The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-05-02

Boone Helm was native of Ken
lucky. His parents emigrated to one
of the newest settlements in Missouri
while he was a boy. The rough pur-
suits of border-life were congenial to
his tastes. He excelled in feats of
physical strength, and delighted in
nothing more than quarrel which
brought his prowess into full display.
He was an inordinate drinker, and
when excited by liquor gave way to
all the evil passions of his nature.
One of the exploits recorded of
him was that of hurling bowie
knife into the ground and regaining
it with his horse at full speed. On
one occasion, while the circuit court
was in session, the sheriff attempted
to arrest him. He resisted the Of
ficer, but, urging his horse up the
stairs into the courtroom, astonished
the judge by demanding with profane
emphasis what he wanted of him.
Nor was his the only notoriety in
the family.
Three brothers of Boone Helm
came to the Pacific coast between
1S4S and 1858. They all died vio-
lent deaths. At the time of the re-
turn of oBone Helm to Florence for
trial for the murder Of Dutch Fred,
one of these brothers, familiarly call
ed old Tax was engaged in mining
in the Boise diggings, 200 miles
south of Florence. He had a good
reputation for honesty, liberality and
courage. He was, moreover, a man
of eccentric character. 1t is told of
him that in one of the mining towns
he threatened to shoot on sight a
person with whom he had a personal
difficulty. His enemy, hearing of
this, swore to reciprocate the inten-
tion upon the first opportunity. A
chance soon after offering to carry
his threat into execution, he said to
old Tex as he presented his pistol
to fire. Tex, I heard that you said
that you'd shoot me on sight
Looking around, Tex replied,
We'll, didn't you say you would
shoot me, too?'
"'Yes, 1 did
"'Well, why don't you do it then?
All you've got to do is to pull that
trigger and that's the last of old
Tex
"This stoical bravery won the ad-
miration of the man and defeated his
bloody purpose.
Tex said he, I don't want to
kill you
"'That suits me- replied Tex.
Lets go and take drink And
thus their enmity ended in making
them fast friends. Texas was killed
by being thrown from a fast horse
in Walla Walla in the year 1861
Henry Plummer, bandit chief
from 1851 till the Vigilantes got him
in 1868, is described by Mr.. Langford
as a man of gentlemanly bearing and
dignified department. But he let no
hall-marks interfere with his course
of action. Among other stories
about him is this:
ION one occasion in July, 1858,
Plummer invited DR.. Click to accom-
pany him on a horseback excursion
to his ranch on the Rattlesnake.
Finding no one at the cabin on their
arrival, Plummer asked the doctor to
20 with him down the creek and pick
berries. They soon came upon a
large clump of birch bushes. Pull
ing them aside, Plummer disclosed
an open space cut within the clump,
in which were seated several men,
seeing whom Click drew back, but
was told by Plummer to come in.
"He entered and found himself
amid five or six men with masked or
blackened faces, of whom he recog-
nized Moore and Billy Terwilliger.
The latter was lying on a blanket,
wounded in the leg by bullet re-
ceived in some affray. After dress
ing the wound the doctor started
with Plummer on the return to Ban
mack. While crossing the plateau
between Rattlesnake and Bannack,
Plummer suddenly wheeled in front
of the doctor, and, cooking his pls-
tol, thrust it into his face, saying:
"'Now, you know all. These are
my men. I'm their chief. If you
ever breathe a word of what you've
seen, I'll murder you
What a commentary on the men
and the times, that before his death
by the rope Plummer was able to Sc
cure his election as sheriff.
Mr.. Langford's book, covering
much territory and many bad-men