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 Turkey Track Bill

The following is taken from the Pioneer Chronicles by Larry Sprunk and the Farwest by Larry Johnson.

         Turkey Track Bill was born William Molash at Vienna, Michigan in 1875. It is uncertain exactly when he first came into North Dakota, but he put in a lot of time working for the Turkey Track Ranch in the early 1890's.  As cattlemen were, Turkey Track was handy with a rope and a six-shooter. He was never without his six-shooter, slipping it under his pillow at night. He logged on the miles, trailing cattle from as far as Utah and Texas for the Turkey Track Ranch. 

         Turkey Track Bill was a man of humor and goodwill. His popularity and legend abound of his good-naturedness; always having a big smile on his face. He took an active part in the Wild West features of the state fair when it was held in Mandan. Frank Fiske, the noted Fort Yates photographer wrote of him in 1942; "There was never a more picturesque cowboy than this same Turkey Track. I met him first, 45 years ago, when he was cock of main street in Mandan. they couldn't have the state fair without him, and it has been said that he used to run relay races all by himself. Figure that one out." Fiske pointed out that he was writing about him in his absence because, "He is still a fast man with a gun, either hand, and I am not taking any chances."      

         On one occasion, Turkey Track Bill and a friend by the name of Ott Black were on a cattle drive and came into the town of Moorcroft, Wyoming. Not much of a town really, but in those days many of the towns such as this consisted of a saloon (in this case a tent saloon) and just a few other buildings to sustain the cattle drivers and travelers. The trail boss had hired a man in Moorcroft who went by the name of Wyomin' Slim. Slim carried a quick-draw shoulder holster, and carried it proudly.  Slim and turkey Track were told to find some horses that had been lost one night during a thunderstorm. The two had some trouble with each other that night and the next day Slim told Bill to get his six-shooter and that they would go over a little ways and settle the difference. Bill replied, "Let's go! I got a gun." Turkey Track then walked into the tent and picked up Ott's sightless .44 and stuck it in his waistband. He walked out of the tent and started towards the edge of the camp. Ott remembered, "Slim just stood there lookin' at him, turnin' first one color, then another." "Turk never got any target practice that day!"

         Isadore Smith, who lived south of Mandan in the early 1900's, tells another story of the cattlemen of the day. "All those guys would get liquored up before they'd ride, you know. Those days they was born in the saddle, they rode every day, and it was just second nature." "Old Turkey Track one day came out pretty well drunk. And the horse piled him and turned around and kicked him in the head with both hind feet. It sounded like he'd kicked a plank wall. Course it knocked him cold and in those days Kinelly was the undertaker and he had to come down with a buggy to pick up the body. Figuring him for dead they laid Turkey Track down and covered him up with a blanket. Come time for ol' Harry Engels to ride and Harry had a bottle he didn't know what to do with so he lifts up the blanket and puts it alongside Turkey Track. He made his ride and he come back pretty dry so he he had to have a drink. He lifted up the blanket, reached under and got his bottle and it was empty. So he lifts up the blanket and here was ol' Turkey Track laying there laughing at him." 

        In the fall of 1912 Turkey Track stood trial for the alleged shooting of Guy Bolton, who was drinking at the blind pig (an illegal saloon set up during the state's dry years) that Bill had set up on a deserted ranch belonging to Morris Carlson. Turkey Track had flung the pistol in the Cannonball River after the incident. Since no weapon could be found, and no one witnessed the shooting, Turkey Track bill was acquitted. Carlson later retrieved the pistol from the river. The gun is pictured below.

         Turkey Track married Mandy Bleakly Short in 1913, and the two lived the latter years of their marriage in Fort Yates and raised a family. In 1942, he died of cancer and was buried there at Fort Yates. No matter who spoke of Turkey track Bill, the recollection was always the same. He was good-natured, a practical joker, but at the same time, a top hand who never left until the job was done.

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