Drunk, he was a living fury.

His services to the company for which he worked were of high value.

He was easily the best superintendent on the line.

But his habit of man-killing at last resulted in his execution.
Another man who gained even greater notoriety than Slade was "Wild Bill" Hickock, a tall, yellow-haired giant who had done splendid service as a scout in the western sector of the Civil War.
"Wild Bill" I had known since 1857.

He and I shared the pleasure of walking a thousand miles to the Missouri River, after the bull-train in which we both were employed had been burned by Lot Smith, the Mormon raider.