"Bronco Bill's" Vacation

A colorful article was published in the April 20, 1923 Philipsburg Mail, about “Broncho Bill” an old man who lived in Coulter Gulch and followed the occupation of Charcoal burner until he was sent to Warm Springs about a year before the news article .

“Bronco Bill” decided he needed a vacation from the “Insane Asylum” and “..left the Warm Springs Asylum via the ‘French leave’ route and returned to his old haunts in Coulter Gulch about five miles southeast of Philipsburg. His old cabin was not in the best of condition and ‘Broncho’ needed something to eat, so he started to borrow from his neighbors without their consent. His favorite food was chicken and he borrowed unmercifully from neighbors in the upper valley, who were often startled in the early morning hours by a commotion in the chicken coop, and when morning came they would discover that ‘Broncho Bill’ had paid them a visit. 

“Broncho Bill’ always seemed harmless enough if he was not bothered, but he was always armed and was ready to fight for his liberty. A story is told about one of ‘Bills’ neighbors who went into the timber one day and came face to face with the ‘Broncho’. ‘Bill’ saw the neighbor first and had him covered with a rifle and when the neighbor discovered ‘Bill’ pointing a rifle at him he simply couldn’t move for a few seconds, he was so badly scared. Then he started backing away, Bill keeping him covered all the time. The neighbor finally tripped over a snag and fell; he never stopped to see if Broncho Bill was still watching him, but as soon as he recovered from the fall he got away from Bill’s territory with all the speed of a race horse. 

For several months all trace was lost of ‘Bill’ and it was only last Saturday that his whereabouts became known. Deputy Sheriff E.J. Muchmore and Federal officer Russell Osborn were looking for moon-shining plants last Saturday in the Gird Creek district, and when they arrived at Frank Barnes’ cabin, Mr. Barnes told them about his cabin being robbed. Trunks, eatables, and everything of value had been removed from the cabin. The three men started out to look for some trace of the stolen property and near the head of Gird creek they came upon a lean-to built at the foot of a cliff. In the shanty was all of the stolen property, and the men at once came to the conclusion that it was ‘Broncho Bill’s’ present home. 

 After a short search they found the man returning to his home from a scouting expedition. ‘Bill’ tried to get to the shanty before the officers did, but they beat him there and confiscated the guns so Bill had to give himself up and soon was on his way to Drummond where the officers took the train to Warm Springs, where ‘Broncho Bill’ will again take up his residence after a very delightful and successful vacation.” 

Unfortunately, I am unable to determine “Broncho Bill’s” given name so cannot complete the story of his life. If anyone knows more details please let me know.