Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1905 — FIRST FIGHT [ARTICLE]

FIRST FIGHT

Of Wild Bill Hlckok Displayed the Man’s Great Nerve. Wild Bill, whose real name was James Hlckok. first came west In 1657, and drove an ox team on the plains for Majors & Russell in 1860. He subsequently engaged himself to the Overland Stage Company as stock tender, was put in charge of a new stage itation on Rock Creek, near the old McKandlas station, which was generally known as Robbers’ Roost. This was the headquarters for the McKandlas gang, a crowd that had .held together since the Missouri-Kansas border ruffian days and generally had things its own way. A man named Ficklln, and a number one stage hand, was the superintendent. He tried to buy out the McKandlas station, but failing in this, he built a new one near by. putting young Hickok in charge. Up to tuat time he haidj never experienced trouble with any one, and was not likely tb have friction, especially with the old station keeper, McKandlas, or his men.

In the winter of 1860-61 McKandlas and h(s nephew and four other men passed by the new station on horseback, leading an old man who was afoot. They had a rope around the old fellow’s neck, and occasionally they would take a tew turns around the horn of the saddle, make a run on the rope and jerk the old man down and drag him on the ground until he was nearly dead. The only spite tney had against him was that he was a North Methodist preacner. If Wild Bill was anything he was an abolitionist and free-soiler and loyal to the United States. The McKandlas crowd was planning to make a raid' on several stations to secure the stock and go south. They told young Hickok they would take the stock. He replied that he would be there.

When they returned in the evening two stopped at the corral, two went to the front and two to the back door of the cabin or hut. Hlckok told them he would shoot the first man who tood down the bars of the corral. The elder McKandlas fired at Hlckok, but missed him. Hlckok returned the fire with a rifle and shot McKandlas In the heart. The next shot from Hickok killed the nephew, and tne two fell at the front door. Just tiien the two at the back door opened fire. One shot from a double-barreled gun lodged seven fullgrown buckshot into Hickok’s right side and breast, two of which entered his lungs. The two men who stopped at the corral came to the assistance of the two men at the house. Hickok was then In a hand-to-hand fight with four men. He killed three of them in the house and wounded the other so badly that he died) on the prairie.— Denver Field.