Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-08-29

| Jl no thrill quite like shat OF unex-
l-ZY ] pectedly coming across some such
nemenIo Of the past.
The museum of the United States Playing Card
company In Cincinnati. Ohio. where one can see
the history Of playing cards for the last five hun.
dred years graphically portrayed is probably the
last place ON earth TO which you would 20. seek
Ing relics of Wild Bill Hickok. famous gnnman of
the Old West. Least of all would you expect 10
find there evidence of the more tender side of
this grim-faced cod-eyed Killer before whose
bnzng six-shooers more than score Of men
went down 10 their deaths Yet. tn glass case
at end Of the big room which houses the
unique collections thee you will find these things,
eahoratey ornamented marriage certificate
which reads.
This Is to certify that AIR James Butler Hickok
of Cheyenne, In the state OF Wyoming, and Mrs.
Agnes L. Thatcher OF Cincinnati. In the state of
Ohio. were by me Joined together In holy matri-
mony the 5th day OF March, 1876. In Cheyenne,
w. T. w f Warren, Pastor. Nj L Church Wit
ness. Minnie Meyer, L Meyer.
Close beside II Is a single sheet Of letter paper
somewhat yellowed with age but the writing upon
1t is still decpherable and II reads as follows:
Dead Wood Black hills. Dacota. July nth. 1879
My darling wife Agnes | have but few
moments left before this letter starts never
we'll In my life but you would Taught to
Just got in from Prospecting will go
away again but God nowse when 1t will
start friend Will take this to Cheyenne III he
lives don't expect TO hear from you but 1t is all
the aame ! my Agnes and only live love hur
never mind Pc, we win have home yet then
will be happy ! all most shure will do
well hear the man Is hurting me Good by Dear wife
Love to Emma
J 3 Hickok
Thus, far from the scenes of the exploits which
made him famous lr frontier history are pre-
served these evidences of a little known part In
the life history of Wild Bill. In tile maze of
legend which has gathered about his nnme, thanks
to the dime novellsts, the sentimental side has not
BEEN neglected and the names Of various women
have been linked with his The hest known of
these is the notorious Calamity Jane and there
has sprung up popular belief" terroneous as
most Of them are) that Wild Bill and Calamity
Jane were sweethearts This Is based mainly
upon the fact of their association In Deatlwood
s. D., for brief time and Calamity james dying
request that she be buried near Wild Bill Re
cent biographers of both have established pretty
definitely that although Calamity Jane was an
admireI of Wild Bill, his attitude toward her was
that Of genial tolerance The linking of his name
with various other women in the earlier years of
his life has been set down by these hiographers
as possible In one two cases but mainly un
authenticated.
The truth ahout Wild Bill in this respect is
as difficult to reach as II Is in many other respects.
But the best evidence points to the fact that there
was only woman whom he ever loved and
she was the woman he married at Cheyenne,
Wyo. in March, 1876 One OF his earliest
biogranhers wa; james William Kuell who knew
Wild Bill personally and obtained much of his
Information trsha1J. In his "Hernes of the
Plains he tells of the beginning OF the romance
which resulted In Wild Bits marriage. Despite
the aorid and sentmentalized style of Bnels
narrative II Is probable that his facts nre, In the
main correct He sfys
In August. following Wild Bills return frou
wichita an incident occurred which resulted som'
years afterward in his renouncing his previous
declaration to remain bachelor and the takirs
unto himself q wife The eircumsia noes which
eliminated in great change were romanficall
singular and we'll worthy OF record In thes
otherwise sanguinRry chronicles OF stirring adven
turea The incident referred to grew out of tn
exhibition OF Lakes Cirrns in Hays City durin
August 1871 Lakes Circus had been
entertainment -fur many years In In
eRnf and s6uIh sHt IN addition To thr sscrtf~H
reputation which II bors IT ~ss we'll advertise