COPYRIGHTED 1638. BUFFALO BILL TO THE RESCUE. \j i eroes of the Plains OR Lives and Wonderful Adventures OF Wild Bill, Buffalo Bill, Kit Carson, Capt. Payne, "White Beaver," Capt. Jack, Texas Jack, California Joe, AND OTHER CELEBRATED INDIAN FIGHTERS, SCOUTS, HUNTERS AND GUIDES, - INCLUDING A TRUE AND THHII,I,ING HISTORY OF GEN. OUSTER'S FAM- OUS "LAST FIGHT" ON THE I,ITTI,E BIG HORN, WITH SITTING BUI,!, ; AI^SO A SKETCH OF THE I,IFE OF SITTING BUI,!,, AND HIS ACCOUNT OF THE CUSTER MASSACRE, AS RELATED TO THE AUTHOR IN PERSON. By the Author of "Mysteries and Miseries of America's Great Cities," ' Border Outlaws," etc., etc. u PROFUSELY IU,USTRATED. PHILADELPHIA, PA. WEST PHILADELPHIA PUBLISHING CO., 3941 Market Street. Copyright, 1891, by HISTORICAL PUBLISHING Co. Philadelphia, Pa. PUBLISHED AND MANUFACTURED BY HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA, PA. ncroft AUTHOR'S PREFACE. THE work of preparing a brief history of the greatest ef plains-heroes has been one of especial pleasure to me, although at times many obstacles interposed themselves which only perseverance could remove. But the labor, nevertheless, has afforded me no little enjoyment, as it brought to my immediate consideration deeds of prow- ess, cunning and endurance, putting to a test the meas- ure of man's possibilities in a particular field of action. It is our natural disposition to admire true heroes, and not only to admire, but to exalt their acts, and this uni- versal feeling, perhaps exaggerated in myself, was one of the motives which impelled me into a preparation of HEROES OF THE PLAINS." While this volume abounds with thrilling adventures, sanguinary encoun- ters and personal combats of the most startling charac- ter, yet through every page there is observed a thread of wholesome justice, upon which is strung every deed recounted, preserving a forcible and moral influence beneficial to young and old alike. In compiling these personal histories I have adhered strictly to facts without florid coloring. I was well ac- quainted with Wild Bill for several years before his death, and in 1879 wrote a pamphlet sketch of his life, but dis- covered afterward that while it contained comparatively few f bis adventures, there were several mortifying er~ 10 AUTHOR'S PREFACE rors, a correction of which influenced me to write another sketch of the famous scout, and this labor developed into " HEROES OF THE PLAINS." I was fortunate in securing Wild Bill's diary from his widow, Mrs. Agnes Lake Hickok, of Cincinnati, from which I have drawn my facts Concerning him, that there might be no mistakes or omissions in recounting the marvelous exploits of his life in this publication. Buffalo Bill, who now stands unchallenged as the greatest plainsman living, was an intimate friend of Wild Bill, and the two, so long connected in their won- derful careers, deserve a conjunctive position in history, such as I have here given them. The other heroes, Kit Carson, Capt. Jack, Gen. Custer, Capt. Payne, California Joe, and Texas Jack, have each made their private mark over the wild expanse of West- ern wilderness, in the highway they so ably assisted in preparing for civilization and its peaceful pursuits : teem- ing harvests, happy homes, the building of cities, exten- sion of commerce and all attendant blessings. They fought the fight whose victory has moved the center of wealth and population Westward, and therefore deserve the exultant recognition of every American whose patri- otism extends from the heart to the MoH \tf his nativity. J. W. B. ILLUSTRATIONS. ILLUMINATED TITLE. PAGE. ]. B. Hickok (Wild Bill), .... 20 Wild Bill's Birth Place,- - 22 Disembarking in a Kansas Mob, ... 27 Wild Bill Driving into Santa Fe, - 31 Wild Bill and his Men Charging the Indian Camp, 35 WILD BILL AND THE CINNAMON BEAR, - 39 WILD BILL'S FIGHT WITH THE McCANDLAS GANG, 45 A Close Shave, - - - - - 56 Wild Bill in Disguise, - 67 Wild Bill Surprises the Sleepy Sentinel, - 71 Man-to-yu kee (Conquering Bear), WILD BILL'S DUEL WITH CONQUERING BEAR, 8} Wild Bill and Mrs. Rogers in the Park, - - 89 Wild Bild Satisfies the Natives, - 94 A Duel with Four Men - 97 WILD BILL KILLING BLACK KETTLE, - 101 Scenery on the Route Traveled by the Wilson Party, 109 The Principal Amusement at Hays City, - - in WILD BILL'S FIGHT WITH FIFTEEN SOLDIERS, 1 19 The Aboriginal Part of the Outfit, - - - - 129 The Bear and the Sausages, - - - 131 A Street in Abilene, 134 A Ride for Life, ... . . 154 Wild Bill Accidentally Kills a Friend, - - - 136 PUNISHING A BOGUS CHARACTER, - - 165 The Cabin in the Black Hills, - - - 171 Wild Bill and the Fox, - 173 Taking Desperate Chances, . . 177 Wild Bill's Miraculous Escape from the Indians, - 179 Deadwood in Embryo, - 186 ASSASSINATION OF WILD BILL, - - 189 Execution of Jack McCall, ... 205 Wild Bill's Grave, - - - 209 Gen. Forsyth and his Beleaguered Scouts, 222 Pony Express, .... 223 Hon. Wm. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), ... 224 Stabbing of Buffalo Bill's Father, - - 230 Battle of Ash Hollow, - - 245 The Attack on the Stage Coach, .... 267 Inside the Robbers' Dug-Out, - 271 BUFFALO BILL WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP, - - 297 AMBUSHING THE INDIANS, - - 303 " Hi yi-yip-yah" The Attack, - - - 313 Beaver Creek, the Trapper's Ely sian, - - - 317 BUFFALO BILL IN CLOSE QUARTERS, - - 322 Buffalo Bill Tries a Shot at Long Range, - 329 Major Frank North, - - - 332 Silver Bricks awaiting Shipment, - - 336 Death of Tall Bull, - ... 344 Two Indians at One Shot, ... . 347 The Marriage Ceremony, - 353 "How! How!" - - . - 356 The Grand Duke's First Buffalo, .... 358 11 12 ILLUSTRATIONS. Residence of Hon. W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) at North Platte, Neb., 374 Brerent Major-Gen. Geo. A. Custer, - - . 377 Gen. Ouster's Interpreter Addressing the Assembled Sioux, - 380 DEATH OF GENERAL CUSTER, - 389 The Monument where Custer Fell, - - 392 BUFFALO BILL'S DUEL WITH YELLOW HAND, - - 397 A Shot that Beat William Tell's, - 407 California Joe, - - - - - -418 CALIFORNIA JOE AT THE STAKE, - - 423 The Indians Receiving the White Girl into their Canoe, - - 435 CALIFORNIA JOE ATTACKED BY A PANTHER, 446 California Joe Saves his Friend, .... 448 "Ugh! White Man," ... - 451 Kit Carson and his Blind Horse, .... 458 Kit Carson Employed as a Horse Tamer, - 463 Treed by a Hungry Grizzly, - 472 Hunting the Trail, ----- 474 Carson's Duel with the Frenchman, ... - 478 Kit Carson Saves his Fallen Comrade, - - - 481 Carson's Fight with a Mexican Lion, - - 483 Kit Carson's Indian Wife, - 484 Carson and the Wounded Buffalo, - - 489 Scene in Taos, N. M., ----- 494 Capt. D. L. Payne, - - - - - 498 THE MURDER OF MRS. BLINN, 509 Marching Through the Snow, - - 512 Departure of the Cheyennes, - - S 1 7 A Cheyenne Warrior, - - - ' 5 2 5 Colonel Coppinger Visits the Camp, - - 529 Drilling the Colonists, - 532 White Beaver (Dr. D. F. Powell), - - 534 White Beaver Charging the Indians, - - 543 A Ghastly Duel, - - - 546 White Beaver's Desperate Fight for Life, - 554 The Fight in Massacre Canon, - - 557 Combat with the Norwegian, - - 5" 1 Punishment of an Indian Adulteress, - 564 Sitting Bull, - 572 Surrender of Sitting Bull and his people, - 577 Rain-in-the-Face, - -581 Crow King, - 5 8 S Gall, - 589 Low-Dog, ... - 591 Diagram of the Custer Battle-Field, - '594 Final Charge of the Indians on Custer' s Men, - ' 597 Custer' s Last Shot, - -598 Capt. Jack, the Poet Scout, ooo Oura, - 6o5 Texas Jack, - 607 Tack Holding the Indians at Bay, 6or Flagging Antelope, - - - - - ** CONTENTS. LIFE OF WILD BILL. PAGE. CHAPTER I. Birth Family History Early Life Youthful Hunting Adventures Desperate Fight on a Towpath Leaves Home to take part in the Kansas War Receives the Title of "Shanghai Bill" Lively Times in Kansas, 21 30 CHAPTER II. Stage Driving across the Plains Trouble with the Indians Bill Leads an Expedition against them Desper- ate Fight and Brilliant Victory Freighting to New Mexico Terrific Fight with a Cinnamon Bear Bill Cleans out the McCandlas Gang at Rock Creek, and wins the Title of "Wild Bill," - 3050 CHAPTER III. Wild Bill Enlists in the Union Army Remarka- ble Shooting at Pea Ridge Becomes a Spy for General Curtis Makes his way to the Confederates and becomes an Orderly to Gen. Price Desperate Adventure with Jake Lawson A Ride for Life An Unprofitable Horse Race, 50 63 CHAPTER IV. Wild Bill again enters the Confederate Lines Humorous Adventure with an Old Darkey Assumes the role of an Arkansaw Traveler Is Detected and Condemned to be Shot Escapes by Killing his Guard, - 63 72 CHAPTER V. Bill Declines longer to serve as a Spy Remarkable Adventure with Three Bushwhackers Black Nell Bowie- Knife Duel with Conquering Bear, - - 72 85 CHAPTER VI. Mary Logan, the Beautiful Indian Girl Her Singular Infatuation for Wild Bill The Romance of Love Mary Logan Poisons her Husband and Disappears For- everDuel with Dave Tutt, in which Bill "Satisfies the Natives," - - 8695 CHAPTER VII. Wild Bill Fights a Duel with Four Men Expedi- tion Against Black Kettle Desperate Battle on the Wachita Bill Kills Black Kettle, - - 9610$ CHAT7ER VIIL W^ld Bill Visits Chicago Some Roughs try to Tame him Ignominious Failure of the Attempt Bill Re- ceives a Letter from Vice-President Wilson Serves as Guide for the Vice-President's Party, and is Presented with a Pair of Ivory-Handled Pistols Bill is Elected Marshal of Hays City, - II 14 CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. Jack Strawhan's Fatal Mistake Bill Mulvey un- dertakes to ''Run the Town" But Runs against Wild Bill's Pistol Desperate Fight with 16 Soldiers, - 113 124 CHAPTER X. Wild Bill's Buffalo Speculation Captures a Herd of Wild Buffaloes and Exhibits them at Niagara Result, Bankruptcy Bill becomes Marshal of Abilene, Kan. Fatal Row with Phil Cole Wild Bill and the Professor of Pugilism, - 124139 CHAPTER XL $5,000 offered for Wild Bill's Heart Eight Texas Desperadoes Accept the Offer, but fail to Deliver the Goods Death of Bill Thompson Wild Bill Kills and Scalps Phil Cole's Cousin, - 140149 CHAPTER XII. Mrs. Lake Finds a Champion in Wild Bill Who Makes a Speech in her Favor Bill Visits Kansas City Description of that Place in its Early Days Bill Tames a Rash Young Man, - 150 156 CHAPTER X1IL Wild Bill as an Actor The Tricks he played on the "Supes" Settles a Crowd of Roughs, who were Spoiling to Fight the entire Combination Adventure with a Party of Merchants at Portland, Maine Wild Bill makes ? Decided Hit Cleans out a Bogus Theatrical Troupe for using his Name without Authority Goes West again Is Attacked by Two Villains and Kills them Both, - 156 169 CHAPTER XIV. Expedition to the Black Hills Adventure with the Silver Grey Fox Bill's Companions Attacked and Killed by Indians His own Marvelous Adventures and Final Escape, - - 170 180 CHAPTER XV. Wild Bill Accidentally meets Mrs. Lake Pro- poses Marriage, is Accepted, and the Wedding takes place Pleasant Visit to Cincinnati Sketch of Mrs. Lake and her Daughter Emma, - - 180185 CHAPTER XVI. Bill's Last Expedition to the Black Hills Affec- tionate Letter to his Wife Assassination of Wild Bill by Jack McCall, - - 185192 CHAPTER XVIL The Murderer's Trial and Acquittal, 192198 CHAPTER XVIII. Funeral of Wild Bill California Joe's Warn- ing to the Murderer Capt. Jack's Poem on the Burial of Wild Bill, -. - 198203 CHAPTER XIX. Second Trial of Jack McCall His Conviction and Execution Pathetic Letter from his Sister, - 203 207 CHAPTER XX. Removal of Wild Bill's Remains, which are found to be Petrified "Wild Bill's Grave" Peculiarities of the Great Scout His Love for Black Nell His Wonder- ful Dexterity in the use of Fire Arms Gen. Custer's Opin- ion of Wild Bill, - ... 207 a*" CONTENTS. LIFE OF BUFFALO BILL. CHAPTER I. Birth and Early Life Experiences with Mormons and Frontier Characters The Kansas Troubles Attempt- ed Assassination of Billy's Father Billy Rescues his Father from a Mob Attempt to Blow up the Cody Residence with Ppwder, 225 334. CHAPTER II. Billy runs away from Home to become a Herder Returns with his Pockets full of Silver, which he gives to his Mother Goes to School His First Sweetheart Fight with his Rival "I'm killed! I'm killed!" Billy again Leaves Home to Escape Imaginary Dangers Is Followed by his Rival's Father But Escapes his Fury Death of the Elder Mr. Cody- Billy's Efforts to Help his Mother His First Fight with Indians The Retreat Billy Slays the "Biggest Indian in the Outfit" Returns Home to Find himself Famous, ... 234 24* CHAPTER III. Billy " Goes West" again Description of Over- land Freighting A Singular Obligation " Bull- Whack- ers " and " Cow-Boys "The Camp Wrecked by a Buffalo Stampede Captured by Mormons Who Rob the Train, but Release the Men Perilous March across the Plains Desperate Fight with Indians Billy Shoots a Warrior at Long Range The Rescue Trapping Camping in a Grave Yard, - 243 233 CHAPTER IV. " Pike's Peak or Bust " " Busted "The Re- turn Adventures on a Raft Billy becomes a ' ' Pony Ex- press" Rider, 254 257 CHAPTER V. Billy and Dave Harrington as Trappers The Ac- cident Alone on the Prairie Visited by Indians Twenty- Nine Days of Lonely Suffering Help at Last The Return Death of Noble Dave Harrington, 257 263 CHAPTER VI. Stage Driving Narrow Escape from Massacre Battle of Clear Creek, 264269 CHAPTER VII. Billy's Adventure with the Robbers Kills one of the Band and Escapes by Shrewd Strategy, 269 27J CHAPTER VIII. The Great Civil War" Red Legs " and "Bor- der Ruffians" ^Billy's Service as a Soldier and Scout Adventure in Southern Missouri, - 275 280 CHAPTER IX. Close of the War Billy falls in Love and is Mar- ried Wedding Trip to Kansas The Boat Attacked by Bushwhackers Ovation at Leavenworth Housekeeping Scouting for Gen. Custer, - 280 285 CONTENTS . CHAPTER X. The " Colored Troops " fail to Fight Nobly But Unlimber Themselves and "Light Out" Saved by the Darkness A Town Speculation Rome " Howls" Dr. Webb and his Little Scheme Rome does not prove to be an Eternal City Buffalo Hunting Cody Wins the Title of "Buffalo Bill," 285291 CHAPTER XL -The Great Buffalo Hunting Contest Numerous Visitors Great Excitement Magnificent Display of Skill in Riding and Shooting Buffalo Bill Wins the Stakes, 292 299 CHAPTER XII. Bill is Captured by Indians But Escapes through Strategy and the Fleetness of his Mule The Ambush Marvelous Riding as a Dispatch Carrier The "Govern- ment Mule," ...... 299 311 CHAPTER XIIL Gen. Forsythe's Desperate Battle with the Indi- ans Buffalo Bill as Scout and Hunter Drives a Herd of Buffaloes into Camp and Kills them Fighting Indians Close Quarters, - - 311 320 CHAPTER XIV. The Battle with Black Kettle's Band Pursuit of Horse Thieves "Throw up your Hands, or I'll Kill You," - 320327 CHAPTER XV. Buffalo Bill Kills an Indian at Long Range- Major North and his Pawnees Numerous Indian Fights, 328 339 CHAPTER XVI. Scouts and Battles Buffalo Bill shoots Tall Bull Camp Life, - - - 339345 CHAPTER XVIL Buffalo Bill's Wonderful Horsemanship He Kills Two Indians at One Shot The Pawnee Sentinel- Buffalo Bill as a 'Squire A New Way to "Replevin" a Stolen Horse The Wedding Ceremony, - - 345 353 CHAPTER XVIII. Buffalo Bill Serves as Guide for Distinguished Hunting Parties The Duke Alexis Spotted Tail and his Indians The Duke Kills his First Buffalo Bill Treats him to a "Western Stage Drive "Buffalo Bill Visits New York on the Invitation of Prominent Citizens Another Brush with the Indians, 354 363 CHAPTER XIX. Buffalo Bill is Elected a Member of the Legis- lature Ned Buntline Makes him an Offer to go on the Stage Bill and Texas Jack Learning their Parts Splendid Success, 363372 CHAPTER XX. Acting and Scouting Death of Little Kit Prep- arations for the Little Big Horn Expedition, 373 382 CHAPTER XXL History of the Unfortunate Expedition to the Little Big Horn Custer's Last Fight and Death, - 382 393 CHAPTER XXII. Buffalo Bill's Duel with Yellow Hand "The First Scalp for Custer," * 393 393 CONTENTS. 17 CHAPTER XXIII. Scouting on a Steamboat The Bad Lands- Marvelous Ride and Narrow Escape Viewing an Indian Buffalo Hunt from Ambush A Bridle of Indian Scalps- Success on the Stage $48,000 Cleared in One Season A Shot that Beat William Tell's, 400408 CHAPTER XXIV. The Author visits Buffalo Bill The Famous Scout's Home and Family His Great Popularity at Home Wonderful Riding and Shooting Buffalo Bill's Liberal- ity A Humorous Incident at Church An Indian's Con- tempt for a Watch Other Incidents and Anecdotes, 408 416 LIFE OF CALIFORNIA JOE. CHAPTER!. Who was California Joe? The Mystery that En- shrouded him The Indian Massacre Captured and Con- demned to the Stake Rescued by a Party of Trappers after the Fire is Kindled, - - 419 435 CHAPTER II. A Romance of Love Capt. Jack's Poem Joe Rescues Hazel Eye, - 425 436 CHAPTER III. Service as Scout During the War Scouting on the Plains Gen. Custer's Description of California Joe "An Ambulance Man er a Hoss Man" Silent Jack Corbin Joe and Jack's Ride A Bear Hunt Ambushing the Indiars " Boys, you kin hev the Fixtures, but the Scalps are Mine," ... - _ 436 444 CHAPTER IV. Joe's Terrific Combat with a Mexican Couger California Joe and Jack Corbin in the Black Hills Joe Saves his Friend's Life " Ugh ! White Man! " - 444 453 CHAPTER V. Joe's Weakness Must have "Pie" His practical joke on the Big Soldier "The Grave of Poor Amos Billings " Incidents and Anecdotes Murder of California Joe, - - - 453 457 LIFE OF KIT CARSON. CHAPTER I. Personal Characteristics Uncertainty of Kit's Birth Place Early Days in Missouri Expedition to Santa Fe Becomes a Mexican Horse Tamer Engages in Trap- ping Trip to California Pursuit of Digger Indians Charging through their Camp in the Darkness Kit kills a Mexican Fights with Indians, - 459 469 CHAPTER II. Hunting and Trapping in Colorado Kit pursues an Indian Horse Thief Overtakes and Kills him Treed by a Grizzly Bear Trailing Indians in the Snow A Council 18 CONTENTS. that Ended in a Fight Kit Carson is badly Wounded in an Effort to Save a Comrade Carson's Duel with the Arro- gant Frenchman, - - 469478 CHAPTER III. Expedition into the Blackfeet Country Threaten- ed with Starvation Combats with the Blackfeet Carson Saves a Fallen Comrade Trapping on the Great Salt Lake Terrible Fight with a Mexican Lion Kit Carson's Indian Wife Her Death and Kit's visit to St. Louis Serves as Scout in the Fremont Expedition Graphic De- scription of a Buffalo Hunt Carson's Narrow Escape from a Wounded Buffalo, - 479 499 CHAPTER IV. The Second Fremont Expedition Exploring the Great Salt Lake Terrible Hardships and Sufferings, 490493 CHAPTER V. Carson's Service in the Mexican War Saves a Party of Americans from Annihilation Close of the Mexi- can War Carson's Home in New Mexico Commissioned Brigadier General Death of Kit Carson, - - 493 497 LIFE OF CAPT. D. L. PAYNE. CHAPTER L Early Life Goes West to Fight the Mormons- Unprofitable Speculation in a Saw Mill Hunting on the Plains of Kansas Payne's intimacy with Kit Carson, Wild Bill, Buffalo Bill, California Joe, and other Noted Plains- men Service in the Cival War The Pompous Dutch In- specting Officer Payne as a Sailor The Joke he played on a couple of Starchy Officers A Gallant Adventure at the Battle of Prairie Grove, - - 498 507 CHAPTER II. Close of the War Scouting on the Plains Capt- ure of Three White Ladies by Indians The Pursuit and Re- capture Terrible Sufferings during the Expedition Ten Cheyenne Chiefs in a Close Place Payne and the Lively Mule Surrounded and Hemmed In Saved by Daring and Skill Capt. Payne's Election to the Kansas Legislature The Oklahoma Movement Payne's Arrest and Trial Per- sonal Characteristics, ... 507 jjjj LIFE OF WHITE BEAVER. CHAPTER I. Character of the Hero His Indian Mother Early Life His Inherited and Acquired Knowledge of Medicine Death of Mrs. Powell First Adventures on the Plains " Follow Me Who Will." - 534$^ CHAPTER II. A Fierce Fight With Twenty Sioux Sends Him- self to the Louisville Medical College A Pistol Duel in a CONTENTS. ID Ghostly Dissecting-room Return to the Plains Buffalo Bill's Story of Powell's Noble Nature How He Saved Chief " Rocky Bear's" Daughter Bestowal of the Name "White Beaver" Upon Him by Rocky Bear, 542 550 CHAPTER III. To the Rescue of An Unfortunate Girl His Duel With the Royall Brothers Joins a Band of " Cut Off" Sioux- Dreadful Fight With Arrapahoe Indians Desperately Wound- ed With a Lance Saved by Rocky Bear, 550 550 CHAPTER IV. Terrible Sight In Massacre Canon Discovery of the Cheyenne Camp White Beaver Heads the Charge A Terrible Alternative "The Chief Must Be Cured or White Beaver Shall Die" He Cures the Chief, and is Made Medicine Man of the Nation Removal to Lanesboro Desperate Fight With a Norwegian Encounter With a Member of Crazy Horse's Band How He Killed the Indian, - 555 565 CHAPTER V. Marriage of White Beaver His Estimable Wife and Her Influence He Joins Buffalo Bill's Combination White Beaver Suppresses an Indian War Dance in Chicago And Cracks " Long Trailer's" Skull His Removal to LaCrosse, Wis. Established as Proprietor of a Surgical Insti- tute His Extraordinary Success and Practice in Surgery Besought by Numerous Indian Tribes to Return and be Their Medicine Chief His Skill as a Rifle and Pistol Shot, - 565571 SITTING BULL'S STORY OF THE CUSTER MASSACRE. CHAPTER I. Sitting Bull's Taciturnity The Author's Visit to the Great Warrior A Cordial Reception Sitting Bull not a Chief But a Prophet A Brief History of His Career Attending an Indian Funeral Back into Camp With Sitting Bull The Author's Interview with the Distinguished Chief Graphic History of a Painful Memory How the Last Survivor Died A Story that Melts the Heart With Pity Identification of a Skeleton by Teeth With Gold Fillings, - - 572588 CHAPTER II. STORY OF LAKOTAH, THE SQUAW-WARRIOR, WHO FOUGHT AGAINST CUSTER Lakotah, the Wife of Chief Spotted Horn Bull Her Fierce Fight with Chief Gall The Author's Introduction to Lakotah Her Willingness to Tell the Story of Custer's Defeat Explaining the Battle by Means of a Diagram Reno's First Attack An Inexcusable Retreat First Appearance of Custer on the Scene Caught in an Ambush A Storm of Death Not a Soldier Left What Shall the Heroes' Portion Be? 588 599. SKETCH OF CAPT. JACK, THE POET SCOUT, 6oc> 606 SKETCH OF TEXAS JACK, (J. B. Omohundro), - 60761:2 J. B. HICKOK, (Wild Bill) HEROES OF THE PLAINS. LIFE OF WILD BILL (J. B. HICKOK.) CHAPTER I. IT is a noticeable fact that nearly all our sturdy f ron- characters are natives of the West ; there is, appar- ently, something in the atmosphere, in the wild winds which freight the air with primeval perfume ; an unde- fined elemental principle which inoculates Western chil- dren yrith a desire for adventure. Our hero, of course, beloDg-3 to that longitudinal nativity where the prairies bathe their feet at the margins of eastern forests, and then roll away to the Occident, resting at that great ridge which rinses ruggedly into the vertebrae of a continent. JAMES BUTLER HICKOK, known to history only as ' ' Wild Bill," was born in La Salle county, Illinois, near the country village of Troy Grove, on the 27th of May, 1837. His parents were both natives of Vermont, from which State they removed, directly after marriage, to New York. After following farming for some time in the Empire State, and meeting with indifferent success, in 1834 the family, now consisting of the parents and two children, packed up their few possessions and re- moved to Illinois, going overland in a " mover's wagon," as was the customary mode of traveling in that early period. A place for settlement was chosen in Putnam county, but two years afterward a more desirable location was found in La Salle county, the homestead then selected 21 22 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. and entered proving so satisfactory that it is still occur pied by two survivors of the family. The house in which Wild Bill was born was built in 1836 and stood, fronting east, upon a prairie one-half mile from the timber skirting little Yermillion creek. The house is still standing, and occupied, but the progress of rapid settlement in Illinois has reared the village of Homer about the pioneer's home, and the birth-place of our hero is now situated in the southeast corner of block Wild Bill's Birth Place. number thirteen of that town. The cut of the house as here produced, was made from a drawing executed by H. D. Hickok, in March of the present year, and therefore illustrates the place of to-day, though there have been n material alterations made in the building since its first erection. The family consisted of six children, four boys and two girls, whose names and ages are as follows : O. C. Hickok, was born in New York in 1830 : he is now a resi- LITE OF WILD BILL. 23 dent of California, and is the trainer and part owner of St. Julian, the greatest horse, perhaps, now on the turf. Lorenzo B. was born, also in New York, in 1832 ; Horace D. is a native of Putnam count j, Illinois, having been born there in 1834 ; James B., Celinda D., and Lydia M. were born at tne old homestead near Troy Grove. Celinda, born in 1839, married a gentleman by the name of Dewey, and is still living in La Salle county, while Lydia, being two years younger, married a farmer named Barnes and is living in Decatur county, Kansas. Lorenzo arid Horace are still living on the old homestead. The father died in 1852, and the mother in 1878 after reach- ing the venerable age of seventy-four years. All the children are living with the exception of James (Wild Bill) whose marvelous career and tragic death will be found fully recorded in the subsequent pages, constitut- ing a leaf in history a parallel to which can be found neither in the annals of fact nor romance. James, it is said, was peculiar in his ways even in child- hood. His earliest desire was for fire-arms, and by bar- tering a number of childish trinkets, at the age of eight years he became possessed of the greatest treasure his youthful fancy had ever pictured a little single-barreled pistol. In his eyes this weapon, though a flint-lock and of imperfect make, represented the sum total of earthly wealth ; he would not have exchanged it for all the gold of the richest Peruvian Inca, and if staked against his soul there is no doubt but that he would have taken great risk of losing that before parting with his almost price- less treasure. By dint of cunning exchange and bar- ter the youthful sportsman procured powder, and when lead was difficult to obtain he used pebbles, and thus accoutered all his leisure hours were spent in marksman- ship, in which, despite the primitiye character of his "out- 24 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. fit," he occasionally killed a cat, wounded a pig, winged a chicken, or stung a coyote. These foibles sometimes brought a prominent admonition of Solomon into active operation, at great expense to his youthful posterior ; but if these corrections made the embryo hunter's sitting posi- tion difficult they apprised him, at the same time, of the more comfortable employment of walking, and this was sure to lead him again into the commission of other acts equally indefensible in the eyes of his parents. At about the age of fourteen James secured an excel- lent pistol and shortly afterward, by the assistance of his father, he purchased a rifle, and thus armed he remained in the woods almost constantly. At this period the few settlers were greatly annoyed by the ravages of wolves, so much in fact that the State offered premiums for the scalps of these destructive animals. This furnished a remunerative occupation for James who, every evening, returned home with a belt full of bloody prizes which brought him no small revenue at the end of every mouth when the scalps were carried to the county clerk, as the law provided. His opportunities for schooling were entirely consistent with his other advantages ; country schools had occa- sional sessions in his district, but a regular attendance was prevented, both by the great distance of the school- house and the irregularity, or rather infrequencj, of the sessions. However, he managed to acquire a rudimental education. At the age of fifteen chance threw in his way acopyof Peters' "Lifeof Kit Carson," and "The Trap- per's Guide," two books which he read with the greatest interest. The former made such an impression upon him that he declared to his brothers that he would 4 ' one day beat anything Kit Carson ever did or attempted." Two years after familiarizing himself with Carson's ex- LIFE OF WILD BILL. 25 ploits, James obtained employment as a tow-path driver for the Illinois and Michigan canal. Soon after engaging in this occupation he had a difficulty with a driver named Charles Hudson, which resulted in a fistic contest lasting more than an hour. The two began the fight on the tow path, but gradually rolling towards the canal they both finally tumbled into the water, and then it changed from blows into an effort each to drown the other. Hudson was a large man, whose physical abilities were far super- ior to James', but the latter' s cat-like agility fully com pensated for his deficiency in strength ; in addition to a remarkable activity his endurance was another point of superior excellence, and through these he at length gained such a decided victory that Hudson was taken out of the canal in a lifeless condition, but by dexterous manipulation he was resuscitated. This ended James* canal experience, and he returned home. Thus passed the youth of Wild Bill, but who can tell his longing far wider fields of adventure, his craving for escapades in which danger becomes the source of pleas- ure ? When he reached the period of responsible man- hood, eighteen years, though the avenues of communica- tion were few and narrow, yet there was brought to his ears stories of the incipient struggles between Missouri and Kansas. As the strife grew fiercer in aspect James decided to seek the arena of conflict ; he may have grasped the ideas which actuated the Kansas settlers in repelling all efforts to make their State a territory privi- leging slavery, but the elements of his nature rather in- cite a belief that he was moved alone by the knowledge that Kansas soil was vegetating bloody broils, and that the great need of that section was heroes. In the spring of 1855 our thirsting adventurer, collect- ing together what money he could command, bade adiei 26 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. to his old home, which nestled tamely in the wilderness of prairies, and set out on foot for St. Louis, which citj he reached after many days of painful traveling. The world was almost a? strange to him as one of the planets, for his intercourss uad been confined to such a limited stretch of changeless country, that beyond the village store his vision had never wandered over the scenes of business Me. St. Louis was to him a painted pano- rama, as mysterious as the labyrinths of the pyra- mids ; the steamboats were novelties like the palaces of necromancers, and this new life to him had such a strange aspect that it was very like a second birth. The river business was, at that time, very large, and the Missouri was crowded with steamers plying between St. Louis and Omaha. After much deliberation James engaged pas- sage on the steamer Imperial for Leavenworth, a small acquaintance with city life having infused a new longing for adventure and stimulated him for greater concerns. After a tedious voyage the boat reached Leavenworth, but at the landing met with a reception least expected. Ex- citement had seized upon everyone and the determination of the people seemed to be the disorganization of society and the formation of a universal mob. James, an unsophisticated country lad, but withal pos- sessed of a mother acuteness which led him to carefully con- sider the best means for his own security, carefully noted the excited throng which, without the least show of reason^ except exaggerated suspicion, forbade any of the passengers coming on shore . The town of Leavenworth being his des- tination, however, James determined to leave the boat, and to do this he resorted to a cunning expedient. Tying a large bandana kerchief about his neck, with his pants stuffed carelessly into his boot-legs, and being a deckpas^ :senger, he readily assumed the labor of a roustabout and LIFE OF WILD BILL. 27 began to carry off freight. While in this occupation he had no difficulty in slipping away through the crowd and gaining the center of the town, where he at once cast about for means of employment. Disembarking in a Kansas Mob. 28 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. Jim Lane, who had recently come from Indiana with a body of two hundred men, was then the recognized leader of what was known as the " Red Legs," or anti-slavery forces in Kansas, and at this time had his headquarters in Leaven worth. His band consisted of a little more than three hundred men, armed with such weapons as their individual means afforded. James gravitated natu- rally towards Lane, and within a week after his arrival in Leavenworth he had joined his fortunes with those who were under that leader's generalship. A few days after his enlistment the regiment was called out on the commons west of town for drill and rifle practice. The range was one hundred yards, and the guns used were common squirrel rifles. In the contest of marksmanship James easily beat every other man in the command, and Indeed made such excellent scores that Lane personally com- plimented his accuracy in the most flattering words . While this little ceremony was being conducted, a crow chanced to fly overhead, and, greatly elated at the distinction be- ing shown him, James drew a pistol from his pocket and shot the bird, then carelessly replaced his weapon with- out remark as to the excellence of the shot. The crowd of men, however, set up a wild cheering, and for several minutes the confusion was so great that Lane could not make himself heard. When the noise had somewhat abated he renewed his flattering compliments, and putting a hand on James' shoulder, he said to his band : " This man, my newest recruit, will one day excite the wonder and admiration of America, and I shall watch his course with the greatest interest and solicitude." After this little incident the regiment gave James the title of " Shanghai Bill," a name which clung to him until after his great fight at Rock Creek, nearly five years after- wards. I can readily conceive the origin of the appella- LIFE OF WILD BILL. 29 tlon of " Shanghai," because James was, at this time, no less than six feet in height and uncommonly slim, though very lithe and willowy, but how he came to be called "Bill," instead of "Jim," I have been unable to discover. His most intimate acquaintances are at a loss for the rea- son, and his diary makes no mention of anything except the time and circumstances under which the " title" was bestowed. "Bill," as I shall hereafter very properly call him, served with Lane for nearly two years, through the most trying days when Kansas was building a wall on her east- ern border out of the blood and bodies of her noblest sons, to keep out Slavery. He fought only as a brave and excellent soldier, always recognized by Lane as the most effective man in the command. In the early part of 1857 Bill entered a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of the finest land in Monticello township, Johnson county, Kansas, and though he was not yet of age, his reputation was such that almost immediately after set- tling in that section he was elected constable. But he was not permitted to live in peace in his new home. The "Border Euffians " of Missouri, who had suffered defeat, held a special grudge against Bill and ia their predatory incursions on Kansas soil they visited Monticello township and during the absence of their enemy they burned his cabin. Being unable to revenge this out>- rage because of the secret identity of the men who did it, Bill went to work again and soon had another comfortable house erected on his premises. His duties as constable called him from home so frequently, however, that the marauders had no difficulty in a second time applying the torch and laying the new house in ashes. The insecurity of his possessions admonished Bill that fcw labors would never avail him, as a farmer in Johnson 30 HEBOES OF THE PLAINS. county, and before the year expired lie abandoned his claim and accepted a position as driver for the Overland Stage Company. In this capacity he crossed the plains several times, driving from St. Joseph, Denver, and points in Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska, to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Salt Lake City. As a driver he was apparently reckless and yet no man ever got through his route so frequently with as few accidents. Coming into his destination Bill usually treated his passengers to " a shaking up," as he called it, " in order to jolt the crick* out of their joints." The last stretch of road entering Santa Fe was a slight decline and over this Bill almost in- variably turned the horses loose and gave them the lash. The big Concord coach would bound along like a wounded monster, lurching the passengers from side to side, dish- ing up dyspeptics, phlegmatics and rollicking disposition* indiscriminately, and bowling into the town finally the centre of a dust bank and the object of excited interest to everyone in the ancient Mexican city. CHAPTER II. THB Orerland Stage Company, like the great freight* ers, Majors* Russell & Waddell, had its routes over the entire West. It was a very easy matter at that time, and in that peculiar civilization, for a man, so disposed, to make a record. In fact, it was more difficult for him not to make one, for he was soon put down as either an arrant coward or a man of nerve. Every station was located by a saloon and every stage employe wart practi- cally an animated, skin-full of fighting whisky. Desper- ate rows were as common as wax-weed flowers on LIFE OF WILD BILL. 31 32 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. prairie in spring-time, anu the man who had failed to snuff out a life was like a bashful fellow at a country dance wofully out of place. But Shanghai Bill's record was recognized in the bud, for his physical ability had been demonstrated in many social encounters, and while he had gone through the ordeal of more than a score of fights his master had not yet been found. Being also acknowledged as the best shot on the plains and fortified with a wonderful self-possession under trying circum- stances, full of cunning, strategy and pluck, he was already a hero by general consent of all who knew him. In the fall of 1858 the Indians broke out of their res- ervation on the Sweetwater and began their depredations to the serious injury of the stage company. Several set- tlers had been massacred, two pony express riders killed, and, being emboldened by their success, they at length attacked a stage coach near the three crossings on Sweetr water creek. In this encounter the driver and three passengers were killed and the assistant division agent escaped with a serious wound. In addition to this out- rage the Indians stole a large number of horses belonging to the stage company and rendered its business so ex- tremely hazardous that for nearly two months the express and stage were suspended on that division. The com- pany, being thus enjoined from operations, and appreci- ating the necessity of some decisive action, sent for Bill. He promptly responded and meeting the officers jit St. Joseph they went into council to consider the best means of proceeding against the Indians. Bill was the first to offer a proposition looking to a solution of the troubles. Said he : " You have got enough men here, if they are turned loose right, to clean out all the Red Devils along the route, and all the men now idle would consider it a frolic to go into the Indian service for a short time." LIFE OF WILD BILL. 33 He was requested to perfect his plans and given full authority to conduct the proposed operations according to his own wishes. Bill at once had the men called to- gether and in his own pithy phrases related to them what was wanted ; a hearty disposition to engage in the expe- dition was manifested by every one, and on the following day preparations were made to leave. About fifty men enlisted, all of whom were well provided with the best of arms and good horses ; before starting they unanimously chose Bill as their leader, promising implicit obedience to his orders. The well equipped and organized body set out on the 29th day of September, pointing directly for the Powder River. When they reached that stream, along which they expected to find the Indians encamped, they saw nothing but an indistinct trail leading westwardly. This the company followed for three days, finding it growing constantly fresher, when suddenly they found, upon reaching Crazy Woman's Fork a small stream usually dry during summer and frozen solid in winter that the Indians whom they were so successfully trailing, had been joined by another party in war paint numbering not less than one hundred. Here was a dilemma which caused several in the command to falter, for it was now evident that the whole band of Indians comprised fully two hundred, and to meet with such an overwhelming force seemed like charging the guns at Balaklava. % But Bill gave his men no opportunity to talk about the in- creasing danger of the expedition, for he proposed to shoot the first man who attempted to return. This bold threat may not have been needed, for though there were some expressions concerning the judiciousness of follow- ing so large a band of Indians, yet every one under Bill was full, up to the chin, with dare-devil courage, and 34 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. they could be depended on to fight a ten-acre field full of grizzly bears with only a tooth-pick for a weapon if they were only put to it. Finding the trail decidedly fresh, the party, with Bill always in the lead, proceeded with due circumspection, gaining the high knolls cautiously, and sweeping the land^ scape to discover if the enemy were in view. At Clear Creek the crossing was apparently made but two or three* hours before, and almost immediately after this discov- ery, the day being well advanced, Bill commanded a halt, and pointing directly north, he said : " Do you see that fittle blue vapor hanging on the tree tops? Well, that means an Indian camp. You boys just stop right here and I '11 locate the game." So saying he left the trail and rode like he was making to the windward of a herd of buffaloes, taking a broad circuit in order to reach some high ground from which he could discover the exact strength of the Indians, how their camp was pitched, where their stock was stationed and whether tethered or eorraled. All this information was soon gathered by Bill, who returned and ordered his men to rest until dark, get themselves in good readiness and be prepared for a dashing fight after night-fall. The company remained in camp, without fire, until nearly ten o'clock, getting a good rest and permitting their horses to recover from the tiresome march. When Bill called his men to the saddle each one responded with alacrity. His instructions then were for each man to fol- low him into the Indian camp and to fight only with the pistol ; to make for the stock which, being in a corral, would be easily stampeded and run out, so it could be collected and secured. These instructions were obeyed to the letter ; the party rode cautiously toward the camp, which being found unpicketed was easily approached > LIFE OF WILD BILL. 35 and then a dash was made for the corral by twelve of the "while the others rode into the camp and as the half stupefied Indians came out of their tents, not realizing what the confusion meant, they were shot down until the at- tack became a slaughter. The surprise was complete; 36 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. while the deadly revolvers in the hands of those who so well knew how to use them, did fearful execution. All the horses were secured except a few scrub ponies, and then it was an easy matter to get off, for there was noth ing left on which the Indians could make pursuit. The men returned with all the horses stolen from the stage company, together with more than a hundred head of those belonging to the Indians. After getting back to St. Joseph the brilliant results of the campaign superinduced a general big drunk in which all the stage employes participated, and, though very strange to assert, yet none the less true, the row which followed as a mat- ter of course, resulted in the killing of only one man, a stage driver, by Alf . Slade, one of the company bosses. Severing his connectin with the Overland Stage Co., in 1859, Bill engaged with the great freighters, Majors & Russels, to drive between Independence, Mo., and Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was while thus employed that he met with a unique adventure which cost him ver^ dearly but taught him a very useful lesson. Matt Farley was his companion on one occasion during this long over-* land trip, and but for him the name of Wild Bill would never have been heard. While passing through tho Soccoro range with his team two miles ahead of Farley, Bill discovered a large cinnamon bear with her two cubs directly in the road ahead of him. The bear, instead of manifesting any fear at Bill's approach, but moved en- tirely by her maternal instincts, boldly disputed his pas- sage, and with further advance of the team she growl edf fiercely and showed her intention to attack him. Bill be- ing provided with two excellent pistols and a large bowie- knife gave himself no concern for the result of the en- counter, thinking it an easy matter to kill the bear 8 presumption in which he was most seriously mistaken- LIFE OP WILD BILL. 3? When the bear approached within twenty feet of him he fired one of his pistols, the ball striking her squarely in the forehead, but the accurate aim instead of proving fatal had no other effect than to put the beast in a more desperate rage, for the cinnamon, like thegrizzley, has a brain protection so thick that the ball from an ordinary rifle will produce no impression on it. In fact, many experienced hunters claim that the cinnamon is much more dangerous than the grizzley, because of its greater activity and equal vitality. Bill at once discovered, from the bad result of his first shot, that he had an antagonist bent on a mission which might well afford serious appre- hensions. His first feeling of security prevented him from taking safety on the top of his wagon and now he was cut off from that means of escape. In fact he had no time to think of retreat after the first shot was dis- charged, for the bear was fairly on him in the next instant ; he discharged his second pistol and succeeded in Injuring the animal's left foreleg, as he intended, but as he jerked his long knife the bear reared on her hind legs and grappled him. The struggle which now ensued was one of the most desperate ever known. Bill buried the knife rapidly in various parts of the bear's body and cut her throat, but while doing this his shoulder was torn dreadfully, his left arm crushed from the elbow, his breast furrowed by the long, poniard-like claws, and his left cheek was split open. But he never regarded his terrible wounds, standing up in the agonizing embrace of the infuriated animal until the ground on which they fought was saturated with blood. Bill finally slipped and fell, the bear falling squarely on top of him and holding his left arm in her mouth. This fall, was, how- ever, a most fortunate circumstance, for the position was easily reversed and Bill could use his knife with greater 38 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. effect ; while, in a standing position, although injured in one of her forelegs, yet the bear could with this member seriously interfere with the execution of Bill's single free hand. Before the fight was concluded he had literally disembowled the dangerous animal and her feet became so tangled in her intestines that she thus assisted in her own quick destruction. The combat lasted nearly half an hour and at its close it was difficult to decide which presented the more horri- fying spectacle, Bill or his dead antagonist ; they were both saturated with blood and their flesh was in shreds m several places. However, Bill survived, but when his companion, Farley, came up he was barely able to point to the dead bear and his own desperate lacerations. Bill was hauled to Santa Fe and there placed under the charge of Dr. Sam Jones, an excellent frontier surgeon, who, by good attention, was able to so far restore his patient in two months' time as to permit Bill's return to Indepen- dence. But it was not until several months after his dis- charge from the surgeon's care that Bill was able to re- sume work again, and the scars from the wounds rv&. oeived in that encounter he bore to his grave. In the latter part of 1860, Bill left the employment ol Majors & Russel to accept a position tendered him by the Overland Stage Co. as watchman and hostler at Rock Creek Station, a point on the Old Platte route fifty miles west of Topeka. The stage company, which ran its coaches between St. Joseph, Mo., and Denver, had estab- lished Rock Creek as a relay post and had built stables for the accommodation of about twenty-five horses, which number was almost always found there. Bill had a com- panion with him known as Doc . Mills , a small Irishman , who did the cooking and assisted in the care of the horses, in fact performing a greater part of the menial duties, as LIFE OF WILD BILL. 41 Bill was employed, chiefly, to guard the stock, owing to the depredations of horsethieves who were very numerous in that section. The two occupied a small log hut, hav- ing but one room, which was divided, however, by the suspension of an old horse-blanket, back of which was their bed. The roof of the hut was thatched, and being built on the side of a steep hill it was easy to walk from the hill directly on to the roof. It was what is univer- sally called in the far West a " dug-out,' * there being' but one entrance, in the front, and not a single window. To the right of the " dug-out" were the stables, built of heavy logs and so secure that when the big puncheon doors were locked it would require the services of a pro- fessional safe-cracker to effect a violent entrance. It was here that Bill and his chum spent the autumn days, in the very heart of the dreariest solitude between Mis- souri and the Rocky Mountains. But even away up in this wild place the news of an approaching struggle be- tween the North and South had penetrated and as the daily coach rolled up before the cabin door Bill always anxiously inquired for papers and information. In the same neighborhood, not more than thirteen miles west of Rock Creek, there was a rendezvous known as the McCandlas ranche. It was located in a barely access- ible spot, and well known to Bill as a corral for stolen horses. The two McCandlas boys, Jack and Jim, had long been a terror to the central part of Kansas ; had killed more innocent men and stolen a greater number of fine horses than any other two thieving cut-throats that ever figured in the annals of Western outlawry. They had enlisted about one dozen of equally desperate horse- thieves, and this band laid enforced tribute upon every farmer in that section, and when horse stealing grew dull or unprofitable the McCandlases turned their talents 42 HEROES OP THE PLAINS. which were decidedly versatile to highway robbery, oc- casionally stopping a stage, or murdering a party of trav- elers. They had so overrun the country and asserted their power that no attempt was ever made to arrest them, the officers of the several adjoining counties fairly standing in awe of the McCandlas name. Kansas, although one of the strongest Union States, nevertheless furnished some recruits for the Confederate service, and among the active sympathizers with the South, in the central part of the State, the McCandlas gang was particularly prominent. By what authority he acted was never discovered ; perhaps it was by none, and that his assumed authority was but a pretext for bolder robbery ; but it is certain that Jack McCandlas asserted his special employment to collect horses, and enlist recruits for the Confederate service. About five miles from Rock Creek station, toward the head of the branch, lived an old man named Shapley, a good old soul who, with his aged wife, was known for kindness of heart and a wholesome sympathy. As occa- sion sometimes offered he would preach at points in the neighborhood when as many as a dozen persons could be collected together, a circumstance which the sparse set- tlement very seldom afforded. This occasional occupa- tion gained for him the titular honor of parson, so that he was always called Parson Shapley by those who knew him. Notwithstanding his grey hairs and naturally peaceful disposition, when the threats of rebellion struck his ears, the parson was not slow to show the blood, at least, of his fighting ancestors. He was a pronounced Union man and like a true "Westerner spit out his mind without regard for results, and by an unconcealed patri- otism rendered himself specially obnoxious to the Mc- Candlas thieves. On the 16th day of December, 1870, LITE OF WILD BILL. 43 Wild Bill, whose title of "Wild" was so soon to be gained, saw coming down the stage road a party of four horsemen headed by Jim McCandlas, who was leading the venerable old parson by a lariet fastened about his neck. The sight aroused Bill's sympathy, but while he was well disposed to assist the aged man yet discretion admonished him of the f ruitlessness of such an undertak- ing under existing circumstances. When the party came abreast of the * ' dug-out," McCandlas in a most audacious and authoritative manner spoke to Bill as follows : " Look a here, I mean business ; I am a gatherin' up horses for the Secesh service and I want yer to jist git them thar horses in yer stable ready for me when I come back here, which will be about three or four o'clock this arternoon. This old hypocritical devil I've got here has been a havin* of his say a little too free around here and I concluded to take him along and show him the needsessity of keepin* his mouth shet." In addition to this burst of mandatory language Mc- Candlas endeavored to persuade Bill to join him and enter the Confederate service, but the reply was one of those fearless expressions which Bill knew so well how to give. Said he : "You go to h 1 ! when you want these horses come and take them, and if you want me, you'll have no diffi- culty in finding me here." Bill then withdrew into the dug-out, while McCandlas and his men rode on toward their rendezvous. Now it happened that Doc. Mills had left the cabin only a short time before, and gone down the creek some distance, taking a shot-gun with him to kill quails or other game he might find, to provision the place with meat. Thus Bill was left alone, with no one even to consult re-* garding the most desirable method of defense. In the 8 44 HEROES OF THE PLAli 8. cabin there were several weapons, however, consisting of a Mississippi Yager a rifle of very large bore two re- volvers and two bowie-knives. Finding these in good condition Bill determined to give the party, on their re- turn, an interesting reception and trust to luck for the outcome. The stables were securely closed and the dug- out put in a state of defense. Directly after three o'clock in the afternoon, true to their promise, the McCandlas boys, with eight of their desperate followers were seen approaching in a smart trot. As they came up to the stables, finding the doors locked, they called to Bill to "come out of his shell " and deliver the horses, accompanying the command with a threat that if he refused there would be a small murder at Rock Creek and the stage company would have to en- gage another watchman . Bill shouted back to his beleaguers that he would shoot the first man who attempted to open a stable door, and if there were any murdering done at Rock Creek there might also be more than one victim to bury. The ten villains were really elated with this reply, be- cause they had a spite which found in this answer suf- ficient pretext for satisfying ; in short, they wanted to kill somebody in addition to increasing their horse corral, and Bill, single handed, would make such an easy and choice victim ! Leaving their horses, which they first methodically tied to swinging limbs, Jack McCandlas ordered his men to bring forward a log, which lay the premises, and with this they began battering the door of the dug-out, which succumbed after a few heavy thrusts had been delivered. Bill stood partly behind the old blanket, with the Yager in hand and his other weapons lying on a rude table beside him, convenient to bis grasp. When the door splintered and fell in Jira LIFE OF WILD BILL. 47 McCandlas with a large revolver in one hand and a bowie-. knife in the other, with a yell leaped across the thresh- hold, pressed by the others behind him. But the volun- tary leap ended in an involuntary spring into eternity, for Bill received him with a discharge from the heavy rifle, sending an ounce ball directly through the despera- do's heart. Jim never struggled after he fell, only drawing up his legs slightly, as if to give more room for the entrance of his comrades. Scarcely was the blaze from the rifle extinguished before Bill had seized his pistols and killed three more of his assailants before any of them reached him. The combat now became truly furious, for the six remaining cut-throats had gained the rear of the cabin and grappled with Bill who continued pouring shots from a pistol while he began cutting right and left with his bowie. The gang were equally active, discharging bullets into Bill's body, but owing to their number they fought to great disadvantage. One of the desperadoes struck Bill over the head and knocked him backward across the table, and immediately Jack McCandlas leaped on the prostrate and badly wounded man, and with knife uplifted was in the very act of sheathing the keen blade in the heart of his victim, but ere the thrust was accomplished Bill shoved his pistol into McCandlas' breast and fired. The knife descended with great force, but the aim was deflected so that it struck in the table. McCandlas trembled for a* moment with the chill of death that shot through his body, and with fierce but glazing eyes he dropped dead upon the floor. The bowie in Bill's hands now did desperate work, plunging from one heart into another, and draw- ing great fountains of blood which spurted about until the floor was fairly flooded ; but his own life current assisted largely to swell the bright red streams, for his 48 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. body was punctured by bullet holes and knife thrusta, but the recesses of his life had not been touched and hia strong arm continued to do its deadly work. Six of the men who came to make of Bill an easy victim now lay dead upon the floor, while two were desperately wounded and only two remained unharmed. Finding in their foe such wonderful vitality and precision of deadly aim with pistol and knife the four beat a retreat, rushing out of the cabin pursued closely by Bill. The two uninjured gained their horses and fled precipitately while another ran down the hill carrying such desperate wounds that he was unable to mount. The other could barely reach the foot of a large tree fifty yards from the cabin and there he was shot to death by Bill with the gun wrested from Doc. Mills, who came upon the scene at this moment. The wounded man who escaped by running down the hill (Bill being unable to pursue him because of his own desperate wounds,) managed by some means to reach the town of Manhattan, several miles distant, where he died soon after from his terrible injuries. After the fight was ended Bill, who had kept his feet only under the stimulant of excessive excitement, at onoe relapsed into an unconscious condition and was carried into the dug-out by his partner, and laid on the bed, which was saturated with blood. In about one hour afterward the western stage rolled up, containing six pas- sengers, among whom was Capt. E. W. Kingsbury, who is now a resident of Kansas City, holding the position of Chief of U. S. Storekeepers for the Western District of Missouri, who afterward became one of Bill's most intimate friends. The sight which presented itself to the gaze of the stage passengers, all of whom entered the cabin to view the havoc which one man had wrought, was most distressing to ordinary sensibilities. There lay, ID LIFE OF WILD BILL. 49 hideous death, six repulsive featured men, full of gaping wounds . Bill remained in a semi-conscious state for some time, until one of the passengers, who chanced to be something of a surgeon, resuscitated him by means of brandy and cold water applications ; and after a while he regained suf- ficient strength to give some of the particulars of the des- perate fight. While telling, in broken sentences, how he had been forced into a defense of the place, he used this expression: "When six of the crowd piled on me and one struck me with his gun, I thought my day had come, so I just got wild and slashed about, like a bear with a death-wound, and I guess that is how I came to get away with them." From that moment he was given the name of "Wild Bill," which afterward so effectually super- ceded his real name, as well also as that of " Shanghai Bill," that he went to his grave with that appellation and left all his deeds to history under that most appropriate nom de guerre. A careful examination of his wounds disclosed the fol- lowing, nearly any one of which it would appear was quite enough to kill an ordinary man : A fracture of the skull the frontal bone ; three terrible gashes in the breast ; his left forearm cut through to the bone ; four bullets in his body, one in his left hip and two through the fleshy part of his right leg ; his right cheek cut open, and the skin of his forehead cut so deeply that a large portion of the scalp dropped down so far over his eyes as to almost blind him. A surgeon was sent for, who came directly from Manhattan, about seven miles distant, and oH Mrs. Watkiiis, a five-mile distant neighbor, hearing of the encounter, came down to the cabin directly and Ttlunteered to nurse the wounded hero through his dan- grcous extremity. For one month afterward his im- 50 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. provement was almost imperceptible, but after that time his condition took a mope favorable turn and his wounds healed so rapidly that in June following he was able to walk about, and was removed to Denver, and in less than one year after the fight his recovery was complete. The stage company paid all of his expenses during the period of his confinement, but never otherwise recognized his faithfulness in defending their property. This combat, of one man fairly whipping ten acknowl- edged desperadoes, has no parallel, I make bold to say, in any authentic history. The fight has been described more than a hundred times in newspapers and periodicals, and was illustrated in Harper's Magazine, but all accounts heretofore have been marred by much fiction and gross inaccuracies. The particulars as here recorded are un- questionably correct, for they were obtained from Capt. Kingsbury, who heard Bill's first recital of the facts right on the battle-ground ; Jolly, the man who escaped but died a few days afterward at Manhattan, corroborated Bill's statement of the facts, and Dr. Joshua Thome, one of the most prominent physicians in Kansas City, who attended upon and was one of Bill's confidantes, repeated to me the same story as he himself had heard his pa- tient relate it. These direct and most reliable sources, each affirming the same facts, leave no room for doubting the correctness of this account. CHAPTER III. LEAVING Denver, Wild Bill went directly to Leaven- worth, and his name being in nearly every person's mouth as the greatest fighter that had ever made a record, owing LIFE OF WILD BILL. 51 to his annihilation of the McCandlas gang, Gen. John C. Fremont, in command at Fort Leavenworth, sent for him immediately upon hearing of his arrival, and offered him the position of Brigade Wagon Master. At this time the great civil war had overshadowed everything else, and the adjoining borders of Missouri and Kansas had become the theater of a truly direful conflict. Men of nerve and cunning were in great demand, for murder, under the color of justifiable war, was beginning to point its shivering finger at every highway where the blood of men had quenched the thirst of the earth. Bill accepted the position, though not under enlistment, and directly thereafter he was ordered to conduct a provision train from the Fort to Sedalia, Missouri. On the third day after their departure, a few miles inside the Missouri line, the train was suddenly attacked by a company of Confederates under Capt. Blunt, who, owing to the al- most unexampled cowardice of the men under Bill though numbering scarcely more than one dozen cap- tured the outfit without meeting any resistance. How- ever, while the Confederates easily made prisoners of his men, Bill refused to surrender, and single-handed opened fire. Being well mounted, he turned his horse toward Kansas City, followed by fifty of the enemy. The chase continued for several miles, with a rapid exchange of shots, in which flying encounter Bill killed four of his pursuers and escaped himself without injury. Col. Jen- nison had a considerable force under him at Kansas City, and Bill, reporting the circumstances of the capture of his train, two companies were hastily mounted and sent out to recover the property. Bill accompanied the sol- diers, and by fast riding the Confederates were struck within fifteen miles of the place where the first attack was made. A charge was at once ordered, at the head 52 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. of which rode Wild Bill, who, considering the fact of his new commission, felt that he had been dishonored by the loss of his first charge. The fight was a short and de- cisive one, for the Confederates, being taken by surprise, in return, speedily scattered and thus let their new acqui- sition again fall into the possession of the Union troops. Bill was very much elated over the result, and in triumph conducted the train into Sedalia and immediately after- ward offered his services to Gen. Samuel R. Curtis, who was acting under orders of Gen. Halleck, and who con- tinued him in the position to which Gen. Fremont had appointed him, until the spring of 1863. During his engagement as wagon master, conveying supplies for Curtis 7 army, which was operating against the Confederate forces under Gens. VanDom, Price and McCulloch, the battle of Pea Ridge was fought (March 6th, 7th and 8th, '62), in which Bill became a voluntary participant, taking the part of a sharp shooter. He ob- tained an eligible location on the hill overlooking Cross- Timber Hollow, and from behind a large log, where he lay concealed for nearly four hours, he killed, by actual count, thirty-five of the enemy, among his victims being Gen. McCulloch. This dreadful execution served to direct the attention of a Confederate company which de- termined upon dislodging and killing him. The company charged up the hill, firing so rapidly that Bill's fortifica- tion was punctured by bullets like a pepper box, and but for the timely relief of one hundred comrades who had recog- nized his dangerous position and charged down from the apex of the hill to the rescue, he would certainly have soon resembled his friendly log. The two companies met not more than one hundred yards from the spot where Wild Bill lay, and an engagement followed which was by far the hottest of the entire battle, for the encounter came LIFE OF WILD BILL. 53 hand to hand and the ground was so bitterly disputed that more than one half of each company was killed. Soon after the battle of PeaKidge Gen. Curtis, discov- ering the qualifications Wild Bill possessed, and knowing his history as a fighter on the plains, engaged him as a spy, with instructions to enter Price's lines and collect necessary information as to the immediate and ultimate intentions of the Confederate general. Price had already laid waste a large portion of Western Missouri, besides recruiting his forces by the acquisition of many men and horses. He had been so successful in the campaign that the Government was seriously alarmed, especially as Mis- souri was never regarded as a loyal State, and it was gravely feared that a series of Confederate successes in- side her borders might serve to carry the State out of the Union, a proposition already seriously debated. It was for these reasons that Gen. Curtis had been specially em- ployed to operate against Price and drive him from the State. Immediately after Bill's employment as a spy he was given a fine horse and directed to use his own means for entering the Confederate lines. Accordingly, he as- sumed the name of Bill Barnes and making a wide circuit through Kansas and Indian Territory he entered Arkansas below the western center and made directly toward Lit- tle Rock. Arriving there he enlisted in a Confederate company of mounted rangers which he knew was organ- izing under Price's recruiting service to join the operating force in Southwest Missouri. In the latter part of September the company joined Price, who, a few days after, formed a junction with Gen. Joe Shelby on Elk River, in Newton county. Here it was decided to make a stand and await the coming of Curtis who was following swiftly after with a force slightly inferior to that of the combined commands of Price and Shelby. 4 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. Bill received the appointment of orderly to Gen. Price within a week after his enlistment, a position which offer- ed special opportunities for acquiring information of the greatest value to Curtis. On the 23d day of October the Union forces drove in the Confederate pickets on the north side of the river or more properly creek and at once the command prepared for battle. Shelby lay on the extreme left, while Price occupied the right, from which, being first in the command, he was to direct the engagement. While the armies were thus lying looking into the face of each other, separated only by a narrow creek and the rapidly approaching twilight which admon- ished each side to postpone the fight until the morrow, Gen. Price placed some dispatches in Bill's hands and or- dered him to deliver them to Shelby at once. The posi- tion of the daring spy had now become critical in the ex- treme. From the moment Shelby had joined Price, Bill had been very anxious to communicate with Curtis, but no opportunity was offered. But now that preparations had been made for battle it was more than important that he should gain the Union lines, and he resolved to reach Curtis at all hazards, a determination which he accom- plished by having recourse to the following dangerous strategy. In the company that had been recently recruit- ed at Little Rock was a large, lank Arkansas desparado named Jake Lawson. He was A 1 at drinking, shoot- ing, cutting and bloviating. His reputation for being a " rough customer" had caused him to be chosen ser- geant of the company, and the manner of his boasting led all his comrades to expect something brilliantly dar- ing from him during the campaign. Taking the dis- patches from Gen. Price, Wild Bill, with a courteous g ^ppp o f hi s hand, mounted his horse and rode directly it ward the left of the lines, but when he reached the LIFE OF WILD BILL. 55 center, out of Price's sight, he halted before his company and called forLawson. When the big bully came out of his tent Bill, in a loud voice, so that all his comrades might hear the dialogue, addressed him as follows : " See here, Jake, let's have a little fun ; these fellows have never been under fire, so suppose we give 'em a sample of our pluck so as to encourage them for to- morrow." "Well," responded Lawson, "what do you want to do ? Do you want to fight me with pistols at three paces, or do you prefer the bowie with the two ends of a hand- kerchief held in our teeth over the back of a chair ? ' ' " Oh, no," said Bill, "nothing so bad as that, but I'll make you take water on a less dangerous experiment. I'll wager my horse against yours that I can ride closer to the enemy's line than you can ," Lawson looked at Bill a moment, and then tossing his head, as an evidence of disgust, walked again into his tent, when a laugh from those near the two caused him to stop. " What's the matter with your nerve?" asked Bill* " You ain't afraid, are you, Jake? " " No, I aint afeerd," responded Lawson, " but what's the use trying such infernal nonsense? " " None at all," replied Bill, " if you haven't got the sand to accept the challenge. I only wanted to see the real color of your character." At this the boys began to laugh again , and several were bold enough to remark that it did look very much as though Jake Lawson was a bogus desperado . Being pressed and taunted Jake at length agreed to put his mettle as well as his horse against that of Bill's, and the two mounting rode out, followed anxiously by the eyes of the entire company, until they came to an open 56 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. space directly in view of the Union forces. " Now, come on," cried Bill, who, putting spurs to his horse, dashed down toward the creek with Lawson abreast, but about two rods west of him. The Union pickets seeing the riders coming toward them, began firing, which brought into line the forces of both armies. Upon reaching the bank of the stream Bill, being in great danger himself A Close Shave. from the bullets of his friends, cried out: " Hold jour fire, I'm Wild Bill, trying to get into the lines." This remark, while it revealed him to his friends, also ex- posed his purpose to Lawson and the Confederates. See- ing now that he had been caught in a cunning trap the big sergeant attempted to draw his pistol, but Bill's eyes were upon him and the next instant he had sent a ball LIFE OF WILD BILL. 57 crashing through his brain, and as he fell his horse, gal- loping on, was caught by Bill who spurred his own horse into the stream leading by the bridle that of the dead sergeant. By the time Bill had reached the middle of the creek, making necessarily slow progress, the Confed- erates poured down to the bank and more than fifty rifles were turned loose at the fugitive. The bullets were fall- ing about his head like mosquitoes swarming over fresh prey, splashing the water in his face and singing their enquiring impromptus fairly in his ears. Truly, it was a position almost as hot as that which tradition tells us the Hebrew trio occupied on a memorable occasion, but with- out the protection of a sacred guardianship Bill passed through that fire of leaden hail without receiving the least injury. As he emerged on the opposite side of the stream, with the two horses, a great cheer of congratula- tion went up from Curtis' men, and then a brisk engage- ment followed between the two opposing forces across the creek. With great respect Wild Bill placed in Gen. Curtis' hands the dispatches entrusted to him by Gen. Price for transmission to Shelby, and imparted such other information as fully advised Curtis of the strength and intentions of the Confederates. The battle which was expected to take place on the following day was avoided by the Confederates who, breaking camp that night, pushed onward into Arkansas. Remaining with Curtis a f e,w days, who continued the chase after the Confederates, Wild Bill was requested to again enter the ranks of the enemy for information. Repairing to a tent by himself for a while he spent the time in changing his appearance so as to escape detection. His make-up now was so ingenious that it was almost im- possible for Gen. Curtis himself to recognize him. From a sleek, trim and neat figure, with perfectly fitting clothes, 58 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. he emerged from his tent one of the most woe-be-goue specimens of Arkansas travelers the country afforded. There was that idiomatic expression, too, which disfig- ured his voice equally as the clothes did his body. Thus prepared for his dangerous mission, and accompanied by Natt Tuckett, an old and valuable friend, he again set out, going south-west, through the Indian Territory, and down into central Texas where, at Austin, he and Tuckett joined the Confederate forces under Kirby Smith. A few days afterward Smith struck his tents and moved up into Arkansas, that State having now become the theatre of a desperate conflict between divisions from both armies. Curtis had pushed Price and Shelby until the debated ground had become like fighting a man on his own hearth-stone, and instead of seeking an open or de- cisive engagement his movements were now directed by a wholesome regard for possible results. Smith reached the Arkansas river near Lewisburg, in Con way county, and while there encamped his advance scouts reported the approach of Curtis with a force of five thousand men and two pieces of light ordnance. The respective com- mands were about equal, though Smith was without any field guns. There being a ferry at Lewisburg the Con- federates made a crossing and pushed forward to gain an advantage ground and throw up breastworks so as to re- ceive the Federals while in line of march. But the sur- prise was not accomplished, as Curtis was an officer of great caution and being in the enemy's own country he kept his advance well guarded. Locating Smith, Curtis halted, in line of battle, on a little knoll about one thou- sand yards from the position occupied by the Confeder- ates, and bringing his two ten pound guns into action, he began a brisk shelling with the hope of dislodging thr> enemy and bringing on an engagement in the opening LIFE OF WILD BILL. 59 But Smith immediately despatched back for reinforce- ments and remained sullenly silent, receiving the fire of the Federals passively, as in fact it was wholly ineffec- tual. The position of the two armies remained unchanged for more than an hour, the field-pieces continuing their rapid discharges and the shells screaming apparently only for the amusement of both sides. Suddenly there were de- scried two horsejaen leaping from the breastworks and making a bold and rapid dash toward the Federal lines. More than a minute elapsed before a shot was fired, which clearly indicated that the Confederates had either dis- patched the riders for some singular purpose, or else did not themselves at first comprehend the strange action. But surprise was terminated and curiosity satisfied by a rapid discharge of musketry followed by a dozen cavalry- men well mounted and in rapid pursuit. Now the ride began in earnest and a wild one it proved to be. The Federals at once saw that the two first riders were fugi- tives from the Confederate lines and a -hurrah went up, which swelled on the air like an engagement with new brigades just brought into action. For the first two or three hundred yards a regular distance was maintained between the pursued and pursuers, but after this two from the latter party began to distance their comrades and gain on the deserters. Coming to a broad ditch the horse of one cleared it with a bound while the other rider went down with a mortal wound from the pistols of the two nearest pursuers. The next moment the single fu- gitive was seen to wheel his horse and, putting out his arms, two whiffs of smoke ascended and the two pursuers fell under their horses feet and lay so still that it was un- necessery to inquire if their wounds were mortal. The fugitive then rode into the Federal lines waving his broad 60 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. sombrero over his head but with tears coursing rapidly down his sun-burnt cheeks. It was Wild Bill, the spy, who had performed this perilous feat, starting out in company with his friend Tuckett who now lay dead by the ditch midway between the two armies. With an es- cort of three men Bill rode back and recovered the body of his beloved comrade and then with due solemnity it was buried in a green spot on the hillside near the bat- tery. The motive which prompted this remarkable ride can- not be divined. Of course Bill had important information to convey to Gen. Curtis, but other means might have been employed, more consistent with good judgment, to reach the Federal lines . It was , however, no less singular that Bill thus comported himself at all times during his service as a spy ; though wonderfully strategic yet he took chances which no other spy would have tolerated in a companion, for he exposed himself almost constantly to detection, and trusted to boldness, swiftness, and his ac- curacy of aim for escape ; and with these, or good luck, he managed to avoid the usual penalties of indiscretion. After getting back from his second expedition as a spy in the Confederate lines, Bill requested a short vacation, and returned to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he met William Cody who had not yet gained the well-known title of "Buffalo Bill." The two had met before the war and an intimacy had sprung up, growing out of an incident which occurred directly after Cody first entered the em- ploy of Russell, Majors & Waddell, as camp boy in 1857. " Billy," as he was called, being at that time only twelve years of age, though brave as a young catamount, became the special object of aversion to one of the bull-drivers, a great big, blustering, overbearing desperado. Under a slight pretext this bully struck * * Billy ' ' one day while UFE OF WILD BILL. In camp, knocking him backward over a log. Wild Bill witnessed this unprovoked assault and, making two steps forward, he struck the bully a blow in the face which sent him sprawling ten feet away while the blood spurted from his nose in a torrent. It was a clean knock-down which took the overbearing brute with such surprise that he scarcely realized from whence the blow came. But he saw Wild Bill standing over him, and took excellent heed of the admonition "never to lay hands on that boy again." When Wild Bill met Cody in Leavenworth he was un- der engagement to take a government train to Rolla, Missouri, and he asked Cody to go with him, which the latter was glad to do. After reaching Rolla the two con- tinued their companionship to St. Louis, taking with them a fine race-horse that Bill had used in scouting ser- vice, intending to enter the St. Louis races which were advertised to take place in September. Bill and Cody had been saving up some money, and between them they counted up about $750, principally in paper money of State bank issue. The two went out to the race-course in fine spirits, confident of securing a goodly stake, be- cause they harbored the suspicion that their horse was very deceptive in his appearance and that this advantage they would turn to good account. Their only concern was in getting their bets taken, for they felt so certain that "Old Mountain/' as the horse was called, could easily run away with any animal the St. Louis jockeys could produce that a perfectly natural anxiety was felt for the prime consideration bettors. Bill conducted the negotiations, Cody having entrusted him with this part of the business, laying his last cent in. his comrade's hands. There were no combinations or pool selling, the races being conducted on a regular, 4 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. old time basis. Bill moved around among the crowd making offers, and his success in getting takers filled him with happiness, " for you know," said he to Cody, who believed him implicitly, " we've got a dead sure thing." After putting up all their money they next wagered the horse against $250, and having exhausted all their portables the race was prepared for. Cody, a spare, but trimly made young fellow, one of the best riders that ever sat on horse-back, was stripped to handle " Old Mountain." The race was with a little black mare owned by a party from Peoria, very neatly coupled, with all the marks of a genuine courser, and was ridden by a negro boy. The preliminaries being arranged the two horses were brought up before the judges and sent off in elegant style, no advantage. " Old Mountain," however, had not de- ceived the St. Louis boys so much as he had drawn the wool down over the eyes of his backers, and as the little black mare sped away, lifting up the dust so that it fairly hid " Old Mountain," Cody gathered the impression, dis- agreeable as it was, that "the dead sure thing" had been transferred to other parties. How he did try to unlimber his favorite ! and he was now as unsparing of the whip as he had been before the race in laying his wagers. When they passed under the home-stretch Bill and Cody looked, for all the world, like the fellow who has bought a gold brick, "it was stolen you know, and here is a fortune for a few dollars" but finds on in- spection that there has been a slight mistake a veneer- ing of gold over a genuine brick of brass. Our two heroes were woefully "busted," and away out of their element, because they did not know a singl* person in St. Louis. Sorry enough plight, but, like a clause in the Declaration of Independence, "When, in the eourse of liuman events, it becomes necessary to beard the lion in Ms lair, the Indian in his wigwam, or the wood-ciuck in his hole when you' re out of meat," etc., our two knights of the empty pocket-book passed appro- priate resolutions which, being acted upon, resulted in Wild Bill going up to military headquarters where he en- gaged himself as scout. Being well known by his repu- tation, he was forced to put this in pawn for twenty dol- lars, which he turned over to his badly damaged protege. Cody returned to Leavenworth while Bill went directly to Springfield and from this point located and again joined Curtis, where we find him in the adventure described in the following chapter. CHAPTER IV. CURTIS was continuing his operations down along Arkansas river in 1863, and Wild Bill having reported for duty Curtis again employed him to strike the Confeder- ate lines and especially to learn the designs of Van Dorn and Price, who were so quiet that Curtis suspicioned they were meditating plans for another invasion of Missouri, One of his chief concerns, and which gave rise to this con* elusion, was the success of Quantrell and his band of guerillas, who were laying waste the western counties of Missouri and pillaging the people of eastern Kansas. Taking up the burden of this third dangerous mission Bill rode directly across the country until he struck the old Santa Fe trail, which he followed three days, bring- ing him into the western part of Kansas ; then striking due south he passed through the Indian Territory and en* 64 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. tered Texas, going thence east along the border to the southwestern corner of Arkansas where, after reaching Texarkana, he stopped a few days, representing himself as a Texas drover. From this point he rode eastward until he came to the house of an old negro near the post- office of Buffalo, in Ouachita county. Reaching the lit- tle old log cabin late in the afternoon, Bill dismounted, and entering into conversation with the aged darkey he discovered the house was occupied by only the old fellow and his wife. A series of questions soon convinced Bill that the negro was loyal at heart and could be depended on to keep a secret. Shortly after his arrival supper was prepared by the old negro woman, consisting of genuine hoe-cake and crisply fried bacon, and the meal being concluded Bill interviewed his guests regarding the condition of their part of the country and the location of Confederate forces. He was pleased to learn that while these old people appeared extremely ignorant yet they had been very anxiously observant of the Confederate and Federal movements, and therefore were possessed of much m~ formation valuable to him. On the following morning Bill arose early and going out to a stable on the premises, his own horse having been stabled the evening previous by the old darkey, he discovered a jackass of ancient countenance standing in. that reverential and resigned position which only an ass can assume perfectly. An idea of great consequence im- mediately moved Bill to return to the house, disclose a part of his purposes to the sable old uncle, change his habit of dress, and make a goodly provision for safely entering the Confederate lines. Said Bill to his colored host : " I see, uncle, you have a jackass in the stable, does he belong to you?" LIFE OF WUJ> BILL. 65 " Yes, sah," responded the old man, "Fee had dat dare animule fo'de last ten yeahs ; but he's gittin' a good deal like his marster now, not much 'count, sah ; but I reckon ef he hadn't been so used up de Confeds would a had 'im afore dis." " Yes," said Bill, -' I guess that is so ; he don't look like a very valuable brute, but at the same time he is such a curious looking specimen that I've got an idea he would suit me for a purpose I now have in view. How would you like to trade your jack for my horse? " 4 * Well, now, dat is a funny propersishun f oh' you to make, case I haint got nuffin' to give you to boot." " But I don't want any boot ; you bring out the jack and let my horse stay in the stable, if that kind of a trade will suit you." " Yah, yah, yah; why, marster, you doan mean dat, does you? Afore God dat would be de mos' curiousest bargan I'se hearn on; why, I declaar ef the Confeds would see dat hoss in my stable dey'd want to know how I got 'im right away, and I guess dey would take me too in order to settle de title." " I'll tell you how to do ; if anybody wants to know anything about that horse, you tell them that he is a stray that you have taken up, and that you're expecting the owner along every day." "Now, if you is a foolin' me go away, but ef you is in yarnest, why dar is de jack and I'll try and keep de hoss." "Well, I'll just charge you' one thing to boot, and that is, if you have an old suit of clothes about the house that you don't care to use much longer, I will take them ; will you agree to that?" *' Yes, sah, I'll call de old woman and see what she's got fcsskad away in de loft. Nancy I oh, Nancy I" yelled 66 HEROES OF THE PLAINS. the old darkey. Hearing herself called, the old woman left her corn cake on the clapboard before the fire, and thrusting her bandana covered head through the door, responded : " What does you want, Silas?" " Why, I wants you to look on de peg by de chimbley and get me datdar last Sunday-suit of geans, and bring it hayer." The clothes were brought out in obedience to this com- mand and submitted to Bill for inspection. There was a pair of pants of saffron complexion, with a respectable rent in the left knee ; the vest was an indigo blue re- lieved by cross stripes of flaming red, and the coat was made with due regard for the ground color of the vest, but in matter of ornamentation the coat took a decided precedence, for, although the buttons bore a diversified character, they were, nevertheless, genuine brass and large enough for shields. The clothes fitted Bill quite as well as he desired, and with a bi hat made of course unbleached straw he was o ready with his patient jackass for the campaign. He had purposely allowed his whiskers to grow to considerable length and his hair had put off the neatly combed polish by which he was so well known. Having so completely disguised his usual appearance Bill felt that it would be impossible for anyone to distin- guish him in a crowd of corner-store natives ; so, setting out mounted on his novel conveyance, and carrying an old shot-gun, he traveled without fear of detection until he reached Pine Bluff, where a division of Van Dorn's army was stationed. After looking around the place one day he went up to head-quarters and offered his services as a private in the Confederate army. Upon presenting himself to a recruiting sergeant that official could not re- frain from laughing heartily at the astonishing and grotesque figure standing before him. LIFE OP WILD BILL. 67 " Well, sir," said the sergeant, " where the devil did you come from ? ' ' " Oh," responded Bill, "I got a little cabin up herein the Ozarks, where I've been livin' in a patch o' clearin' with this here jack and Bowlega for the last twenty year." " Who is Bowlegs? " asked the sergeant. " Why, look a here, mister," replied Bill, " haven't you Wild Bill in Disguise. neve i hearn o' Bowlegs, the greatest wildcat and bar kill- er in the whole o' Arkansaw? Bowlegs is my dog, and ef you'd a seed him two months ago tackle a catamount, upon huckleberry hill, bigger 'n my jack, you'd a bet the last bristle on yer back that he could whip anything that ever wore hair or straddled the Devil's Backless* 7