The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-02-16
BY TRISTRAM COFFIN
Times stan Writer

A SURVEY of the incidents in
IA the life of william F. half
Mile Bill Collins, The Times con-
servation expert, would give the
impression that he is a swssh-
buckling prototype of Richard
Harding Davis. Lured by the fast
tempo of adventure. he has en-
gineered in Panama, prospected
for gold in South America and
flown in the army air service.
Stalwart and ready-witted, he
even looks the part. But in real
ity that part of his life is OBJ
served by his enthusiasm and de-
termination to better conservation
conditions in Indiana. He admits
that his interest in conservation
has a personal motivation. He is
convinced that the outdoors is the
best place for his two girls and
one boy.
The unwieldy nickname, Half
Mile Bill" is the salute Of Brown
county natives who we're astound-
ed by his accuracy with long
range rifle. Stream pollution,
game hogs, delay tactics, politi-
clans who ride the conservation
department for votes and special
privilegists are anathema to him.
Mr.. Collins was born five miles
from the Kickapoo Indian reServa-
ton in Nebraska and was witness
to many of the last practices OF
the red man.
A T the time when the country
N was stirred by the ambitious
shouts of the boy orator from
the Platte" William Jennings
Bryan. Mr.. Collins proudly carried
a torch in a Bryan parade, much
to the disgust of his Republican
parents. The young political
standard-b bearer was only 8.
With his parents he migrated
to Missouri to escape the rigors
of frontier during the panic of
1897 and from there to Scotland
at the age to r. The tyranny of
landowners there brought his re-
turn to the states, where he stud
led engineering.
Many men have dreams of see
ing the world and satisfying their
thirst fcf adventure, but few real
ize it. On SIS borrowed from his
father, the young engineer, prod
uct of the western frontier, land
ed in Panama when work on the
canal was at its height. An at
tack of chagres fever brought the
need for a change of climate.
CHORTLY before an intended
~ departure for South America,
farewell Well-wishers gave him a
party that prevented him from
catching his boat. Three days
later the ship went down with all
aboard. Out of sheer gratitude,
llC SbdytO dllOIllCA yCdA III dAA-
anna.
Mr.. Collins grew restless and
joined a party for the Coppermine
river railroad project in Alaska.
While waiting for passage the
party made an extended trip
through South and Central Amer
lea prospecting for gold.
All set for the long journey into
Alaska, he met his future wife on
the eve of departure and decided
that the far away frozen north
was no place from which to carry
on a courtShip.
Mr.. Collins came to Indianapolis
in 1917 to enlist in the army air
service. He cracked up while
training in Fit. Omaha, Neb., and
after the war drifted back into
Indiana and entered law.
Long a Jealous enthusiast for
conservation, he interested The
Times in his articles last year. His
hobbies are multiple. In his en-
cheering department" a machine
shop in the basement of his home,
he repairs the one hundred odd
Kentucky rifles he has collected
from old farmhouses. Each fire.
arm in his abundant collection
will shoot.