The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-12-31


specimen or manhood and one D
the most deadly shots with rifle o.
pistol that ever lived In his on
| thuslaem as a Union spy he made i
detour around, down into Texas anI
back to southwest Missouri and joinet
the Texans under an ASSUMED nam,
and accepted service as n Confederate
spN consequently giving himself III,
double danger of spy'a fate, There
fcre Ay this means he became IL I'm
mense service 20 the unlon forces.
For many months he was eonlidcn
tlal secret service agent for the Con
federate forces under General Price N
an Invasion ot Kansas, aud IN one bat,
lie while among their advance guard
he saw d uSancuvcr Of which. hp
thought the Onion general should b.
informed Hc therefore made dash
from the rebel to the opposing lines
His action was 80 sudden that the
Routherncn thought his horse had be-
come unruly. The nudaclty 0f his
movements did not dawn on them for
few moments. when. with yolls. il
squad took up hot pursuit. Roth ar
mics watched IN breathless suspense,
but. always famed for picking superior
mounts, be quickly dlstaneed all ave
one, who followed close up behind hiui.
firing several shots which whlstlcd
close TO his ear, just when Hlckok's
horse was compelled 70 vault a small
creek he turned Ia his saddle and with
his unerrlng aim dropped the gallant
pursucr from hts horse aud rode safe
" Into the unlon lines Here he dc.
liyered bis Information to General
Picasonton, which turned the tide of
the day.
Probably the most noted event In his
career was bis single handed tght
with Jacob McCandlea aud hls gang
OF nine men at Rock Greek, wsstorn
Kansas, while riding pony express In
1851. This was hts tirst great fight
white covering his route, armed only
with two Colt Feyolvors He halted
at Rock Greek Station to tnd the
stock tender dead and bis wife excited
by his presence, As he approached
she exclaimed:
MY heavens. Bill Mecandlea and
his gang are In the neighhorhood, or
were this mornlnge'
This gang Of bandits had been lay.
ing trap for Hickok to get him out
Of tho way Rushing TO the door to re.
mount and get back. he saw several
heads pop up out OF the grass, and a
bullet struck the door jamb. Jumping
back ana telling the lady to escape, be |
was fortunate 10 1nd loaded ride
left by the husband which tho Nc |
Candles gang did not think Of, a.
hey saw that Bill was armed only
with SIX shooters There were some 1
'aillery and badlnagC between him aud |
AcCandles OF defiant nature when |
and nine bandits rose and,
With a yell. charged for the door
rhey depended on taking the chance
4 losing some Of their men and made
quick charge BilPs instructions I
Fero to me In such cases, "wnl, a.. I
gays get the leader" This he did, a.
ie Hred straight al McCandlea the
'ullet catching him full IN the heart,
md be dropped instantly. by this
ime the desperadoes were close upon
he cabin. Jumping aside, be emptled
he revolvers through the cabin door.
four men fell dead, besides MeCan.
lies, at this stage Of the game
Although wounded with buekshot
nd bullet and struck over the head
Fith a rife that caused him TO bleed
{ the mouth and nose, he Btill stayed 4
fifth EN-" At this time, as he told
le himself, the cabin was filled with
moke, aud anything he struck OF hit
1as an enemy, and In the gloom prob