Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-11-15
SKILLED WITH SIX SHOOTER.
Remarkable Shots by "Wild Bill" " the
Famous Plainsman.


peared in the Chicago Inter-Ocean or
October Is, 1911. The article is en-
titled, "reminiscences Of Wild Bill
Hickock, Early Western Gun Fighter.
Some Of the statements made therein
are so widely at variance with logic
based on the observation and expert.
ence of gunmen, that in the Interest
of historic accuracy the writer Is dis.
inclined to let these statements pass
without comment. The article may
have been written by Mr.. Cody him.
self, but 1t is more than likely that
some reporter, over-confldent Of his
memory, got the facts from Mr.. Cody
and being himself somewhat shy on
gun lore, unwittingly permitted few
technical errors to creep in between the
telling and the publishing of the story
Mr.. Cody, like true westerner, pays
many tributes to the physical perfec-
tions, proved courage and unmatched
skill with firearms, Of his old comrade
of the trail. After describing the mag
nificent physical proportions and pan
ther-like movements Of this intrepid
plainsman, Mr.. Cody says: wild Bill
was one of the best revolver shots ever
produced in the west. He certainly was
the best revolver shot in fight. 1t Is
one thing to shoot accurately at a tar
get, and another thing to be able to
shoot accurately at man who Is
shooting at you. Bill was absolutely
fearless. He was wholly devoid OF
nerves. his mind was clear, his hand
steady and his craftsmanship certain
in the most desperate situation. He
never became excited. A cool man is
often a phlegmatic man; but Wild Bill
was the reverse. He was not only per-
fectly cool but he was alert and nimble
Of wit and in action was as quick as
lightning. Nothing better illustrates
his mental alertness and physical
quickness than one Of his adventures
I have forgotten names and dates, but
the incident is true to the last detail
"A man who nursed grudge
against Wild Bill swore to kill him. He
stood concealed in doorway, stepped
out and confronted Bill as the latter
passed, and leveled pistol at his head
I've got you now, Wild Bill he said
and I'm going to kill you, but I'll give
you one minute to pray We'll said
Bill with an easy smile, 1t does look
like the jig's up Suddenly Bill peer
ed over the mans shoulder and waved
a deprecatory hand. Don't hit him,
Andy he said. The man wheeled to
protect himself from the supposed en-
emy in his rear. He gazed on empty
space. There was no Andy or anyone
else behind him and before he could
turn round again, Wild Bill had killed
him."
General Sheridan once asked Bill
to prove the craftsmanship Of which
he had heard such wonderful stories
Bill, modest hero, held back, but
General Sheridan insisted, and finally
Bill pointed to a grocery sign 100 yards
away and said he would shoot at the
white center of the 90" He drew his
revolver, semed to take no aim at all
and fired six times rapidly. Upon ex-
animation Of the sign it was found
that the six bullets had passed through
the center Of the letter, each bullet
leaving its own distinct impression
about the edges Of single hole"
1t is not the purpose of the writer to
belittle, or cast doubt on even the most
seemingly impossible feats Of marks
manship of our early border heroes. II
would be a more congenial task to be
able to prove them genuine and pos
sible of accomplishment. When, how
ever. the performance credited to an
individual eXcels the possibilities OF
human skill or the capabilities of the
type Of weapons used, we feel that 1t is
the duty Of those entrusted with the
making and compiling of permanent
records to accept only what is well
authenticated, or consistent with nat
ural laws 1t is claimed by Mr.. Cody
and others that most Of the victims OF
Wild Bills uncanny accuracy with the
sixshooter were struck in the forehead
almost squarely between the eyes. One
may we'll believe that most Of WILD
Bills victims. killed in close encounters
were shot in the head. but the writer is
of the opinion that Mr. Hickock's ex-
traordinary physique had as much tc
do with the position Of the holes made
by bullets fired from his sixshooter al
close range, and under stress on his
part. 1t should be kept in mind that
Wild Bill was fully feet l inch ir
height, considerably taller than the av-
erage man. The style Of high-heele6
boots universally worn by frontiers
men at that period would add fully
another inch to his stature. Thus with
arm extended in a natural shooting
position his weapon would be about
. the height of the average mans face
AS the shooting Of those days usual!
followed a dispute at double arm:
length, barroom quarrel, or across {
gambling table, the gun play might be
intuitive or aimed according to the
skill of the marksman, his GOODNESS ol
his ability to correctly judge condi'
tions. On the single occasion which
the writer was privileged to witness the
methods of Mr.. Hickock in the handling
Of his six-shooter. I was deeply i'm
pressed with his almost eXasperatint
deliberation. No matter how elusive
the target, even when shooting at OBJ
jects tossed in the air, he never seemed
hurried This trait was, Of course
natural. and in part due to his supert
physique and superior mentality
which, combined with and supplement
ed by his methods Of practice and free
wild life in the open, developed in hin
that perfect coordination of hand ant
eye which is essential to perfect mas
terry Of the one-hand gun. Wild Bill!
physical power, grace and freedom o.
movement have been compared to tina
Of a wild animal, and can think of M
simile more fitting. In his descrip'
tion of Mr.. Hickocks mystifying speed
and marvellous accuracy of aim. Colo
mel Cody has not exaggerated; nor d.