers
were already half-frozen, and I was
in the same fix myself. 1 had no idea
where We were, and did not know how
to get out of the trouble. Halliday got
out and walked around a bit in the
deep snow, looking up into the heavens
dancing a jig in the snow and yelled
to me that everything was all right
now; that he could see the north star
and would pilot us to a haven OF refuge,
Sure enough, he jumped upon my seat,
grabbed the lines out Of my hand and
urged the horses forward through the
snow In another hour we saw light
glimmering ahead, and in q few min
utes more we were all sitting around
a roaring fire in a tavern.
1.-The good Lord never intended that
l should freeze to DEATH Halliday told
us. He was a wonderful man, and his
work in upbuilding the west was
great one when the hardships and diff
ficulties that he had to encounter are
considered.
Mr. McLane was a witness to many
thrilling incidents upon the frontier
during the building of the Union Pacific
and the Santa Fee railroads. He was
at Bear river when a memorable fight
took place between the gamblers and
respectable citizens of the town. He
says that nearly every gambler in town
was killed. He drove the stage that
carried members of the party who ac-
companied Vice President Wilson
through the west wild Bill was the
guide for the party.
California Kate, Heroine.
Mr. McLane says that his stage was
frequently attacked by Indians and
that he had almost countless encOunt-
ers with the redskins. One of the most
desperate of these fights took place in
the Platte River valley. A band OF
Sioux warriors attacked the stage.
which was occupied by several men
and a woman, california Kate who
was well known upon the frontier III
those days. She was good shot and
as fearless as any man. Nj. &icLan
says that she made the principal de-
Tense of the stage. and but for her the
Indians would probably have killed and
scalped every member of the party. The
running fight continued for many miles,
and the Indians did not draw off from
the attack until the station of Sidney
came n sight. california Kate" fired
not less than 200 shots and killed
many of the Indians. McLane was shot
in the left leg and shoulder by arrows.
When the stage reached Sidney, that
noted frontiersman, Slade, who was
made one of the characters in Mark
Twain's "ROughing It," was at the
station. When he heard of California
Hates" daring, he lifted her up and
carried her in his arms into the saloon
and set her upon the bar. He then in
vited everybody in to drink their NIL
of liquor, and it was all on him. Every
body drank to the health of California
Kate
Explosion in Palace.
BELGRADE, Servia, Jan. IA