December 28, 2018
Today’s
story was taken from an interview Dan Moran did with James Butler Hickock,
commonly known as “Wild Bill”. The
interview was originally published in the “Kansas City Times” in 1894.
Mr. Moran
wrote: “I recall an adventure that “Wild Bill had with the late John A.
Anderson in Junction City, Kansas. John Anderson was a Presbyterian minister
then. His church then stood as it now
stands on the south side of the public square (Heritage Park).
Nearly
everybody went armed in those days. On a
payday whiskey ran like water. It seemed
as though everybody was drinking. There
were brawls and fights, but nothing serious until Bill and some of his old
friends mounted their ponies and started to “do” the town (as they called it)
with their guns gleaming in the sun and volleys
of shots fired.
Reverend
John A. Anderson happened to be holding services that day and a large crowd
filled the church building. “Wild Bill” and his party finally grew weary of
racing their horses through the streets and Bill reined his horse in front of
the church. The door stood open and the
pastor was in the pulpit. Bill urged his
horse to the doorway and obedient to the rider’s command, the animal entered
the church. “Wild Bill” sat in the
saddle and drunkenly surveyed the minister and the congregation. The preacher paused from his discourse and
gazing unflinchingly at the bold intruder ordered him to leave the church. Bill answered the preacher with an oath and
asked him what he was doing.
“I am
preaching the gospel,” said Reverend Anderson.
“No, you
ain’t preaching” said Bill, drawing back his revolver, “You’re dancing. That’s what you’re doing. Now dance – and dance lively!” commanded
Bill.
Ladies crept under their seats and the males
in the congregation sat paralyzed. There
was nothing else for the preacher to do
- but dance, for it was dance or die.
So he danced!”
And… that’s
today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society.
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