Milford chronicle., 1909-02-05

specimen or manhood and one OF
the most deadly shots with rifle OF
pistol that ever lived In his en-
thusiasm as a Union spy he made a
detour around. down into Texas and
/ back to southwest Missouri and joined
the Texans under an assumed name
and accepted service as a Confederate
spy, consequently giving himself the
double danger of n spys fate There
fore by this means he became Of i'm
mense service to the Union forces.
For many months he was cOnfden-
tial secret service agent for the Con
federate forces under General Price in
an invasion Of Kansas, and In one bat
tie while among their advance guard
he saw a maneuver OF which he
thought the Union general should be
Informed. He therefore made a dash
from the rebel to the opposing lines
His action was so sudden that the
southerners thought his horse had be
come unruly The audacity OF his
movements did not dawn on them for
a few moments, when. with yeils. a
squad took up hot pursuit Both ar
mics watched in breathless suspense;
but. always famed for picking superior
mounts. he quickly distanced all save
one who followed close up behind him.
firing several shots which whistled
close to his ear. Just when HlckOk's
horse was compelled TO vault a small
creek he turned In his saddle and with
his unerring aim dropped the gallant
pursuer from his horse and rode safe
ly into the Union lines. Here he de-
livered his information to General
Pleasonton. which turned the tide Of
the day
Probably the most noted event in his
career was his single handed tight !
with Jacob McCandles and his gang
OF nine men at Rock Greek, western !
Kansas, while riding pony express in |
1861. This was his first great fight |
while covering his route, armed only |
with two Colt revOlvers He halted /
at Rock Greek Station to find the
stock tender dead and his wife excited |
by his presence. AS he approached
she exclaimed:
my heavens. Bill. McCandles and
his gang are in the nelghbOrhOod. or
were this morning."
This gang Of bandits had been lay
ing a trap for Hickok to get him out
Of the 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 and telling the lady to escape. he
was fortunate to find a loaded rifle
eft by the husband which the Nc
Candles gang did not think OF, as
hey saw that Bill was armed only
With six shooters. There were some
'aillery and badinRge between him and
NcCandles Of a defiant nature when
dcCandles and nine bandits rose and,
With a yell. charged FOR the door
They depended on taking the chance
# losing some Of their men and made
/ quick charge. Bills instructions
we're to me in such cases. "Will. al
ways get the leader" This he did, as
le fired straight at McCandles the
'ullet catching him full in the heart.
md he dropped instantly by this
ime the desperadoes were close upon
he cabin. Jumping aside he emptied
he revolvers through the cabin door
'our men fell dead. besides McCan-
les. AT this stage Of the game
Although wounded with buckshot
nd bullet and struck over the head
With a rifle that caused him to bleed
{ the mouth and nose, he still stayed
-tth EN-" At this time, as he told
le himself, the cabin was filed with
moke. and anything he struck or hit
-as an enemy. and in the gloom prob