The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-01-22

specimen Of manhood and one OF
the most deadly shots with rifle OF
pistol that ever lived. IN his en-
thusiasm as Union spy he pade
detour around. down into Texas and
back to southwest Missouri and Joined
the Texans under an assumed name
and accepted service as Confederate
spy, consequently giving himself the
double danger Of spy's fate. There
fore by this means he became Of i'm
mense service to the Union forces.
For many months he was confiden-
tial secret service agenj0or the Con-
federate forces under General Price In
an invasion of Kansas, and in one bat
tie while among their advance guard
be saw maneuver Of which he
thought the Union general should be
Informed. He therefore made 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
few moments. when. with yells. 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 Hickok'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
" 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 fight
with Jacob McCandles and his gang
OF nine men at Rock Creek. 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 trap for Hickok TO get him out
Of the way. Rushing TO the door 10 re
mount and get back. be saw several
heads pop up ont Of the grass. and q
bullet struck the door jamb. Jumping
back and telling the lady to escape. hs
was fortunate to ind loaded rifle
left by the husband which the Nc
Candles gang did not think OF. a,
they saw that Bin was armed only
with six shooters. There were soms
raillery and badinage between him and
McCandles Of defiant nature wher
McCandles and nine bandits rose and
with a yell. charged for the door
They depended on taking the chanc,
of losing some Of their men and mad
a quick charge. Bills instruction
were TO me In such cases. "will. al
ways get the leader" This he did. a
he fired straight at Nccandles. th
bullet catching him full In the heart
and he dropped instantly. BY thl
time the desperadoes we're close upol
the cabin. Jumping aside. he emptie,
the revolvers through the cabin door
Four men fell dead. besides Mccas
dies. at this stage Of the game
Although wounded with bucksho
and bullet and struck over the hea,
! with a rife that caused him TO blee'
} az the mouth and nose. he still "staye,
! with EN-" At this time. as he toll
me himself. the cabin was filed wit
smoke. and anything he struck or hi
was an enemy. and in the gloom prot