The Harrison times., 1911-11-04

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sonal encounters. lie killed ten IN one fight
single handed That was when he wiped out
the McCandlass gang at Rock Springs, Kan,
in 1861 and 1t was the most heroic single
handed fight in all the history Of the frontier,
Imagination has not colored or enlarged his
record 1t is a sure-enough record OF men
killed In fair, standup fights. II one cares to
search one can find their graves with their
names neatly carved on little headstones scat.
tered from the Missouri river to the foothills
of the Rockies"
Col William r. Cody better known all over
the world as Buffalo Bill, was In reminiscent
mood He paid this tribute to the prowess OF
his dead comrade OF early days on the plains.
He was intimately associated with Wild Bill.
He fought by his side in the Civil war, he
secuted with him in the Indian campaigns, he
shared the same blanket beside many lonely
camp fire For years there was bed and
chair and the table for Wild Bill at the ranch
of Buffalo Bills mother near Fort Leavenworth,
and to the very end OF his stormy and wander
ing career Wild Bill thought of this spot as
home.
u Buffalo Bin is himself one OF the most pic
turesque characters OF the old west LETT to
these piping prosac times. Though the pub
lie knows him chiefly as Snowman, he Is the
last of the great scouts. Ills life has not been
all blank cartridges and calcium lights Back
OF his spectacular career as an exponent or
wild west drama Is frontier life OF daring
hardship and danger. He Is an old man now
cnly few years on the sunny Side OF three
score and ten Ills sweeping mustaches and
imperial and his long hair that falls upon his
: shoulders In the waving abundance OF early
years are as white as snow, But his tall figure
Is stll stalwart and as straight as young
pine on tho mountains, his step Is elastic and
his eye bright. and he stlll wears his white
sombrero tilted at Jaunty angle on the sido
OF his head as In the brave days OF his youth
II was eleven years old when first met
Wild Bill In 1857" said Buffalo BIZ, II was
making my first expedition across tho plains
IL was the expedition led by General Albert
Sydney Johnston, afterwards killed at Shiloh,
against Brigham Young and the Mormons IN
Utah. ! was connected with the supply train
as tho driver OF the extra cattle, big bully
In my mess seemed to think was meant to
be his servant and ordered mo around at every
opportunity | grew sulky and resontful under
his badgerlng but | was mere KID ana was
helpless, Ono evening as wo were eating sup
per no ordered mo to get him another cup OF
coffee. Get your own coffee said lilo
mo over. rolled into the ashes at the edge
.of tho camp fire and narrowly escaped getting
badly burned | ran to tho big coffee Kettle,
caught Il up, and stepping up behind the bully,
douaed tho soadng coffee over him from head
TO foot, lie roared with pain, Then ho rushed
Cor mo. young man stepped between u.s.
| knew him casually aB jim Hlckok, The men
of tho wagon train called him Jimmy
"'Say,' ho said facing the bully Squarely,
you leave that kid alone
my unexpected champion was about twenty
years old, TALL slender bronzod and athletic
looking. Tho powerful brute ho confronted
would have made two OF him, Tho bully stopped
in surprise lie sized up the stripping with
glance The inventory doubtless convinced him
he had nothing to fear
"What have you got TO do with thlBY he
beloved and he charged at tho youth like
mad bull
oTho men OF tho OUTFIT expected to SEQ
Hekok beaten to Jelly or killed lie gave
ua tho surprise OF our lives, He proved to be
tho quickest man ever saw eatamount
could not have been quicker lilo stepped Into
tho bully tearlesBly lie was all over his man
iIo rocked his head with terrific blows. lilo
ripped punches into hig mdsoetion, lilo closed
his eyes, boodled his lips, knocked tho teeth
down HIS throat He ended ny dropping tho
bully TO his knees and making him blubber out,
r'yo rot enough and hog for mercy After tho
fight my ancient enemy was the worst battered
up man | ever saw, llickok didn't show
marie, lie walked away and sat down on
wagon tongue aud smoked pipe sereney,
That was my Introduction to the man after
ward known nil over tho west M Wild Bill,
and from that day wo woro fast frlonda
~ enlisted In the Union army In 1858 and
wna sent TO Tennessee ! was employed Aa n
scout and SPY was peculiarly iitted to play
the part Of spy IN Confederate camps, Most
of the people with whom ! had been thrown
all my life on the plains were from Missouri,
Kentucky or Tennessee. II was second nature
for mo to talk In the drawing lingo OF tho
south
ION one OF my excursions as spy ! was
disguised IA Tennessee farmer boy with
n ragged hat, homospun shirt and pants OF
buttornul jeans I was riding nong n road
when | came 70 farm house, llitched TO tho
panga Of the fence was fine horse, Baddled
Through window saw man IN the uniform
Of Confederate ofiieer sitting at table eat
Ina Something about his face looked familiar
diamonntod and stepped TO tho door OF tho