Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-16
LIGHTNING GUN PLAY
One Time When Wild Bill Hickek
 Was Too Rapid.
HE KILLED HIS BEST FRIEND.

The Plucky Marshal Had Settled the
 Leader of the Desperadoes Who Had
 Started to Shoot Up the Town When
 He Made the Fatal Mistake.
 In September, 1874. the good people of Dickinson county. Kan. had reach cd the definite conclusion that it was farming country and proceeded to 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 prairies 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.
 | It was in order to celebrate the oc- casion in the old time way. and it was generally understood that the ceremo- nies of the evening were to conclude by killing the town marshal, Wild Bill Hickok, and metaphorically taking his scalp back to Texas. A few of them drew lots as to which should have that dangerous honor. and Phillip Coe got the short straw.
 It was beautiful autumn day. and ' the county fair was great success. AS 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 Applejack and had him set up the drinks. A score of more or less promi- nent citizens and cattlemen were used in 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 roisterers went to drag him to the bar. Bill said they might go to the Novelty bar and get drink on him. but pointedly de- clined to accompany them and called particular attention to the ordinance against shooting in the city limits.
 By 10 o'clock at night the mob surg ed from one end of Texas street to the other in reckless abandon. Everybody who claimed to be civilized hunted cover. Marshal Hickok and Policeman Williams were watching at the Novel; ty, where generally the most friction occurred.
 It was about this time that big Phil Coe, keeping faith with his comrades, but with no eager avidity, leisurely walked up in front of the Alamo, then packed with excited men, and fired his gun at a dog, as he claimed Wild Bill told Williams to stay at the Nov city. ran swiftly across to the rear door and sprang into the crowded Alamo, roughly inquiring as to who was doing the shooting
 Coe stood at the well curb outside and said that he had fired the shot Immediately he fired another. which grazed Wild Bills side as he stood at the bar. With that wonderful swift ness which stood him in good stead so many times, Bill threw two guns on Coe and shot him twice in the abdo- men. exclaiming, I've shot too low"
 At the same instant he turned and fired 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 and fell across the well curb. A hundred guns clicked as Wild Bill fired his first shot, but before the fourth the place was cleared and not one bad man was left to stand by Coe.
 The stranger. with two bullets with in an inch of his heart, threw both hands in the air, dropped his guns to the floor and pitched forward stone dead. It was Mike Williams, the dep uty, brave fellow, who. despite his chiefs instructions to remain at the Novelty. could not keep away from the fight
 Wild Bill cried out that he had killed his best friend. gathered the little man in his arms. and. with eyes full Of tears, laid him across a poker table. The fury that burned in his veins when he whipped the McKandlas gang sprang to life again at this accident, and he proceeded to hold the Texas men responsible. That night the desperate heroes of border strife hid in cellars and suntower patches or on swift po- nies found their way to their cattle camps. for they had made q fizzle by trying to shoot up the wrong town Denver Field and Farm.