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Buffalo Bill at the Howard.
The Howard was filled to its utmost capacity last evening to witness Buffalo Bill's mammoth combination. The melo-drama was preceded by the farce entitled "Turn Him Out," in which Mr. Beverly proved himself a capital Nicodemus Nobbs, and Miss Nellie Jones an acceptable Susan. The melo-drama entitled "Knight of the Plains; or, Buffalo Bill's Best Trail," succeeded. The first act of the drama opened with a well-set and picturesque scene, a sunset on the prarie, with Red Eagle, a live Indian, on the watch. This scene abounded in thrilling situations, while the rifle shooting of Buffalo Bill is really marvellous, and received the applause which is due to a good marksman. The horses which appear upon the stage and the trick mule break the monotony of usual dramas. Every tableau received an encore, and the curtain was rung up several times. Buffalo Bill, of course, carried off the honors of the evening. Miss Denier and Jones, as Wild Nellie and Rose Melton, sustained their parts in an acceptable manner, and Beverly and Willard kept the house in a roar as the Judge and Moses. The Indian war-dance was a feature, and received a double encore. In conclusion, the drama is a strong one of the kind, and cannot fail to be attractive to all who wish to see life in the far west well depicted.
"May Cody, or Lost and Won."
This thrilling border drama was presented last night by the Buffalo Bill Combination to a fair Saturday night house. The play was given here by the Company on their previous visit, and hence is familiar to the admirers of the Western drama. The various characters were well sustained and the entertainment afforded much satisfaction, as attested by the applause. The rifle shooting of Buffalo Bill was extraordinary and excited the wildest enthusiasm. The company go hence to Charleston.
"Buffalo Bill" and Young Gardner.
Hon. Wm. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), who is now filling an engagement at Ford's, was approached yesterday by a GAZETTE reporter in reference to the whereabouts and condition of Michael Gardner, the boy whom he accidentally shot in this city, during a performance of May Cody at Ford's Opera House, on the night of Monday, September 9, 1878, and afterwards took West with him. Mr. Cody stated that the boy had lived happily on his farm in Nebraska until last fall, when he expressed a desire to return to Baltimore to see his friends. Mr. Cody paid his passage East and intends to visit him to day, at the residence of his parents, 136 West street.
The crack shots of the world are Buffalo Bill, Dr. Garver, Capt. Rainbolt, Bogardus, Frank Thayne and Capt. Ira Paine. What a great thing it would be to get up a match between these "dead shot heroes."
FORD'S---BUFFALO BILL.
An immense audience witnessed the new border drama, entitled, "The Knight of the Plains," at the Grand Opera House last night. This drama was written by Col Prentiss Ingrham expressly for Mr. Wm. F. Cody, and was presented by him and his large company last night in brilliant style.
This drama depicts vividly scenes in the life of a frontiersman, and the plot and dialogue are far in advance of any other similar play now on the stage. As the hero of the plains Mr. Cody (Buffalo Bill) appeared to great advantage, and his disguises were well assumed. His rifle practice was good and was well received. His support by Miss Nellie Jones, Mr. J. J. Loudon, Mr. Alf Beverly, Mr. L. R. Williard and others, was excellent. The band of genuine Indian braves in their dances and camp scenes formed a fine feature of the play.
FORD'S GRAND OPERA HOUSE.
Buffalo Bill and his troupe of Indians turned out in force yesterday afternoon, and delighted many thousands as they paraded through the streets. In the evening the performance of "Knight of the Plains" was attended by a vast concourse of people, who crowded the theatre from pit to dome and attested their appreciation by frequent and hearty applause. Of course the novelty of real Indians on the stage would ordinarily be sufficiant to draw large houses, but in this case the play--hence real merit and the attraction therefore is doubled. Buffalo Bill and his company will be here all week.
AMUSEMENTS.
One of the most enjoyable treats in store for amusement lovers will be the appearance of Buffalo Bill and his company of 25 artists, at Wheeler's Opera House, to-morrow evening, on which occasion the thrilling play of "May Cody, or Lost and Won," will be produced, and we have no hesitation in saying that the house will be packed, as it should be. The following very complimentary notice we clip from the Terre Haute Express of last week:
"As it always is when Buffalo Bill pays us a visit, the opera house was as full as a box of sardines, last evening. The play was May Cody, which was produced here one year ago. It deals with the Mormon Danites and the Mountain Meadow massacre, and the frontier generally. Mr. Cody has gained much in ease of manner and grace of action, and he is now able to present the ideal frontier hero in a manner which makes him a formidable rival of any actor. In his exhibition of marksmanship Mr. Cody displayed a degree of skill rarely equaled. At a distance of ten paces, with a potato for a target, he did not miss a single shot out of a dozen or more. He holds his gun in all sorts of positions, with the same unvarying accuracy of aim. He also gave an exhibition of the use of a "bull-whacker's" whip, an implement of torture, made up of three feet of handle and twenty feet of lash. Mr. Charles Wilson, as "Darby McCune," created hurricanes of mirth, Mr. Wilson gives a very faithful picture of Irish character. The four Indian Chiefs accompanying the troupe gave an exhibition of Indian dancing which was as ludicrous as it was, no doubt, trueto nature. A very clever performer is the donkey, ridden by Darby McCune, and he should have more consideration than is bestowed upon him by the management. He had no place in the programme, and we are consequently unable to give his name. Altogether the entertainment given by this company is one which affords rare enjoyment. To the boys the privilege of seeing Buffalo Bill in person is a great boon. To children of larger growth there is much that will interest and please in the text and action of the drama."
HON. W. F. CODY, better known as Buffalo Bill, accompanied by Mr. Ben Thompson and several members of his company, went out yesterday, when he again displayed his skill in handling a rifle. He is undoubtedly one of the best marksmen now on the American continent. His shooting was perfectly marvelous.
Buffalo Bill and his combination gave their farewell performance last night in "May Cody, or Lost and Won." A fair audience was in attendance, and seemed to enjoy the play presented. "May Cody" is a feeble imitation of "Knight of the Plains," and it is fortunate for the company that it was produced on the last night instead of the first. Buffalo Bill and his troupe did well and made the most out of a very small capital.
On Thursday, the 27th, the Buffalo Bill Combination began an engagement of three nights, which must be considered a very successful one. This may be ascribed to two causes, of which the first is that Buffalo Bill is a man whose exploits on the frontier have made him universally known, and the second that his company was excellent. There are several members of his troupe who are well qualified to take part in much more difficult dramas, and it is scanty praise to say that they did well throughout.
BUFFLO BILL.--Buffalo Bill has so long been the synonim for a mighty, far-famed Western chvalier, a a man whom honor loved and cowardice abhorred, that every man, woman and child in the large audience at Millett's Opera House last night went to see embodied the hero of a thousand tales who, by their pleasant firesides, have pictured in all the amplified and varied forms that imagination will ever bring before the gigantic multiplicity of human minds. And in the thousand written stories not one could be brought to mind which exceeded in interest the beautiful drama played last night. Major Burt, the author of "May Cody," knew Buffalo Bill, and knew his wonderful, enchanting powers, and brought them to the test in the play. Mr. Cody's histrionic talent is of a high order, and his displays of wonderful dexterity with the rifle, the whip and on the trail are aweinspiring, causing open mouthed amazement in old and young. Mr. Cody was well supported by his talented company, and Miss Lydia Denier as May Cody, Miss Nellie Jones as Mrs. Stoughton, Mr. Chas. Wilson as Darby, Mr. Louden as John D. Lee, and Mr. Willard as George Stoughton, deserve special mention. It were tedeous for a scribbler to attempt to tell the story of May Cody's misfortunes, capture and rescue-be it sufficient to say that I did not fail for an instant to draw rapt [WORD] of all the intelligent audience from first to last, but we canot pass over Mr. Cody's marksmanship without a passing tribute. He shot objects from Miss Denier's hand and from her head, snuffed out a candle and put out a bullwhacker's cigar, shooting in various natural and unnatural positions, including a shot at a potato on the lady's h ad, she standing behind him, while he aimed with the aid of a small mirror. A goodly audienc greeted he company and showed their delight in manner from the sedate smile to the gamin's exuberant applause. The people of Austin will never tire of dramas such as these. They go from here today, but will come again when the leaves begin to fall, and a hearty welcome awaits them.
The Street Parade
Buffalo Bill and his Indian Scouts were on a parade to-day through the principalstreets of the city, preceded by the fine brass band of the Combination. There are three Indians in the troupe whose genuineness cannot be questioned. Of course the parade attracted much attention, and after their return to the Purcell House the doors were thronged by a curious crowd.
A great many seats have been secured for to-night and the performance promises to be one of much interest. The piece was writen by Col. Ingraham especially for this troupe and it should be distinctly understood that it is not a mere "blood and thunder" affair but a romance of life on the plains, which has been sketched from actual scenes and incidents of frontier life.
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