Iditarod pioneer., 1916-04-29
AN ALASKA CHARACTER
 WAS BILLY THE HORSE
Anchorage Alaskan)

Another Alaska character has run hls race in this world of troubled mortals and passed over to the Big Strike on the "other side" and the northIand loses one more of it's early seekers of fame and fortune. His name was William Elliott but he was known throughout Alaska as Billy the Horse" Elliott was taken to the govern ment hospital few weeks ago, suffering from tuberculosis, and died last Sunday morning. He was buried on Wednesday in the local cemetery by his many old sour dough friends.
 Many stories are told of ElIiotts esca- pades up here in Alaska and down Ill the States It is said that when Tn Spokane one time he had met financial reVerses ana was Jumping sideways" as to where the next lunch was to be found, and that any chance looked good to Bill. There was mounted official there who rode very hne horse that looked good to him, so he schemed and wondered how best he could "borrow" the animal for a short period. After watching and waiting, the opportu- nty finally presented itself one day, when the horseman drove up before a store and dismounted, going inside to transact some business. But imagine that gentleman's surprise when he came out to drive away. He looked foolish, wise, up and down the street and around the corner, but no horse was in sight. The search was kept up for many weeks, but without success. A deep mystery surrounded the disappearance, from the fact that there apparently was no aV- enue of escape from the town except by way of a trestle which had to be crossed. And how was the horse to cross? That was the question before the interested peo- pie. However, it subsequently, became known that the horse actually did cross the trestle, for it was led over after an ingenl- ous "pillow" had been made for its feet in the shape of half coal sacks, winch Billy" tied around each foot, enabling him to get the animal safely over and away. Time wore on and Billy" and the horse incident were forgotten. He drifted about and finally reached Alaska, where he re
 nained to the end, to sleep his last sleep beneath the moss covered earth and sigh ing spruce.
 Billy" struck it rich in the Nome dis trict and commenced a meteoric career. Among his many ventures was the pur- chase of saloon. which he conducted until crushed by its heavy weight. While at the bar once a man stepped in whose face seemed familiar to Billy" and he recog nzed him as the officer who rode the fine horse he had "borrowed." He asked him if he had ever found his horse. "No, nor the one who got away with him, It is still the mystery of Spokane" said the man.
 Well, I'm the gent that 'borrowed the horse. and as he wasn't wOrkIn and 1 needed help, I just 'coaxed' him elong on my journey to some other place. Nice ami nal that, chief and he done nobIy, so l thank you for his use Have drink
 He was a surprised visitor but the horse was on the chief.
 Another one of Billy's resourceful moves was when he went into saloon and was refused a drink. He withdrew gracefully, but came back sputtering like the fuse he held in his hand. He had secured stick of pea soup, put up like 8 stick of dynamite, and procuring fuse, proceeded to the saloon to "bow 'em all up" As he entered he lighted the fuse, which was sputterlng uncomfortably close to the stick of pea soup when the proprietor and the reserved" seat holders observed his entrance. There were more movements than one, and in the mad scramble for safety first" one fellow broke his leg Then Billy was the pro prietor bartender and porter all in oAe. He helped himself to several 'souseS," couple of full bottles. end vanished, having enough dynamite" left to give frst-class banquet to the whole engineering commis- sion