The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-03-04
LIGHTNING GUN PLAY
One Time When Wild Bill HiCkOk
Was Too Rapid.
he KILLED HIS BEST FRIEND.
The PIucISy Marshal Had Settled the
Leader Of the Desperadces Who Had
Started 70 Shoot UP the Town When
He Made The Fatal Mistake.

He Made the Fatal Mistake.
In September. 1874. the good people
Of Dickinson county. Kan, had reach
ed the definite conclusion that 1t was
farming country and proceeded to
emphasize this -SFfTion by giving an
old fashioned county fair at Abilene.
Six hundred thousand longhorus 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 Ia the old time way. and ii was
generally understood that the ceremo
MES OF the evening were to conclude
by killing the town marshal, Wild Bill
Hickok. and metaphoricaily taklng bis
scalp back TO Texas. A few Of them
drew lots as to which should have that
dangerous honor. and Philip Coe got
the short straw
IT was a beautiful autumn day, and
the county fair was a great success.
As the sun went down Pat McGonigal
and his brother tied their bronchos in
front of the droyers cottage. stroIled
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 promt
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 60 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 tbs
other in reckless abandon. Everybody
who claimed to be civilized hunted
cover Marshal Hickok and Policeman
williams were watching at the Novel
". where generally the most friction
occurred.
1t was about this time that big PIN
Coe, keeping faith with his comrades,
but with no eager avidity. leisurely
walked up iD trent OF the Alamo. then
packed with excited men, and fred bis
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 doins
the shooting.
Coe stood at the well curb outside
and said that be had fred the shot.
Immediately he fired another, which
grazed Wild Bills side az 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 aldo
men. exelaiming. eve shot too iow!"
At the same instant he turned and
fred twice at another man who came
running down the dark sidewalk and
burst on the scene. showing two guns
IL front OF him Coe fred one more I
shot ana fell across the well curb. A
hundred guns clicked as Wild Bill
fired his first shot, but before the I
fourth the place was cleared and not
one bad man was left to stand by
Coe.
The stranger, with two bullets with
I'm an inch Of his heart. threw both (
hands in the air, dropped his guns TO /
the door and pitched forward stone
dead. 1t was Mike Williams, the dep T
uty, brave fellow. who, despite his
chiefs instructions to remain at the
could not keep away from the
fight.
Wild Bill cried out that he had killed /
his best friend, gathered the little man +
70 bis arms. and. with eyes full Of /
tears, laid him across poker table. I
The fury that burned in his veins
when he whipped the McKandlas gang f
sprang to life again at this accident,
and he proceeded to hold the Texas men
responsible. That night the desperate
heroes of border strife bid in cellars
and sun6ower patches or on swift po-
MES found their way to their cattle
camps, for they had made fizzle by
trying to shoot up the wrong town.
Denver Field and Farm.
at seems to me that modern theater
zoers rarely get the worth Of their
money when they invest It in the aver
age show.
why notT'
Because. after all. it only amounts