Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1912-10-12
BLIND, BILLIE NOW IN RENO.
Was Well Known in, Ysrington Dur--
ing the Boom Days.

ngton remember Blind Billie"
Brooks, who played the piano in a
number of local resorts during the
boom days of this camp. Billie is now
in Reno. his old stamping ground, and
the following article from the Gazette
should prove interesting reading to
| friends and acquaintanees of the we'll
known character:
| Bereft of the sense of sight since
toddling infancy, Blind Billie" has
developed the remaining four-he.
| claims the remaining five-unfil he
does not seem to feel the deprication
Does not seem? 1t is down-droopsd
smile that accompanies the word.
There is just the faintest most iiiy-.
| concealed quaver in the, voice wtcls
he makes this statement. and thu.
fingers seem to grope out for somes
thing unattainable: 81
William Brooks is not as most blind
men are, dependent upon others for
the little ministrations which people
with sight perform for themselves.
He is more given to aiding than. to
being aided He is more. helpful than
helped
EVERYBODY in Reno, almost every
body in Nevada, knows Blind Billy,
who has just CROPPED his way back
from somewhere in the southern coun=
try. And Billy knows everybody. The
voice, the handshake, the very pres
ence of people who salute him, give
him instantly a clew to their identity
and there is scarce moment of hesi-
| tation before he pronounces the name
of one whom he has not seen" for
| years.
The word seen" is adv sediy used,
| for Billy takes the initiative: II am
| glad to see you again" is his greeting
and he does see in all respects save
color, for his remaining senses make
up the other lacks.
May | use your typewriter want
to write home to mother" is his finst.
request upon entering printshop, and
the modern steographer, no matter
how we'll she has developed the touch
system might take lessons in accur-
acy from him.
Billy always has dog with him.
His dogs come and go. and perhaps
ii is better that the majority of them
are gone, for they usually are NANCY
brues. without friends. That is why
they tie to Billy and they accompany
him so long as their fealty lasts,
Some years ago Billy and one of
his canine acquisitions climbed to the
summit of Winnemucca mountain
How they made the ascent nobody
knows. but they made the. trip. and
the dog whined dolefully when Billy
| departed from Winnemucca
A few days later, party of pros
pectors visited tile 'ummit and there
at the base of the fagpole. they found
the carcass of the dog He had wear
iy awaited the return of his master,
and sought him in their arting place,
the mountain summit.
Friends of Blind Billy remember a
tragic period in the history of Tono-
pah, which was lightened by little
incident that gripped the heart Billy
was playing the piano in a gambling
hall when he plague visited the camp.
A woman was singing the songs of the
hour to his accompaniment. She had
been good to him, sharing her nightly
wage before he became also an Garner.
Her hand guided him through the
streets. When Billy was i'll she mursed
him. and her affection was as that of
sister toward a brother who needed
kindly care.
One night when the black" sick
ness was Borrowing the camp, the wo-
man did not appear at the accustomed
hour to entertain the miners who
thronged the hall. Billy sat alone on
the orchestra platform He was there
to play but not to sing. His fingers
wandered idly Ger the keys and his
heart throbbed for the woman who had
been visited with the dread illness.
AS he passed from chord TO chord,
he struck tie prelude to song that
was popular in those days and lie sang
Pm Wearing My Heart Away for
You"
Only those who heard the sweetness
and the sadness. the longing and the
prayer in his voice as the simpe little
ballad was sung. can understand
The faro players ceased nervously
fumbling their checks, the ivory whec.
stopped rolling at the roulette table;
the room became as silent as though
uroccupe1, despite the fact that hun
dreds of rorgh-looking men, seeking
ME sure and fornetf.lnaSS Of the