Holiday

In Missouri, I saw a thousand people come to witness a living man's funeral. Frontier, gentlemen! Herewith an Englishman's account of life and death in the West. As a reporter for the London Times, he writes his colorful and unusual stories.

But as a man with a gun, he lives and becomes a part of the violent years in the new territories. Now starring John Dana, this is the story of J.B. Kendall, frontier gentleman. Prior to the war between the states, Col Williams and his band of Missouri irregulars terrorized Kansas.

He was reported to have been mortally wounded in his last monstrous raid, but his body was never found. So, when I heard that a man said to be Col Williams was dying in the Rivertown of Batesville, Missouri, I traveled 300 miles in four days on the chance that I might get to talk.

I found a man under personal guard of the sheriff in a room at the hotel. No, mister, I'm not letting anybody in that room don't belong here. But sheriff, I'm a newspaper correspondent. Don't make no difference to me.

My name is Kendall, I write for the London Times. It still don't cut anything with me. I ain't wearing him out on no newspaperman. Then will you answer a few questions? You ask him, we'll see.

Is the man really, Cole Williams? We all know this all around here is Bill Adams. We're waiting for someone who knew Williams to make sure. You say you've known him as Bill Adams. Does that mean that he's been living in Batesville?

A 12 mile east of here. He's been working him some ground out there enough to keep himself fed. I see him. Comes to town about twice a year. Hard for him, you know. How's that?