Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1912-10-08

ground, and the following article
from the Gazette should prove inter.
esting to friends and acquaintances
OF the weil-known character:
Bereft of the sense Of sight since
toddling infancy, Blind Billie" has
developed the remaining four-he
claims the remaining five-until he
does not seem to feel the depreciation.
Does not seem? 1t is a down-drooped
smile that accompanies the word.
There is just the faintest. most lily
concealed quaver in the voice when
he makes this statement, and the
fingers seem TO grope out for some
thing unattainable
William Brooks is not as most
blind men are. dependent upon 9TH
ers for the little ministrations which
people with sight perform for them
selves. He is more given to aiding
than to being aided He is more
helpful that helped.
Everybody in Reno, almost every
body in Nevada, knows Blind Billy,
who has just CROPPED his way back
from somewhere in the southern
country And Billy knows every
body. The voice. the handshake, the
very presence of people who salute
him. give him instantly a clue to
their identity and there is scarce
a moment of hesitation before he
pronounees the name of one whom
he has not seen" for years.
The word seen" is advisedly used,
for Billie takes the initiative: q
am glad to see you again" is his
greeting, and he does see in all re-
spects save color. for his remaining
senses make up the other lacks.
May I use your typewriter? |
want to write home to mother" is
his first request upon entering a
printshop, and the modern stenogra-
pher, no matter how well she has
developed the touch system, might
take lessons in accuracy from him
Billie always has a dog with him
His dogs come and go, and perhaps
it is better that the majority of
them are gone, for they usually are
! manipulating brutes, without friends
I That is why they tie TO Billie and
they accompany him so long as their
fealty lasts.
Some years ago Billie and one OF
his canine acquisitions climbed tc
the summit of Winnemucca noun
tain. How they made the ascent
nobody knows. but they made the
trip, and the dog whined dolefully
when Billie departed from Winnie
mucca.
A few days later a party of pros
pectors visited the summit and there
at the base of the flagpole, thel
found the carcass of the dog. HI
had YEARLY awaited the return 0
his master, and sought him in thei
parting place, the mountain summit
Friends of Blind Billie remember
a tragic period in the history of To
nopah, which was lightened by lit
tie incident that gripped the heart
Billie was playing the piano in {
gambling hall when the plague visit
ed the camp. A woman was singinl
the songs of the hour to his accom-
paniment She had been good L
him. sharing her nightly wage befor,
he became also an Garner. Her han'
guided him through the streets
When Billie was i'll she nursed him
and her affection was as that of
sister toward a brother who neede
kindly care
One night when the "black" sicE
ness was sorrowing the camp. tn
woman did not appear at the aC
custOmed hour to entertain IN
miners who thronged the hall. Bill
sat alone on the orchestra platform
He was there to play but not to sinl
His fingers wandered idly over tn
keys and his heart throbbed for III
woman who had been visited wit
the dread illness. AS he passe
from chord TO chord. he struck tn
prelude to song that was popula
in those days. and he sang: "Pr
Wearing My Heart Away for You.
Only those who heard the sweet
ness and the sadness. the longin
and the prayer IN his voice as IN
simple little ballad was sung. ca
understand.
Tha fare fstusara ranQad nprVauaf