The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-01-16
LIGHTNING GUN PLAY
One Time When Wild Bill Hickok
Was Too Rapid.
HE KILLED HIS BEST FRIEND.
The Plucky Marshal Had Settled tho
Leader of the Desperadees Who Had
Started to Shoot Up the Town When
He Made the Fatal Mistake.

Started to Shoot Up the Town When
He Made the Fatal Mistake.
In September. 1874. the good people
Of Dickinson county. Kan. had reach
ed 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 Ionghorns 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
1t was in order to celebrate the oc-
casion in the old time way. and it was
generally understood that the ceremo
MES 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.
1t was beautiful autumn day. and
the county fair was great success
AS the sun went down Pat McGonigal
and bis brother tied their bronchos in
front Of the drovers' cottage. strolled
down Texas street. met their cowboy
friends, and the fun began 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 se~to the Novelty bar and
getsa drink % him, but pointedly de
clined to e;ecenhpany them and called
particular ttention- to the ordfnanee
against shooting In the city limits
BY 10 e'eNck at nightgthe mob surg
| Ell from one end OF Texas Street to tbs.
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.
1t 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 bis
gun at 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 we'll curb outside
and said that he had fired the shot.
| Immediately be 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, excaiming, "I've shot too iow."
| 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 fred one more
shot and fell across the well curb \
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 1t was Mike Williams, the dep
uty. brave fellow, who, despite bis
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 be proceeded to hold the Texas mel
responsible That night the desperate
heroes Of. border strife hid in cellars
and sunfjower patches or on swift po
nies found their way to their cattle
camps, for they had made a fizzle by
trying to shoot up the wrong town.
Denver Field and Farm.