Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-02-07
LIGHTNING Gun PLAY
One Time When Wild Bill Hlckok
Was Too Rapid.
NE KILLED HIS BEST FRIEND.

The Pluelsy Marshal Had Settled the
Leader Of the Dssperadoss 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 1t was
q farming country and proceeded to
emphasize this opinion by giving an
old fashioned county fair at Abilene.
Sir 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.
II was IN order TO celebrate the Oc.
casion In the old time way. and It was
generally understood that the ceremo
mics 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.
II was beautiful autumn day, and
the county fair was great success.
As the sun went down Pat McGonigaI
and his brother tied their bronchos IN
front Of the dFoYers' cottage. strolied
down Texas street. met their cowboy
friends, and the fun began. A dozen
cowmen picked up Jake Karatosky.
the merchant, carried him down to tho
Applejack and had him set up the
drinks. score Of more or less prOml.
nent citizens and cattlemen were used
IN the same manner ana In quick sue.
cesslon.
The crowd increased. and the liquor
and excitement spread The cowboys
were giving Abilene her last Roman
holiday. wild Dlll was dining at Mrs.
Smiths restaurant, and the roisterers
went 70 drug him 10 the bar Blil said
they might 10 70 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
Cd from one end Of Texas street to the
other In reckless abandon. Everybody
who claimed 10 he civilized hunted
cover, Marshal Hlekok and Policeman
Williams were watching at the Novel
y, where generally the most friction
occurred
II was about this time that big Phil |
Coe, keeping faith with his comrades,
but with no eager ayldlty. lelsurely |
walked up IN front OF the Alamo, then |
packed with excited men, aud fred his |
sun at dog, as he claimed. Wild |
BIN told Williams 70 stay at the Nov
city, ran swiftly across to the rear door |
and sprang Into the crowded Alamo,
roughly inqulrlng as 70 who was doing
the shooting.
Coe stood ut the well cdrh outside |
and said that he had tlred the shot.
Immediately be tred another. which
grazed Wild Bllrs 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. excalmlng. "Ive shot too low!'
At the same instant he turned and
hred twice at another man who came
running down the dark sidewalk and
burst on the scene, showing two guns
N front OF him Coe fred one more
shot and fell across the well curb. A
hundred guns clicked as Wild BIN
nred his FIRST shot, but before tho
Fourth the place was cleared and not
one bad man was left 10 stand by
Coo.
The stranger, with two bullets with
u an Inch OF his heart. threw both
hands In the air, dropped his guns to
the floor and pitched forward stone
lead. II was Mike Williams, the dep
nty, brave fellow. who. despite his
chlefs Instructions TO remain at the
Novelty, could not keep away from the
light.
Wild Blll cried out that he had killed
ais best friead, gathered the little man
n his arms. and. with eyes full OF
'ears, laid him across poker table.
The fury that burned Ia his veins
Ehen he whipped the McKandlas gang
iprang to life again at this accident.
and be proceeded to hold the Texas men
'esponsible. That night the desperate
heroes Of border strife hid In cellars
md sunnower patches or on swift 20.
Hes found their way to their cattle
amps, for they had made tlzzle by
rying 10 shoot up the wrong town.
Denver Field and Farm.
-
First Aid In Accidents.