The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-02-20

Zensh1p OF the community
there were rough men, for the
early days were typical of those of other min
ing-camps isolated in the mountains and distant
from civilization.
In that community there lived boy of seven
teen years of age, respected and loved by all. He
was favorite among the young men and consid-
cred model youth by the old. He gentle
as child. His face delicately nodded, his
skin as fair as girls, his hands small and fin
gers tapering. 1.-the, graceful, self-reliant he
gave every promise of honorable career.
This boy-William H. Bonney-was employed
in local store and was considered most &C.
commodating clerk. The gruff community was
convulsed with horror and dumfounded with
establishment afternoon when the news
spread like wdf1re that Bonney had hacked
man to death with butcher-knfe and was flee
ing for his life on the back of stolen horse
The murder particularly atrocous. It
was the result of an alteration in which young
Bonney was crossed. Prior to this the boy had
never been questioned. In instant he
transformed into Demon within few minutes
he had added theft to murder, and in seeking
place of safety left behind him trail as broad
as though he were following macadam road.
At the point of revolver he compelled
strangers to exchange horses with him, seized
the best mounts at the various ranches along his
way and spread CONSERVATION wherever he went
He followed the Mimbres river toward Deming
pursued by posse from Silver City. Closely
pressed. he escaped eastward the Oregon
mountains, when 1t was thought he was headed
for Mexico.
The Start Of Bad Mans Trail.
A western town was never more surprised
The majority of the people still defended him;
there was some reason his friends declared for
his strange act. But came of the way
he was striking terror in the Valley of the Pecos
where the toughest men in the southwest lived
the mind of the public changed. From that
time on his murderous exploits filled the hearts
nfr with f0or S1,o h0x,t
history became forever after Billy the Kid. His
name of Bonney is all but forgotten. AS the Kid,
he stands as one of the great historical figures
Of the COW country. one of the worst youths that
ever lived, prince of bad men, the youngest bad
of all.
His appearance among the prospectors and
amid the mining camps of the Oregon mountains
was electrical. Here he conceived the idea that
to evade arrest he must fight his way to the front
singlehanded. He boldly traded horses obtained
credit, bought supplies because he could shoot
straight with revolver and had threatened the
lives of number of men. Then with all dis
patch he pushed on to the Valley of the Pecos.
This was the scene of the boys exploits in the
taking of human life
The Pecos Valley filled with men who had
been driven out of Texas by the Rangers and
Billy the Kids association with these men de.
veloped his mania for shedding blood In his
first alteration he realized that it his life
the other mans. The fact that he was quick
tered against one of the stockmen Immediately
upon his arrival In the valley.
It'll make this valley too hot for him and dan
gerous to his punchers" said the boy.
At once he commenced to this mans cow
boys as targets to practice on. He began
paign that drew upon him the enmiy of every
body. The murder of these innocent men, purely
to crafty spite against their employer, made
him leader among the bands of armed thugs
of the region He had at bound become a
0nd nf h0a tod
to claim him. But the Kid would have of
that. BY degrees he gathered band of his own.
How Many Men Did He Kill?
The Kid killed more men. wantonly and for
sheer love Of murder, than any other of
whom there is record in the west 1t will never
be known just how many he assasinatetd. He
was butcher who took delight in Staying the
defenseless. He knew no pangs of conscience.
He had not one single redeeming trait. He
would murder a friend quickly enemy.
He thought nothing of appearing before a cook
in charge of "chuck" wagon on lonely desert
range ask for something to eat, compliment the
man upon the quality Of the food he had pre-.
pared, with apparent gratitude. He would ask
him, as if the idea had suddenly popped into his
head, whether he was officer-or had been.
Then, as though In doubt, he would shoot him in
his tracks. This is no exaggeraton. man
whom he left for dead, and who survived long
enough to tel the story, authority for the
statement. shortly after his arrival on the Pecos
river.
The boy terror before whom everybody
fled. He rode the fastest horses he helped him
self to the best there was in every community he
visited, wiggled out Of any number of tight
Places and shot his way to freedom dozen
times.
Shortly after his arrival in the valley he was
persuaded, because of his reputation bad
man. to assist in the arrest of three men charged
with murder. They were captured without the
firing of shot, placed on horses. ironed and
started jailward To the deputy sheriff. who
with him followed the prisoners long,
dusty sand plain, he turned suddenly and said,
Let's kill those fellows"
why? They haven't done anything to u.s."
They're guilty anyway. and weli just save
the county expense"
mo. Billy. they have not given chance to
shoot at them-they have not tried to escape"
The deputy tried to argue with him. for he