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Buffalo Bill Combination at the Arcade Opera House-The "Prairie Waif" to an Overflowing House.
The largest audience that has favored anytroupe in Lockport for a long time, greeted the Bufalo Bill Combination last Saturday evening. Long before the ticket office was open the crowd commenced to assemble in the hallway, and when the doors were finally opened, which was early full three hundred men, women, and children rushed forward for seats. For the next hour the ticket agent was taxed to his utmost capacity to meet the demand for tickets. Many of those who came late did not attempt to gain admission, the house was so crowded. The play and plot is by far the best and most attractive of any of Mr. Cody's former plays, while off the stage Mr. Cody appears the same genial, whole-souled fellow that he did the first time he visited Lockport. It is the general opinion that his stage appearance is decidedly improved. Space forbids us making special mention of each one who took part in the play. Of course Buffalo Bill was the centre of attraction, and he performed his part admirably. His support was first class and gave general satisfaction.

Last evening Capt. W. W. Bush enterained Mr. Cody and a few frineds at his hotel Mr. Cody related many interesting and musing incidents of life on the plains.

After the entertainment a reporter learned the following concerning Mr. Cody's early life: He was born in Iowa in 1843, and at an early age went with his father to Kansas, and was reared amid scenes of danger, and met many thrilling adventures ere he reached his thirteenth year becoming a "boy hero" when killing his first Indian before he entered his teens. The death of is father, from the result of wounds received in the Kansas war left the by the support of his mother and sister.

Of his numerous adventures, narrow escapes, Indian battles and hardships, volumes could be writen, for he made his name famous along the border from Utah to Texas, and though a mere boy in years, few men were his superior in strength and endurance, while the cunning of the red man he watched with equal cunning, and, in fact, won the name of being able to "un-Injun and Injun."
Receiving only a common-school education, Buffalo Bill has since educated himself for a thorough reader of human nature and close observer of men. He naturally falls into the ways of polite society, and is a gentleman under any and all circumstances.
Mr. Cody received the title of Hon. by serving as a member of the Nebraska Legislature, which position he filled with credit to his constituents, and honor to himself.
He owns a large cattle ranch on the North Platte, Nebraska, which yields him a handsome sum anually, and is known there as the "Cattle King."
During the sojourn of the Company we received a pleasant call from C.A. Burgess, Interpeter, and Josh E. Ogden. When next the company visits Lockport we predict that there will not be a house large enough to hold those who wish to see Buffalo Bill and his wonderful show.

Thursday night, an immense audience greeted Buffalo Bill and company in Prairie Waif. The house was packed, not even standing room being left. Hundreds were refused admittance. The audience was noticeable for the number of ladies present. Prairie Waif is about the best of Buffalo Bill's dramas. It contains all the elements of popularity, and is a huge success. All our readers know full well the character of Buffalo Bill's exciting and imensely interesting dramas; so that that acritique from us is not necessary.

Hon. Wm. F. Cody, alias "Buffalo Bill."
Once again the noted scout, guide and actor has decided to show himself in Cleveland. The life of W. F. Cody has indeed been an eventful once, reared amid scenes of danger, with many a thrilling adventure, narrow esapes, Indian battles and hardship on the plain, it is more than probable that Wm. F. Cody knows more pertaining to the West than any other living man-- having been for several years Chief of Scouts and Guide to the United Sates Army, and of his valuable service too muh canot be said in way of praise.
In August, 1868, "Buffalo Bill" rode in 12 hours from Fort Larned to Fort Zarah and back, 65 miles; in the suceeding 12 hours he caried dispatches to General Sheridan from Fort Larned to Fort Hayes, 65 miles. From Fort Hayes he rode in the next 24 hours to Fort Dodge, 95 miles; on the next night he went to Fort Larned, 35 miles on foot and 30 miles on the mule; and and again the next night from Fort Larned to Fort Hayes, 65 miles. He made on horses, mules and on foot 355 miles, and he was in the saddle or afoot 58 hours. These successive rides were made through a rough, irregular country, swarming with hostile Indians, where there were no roads and hardly a perceptible trail, which had to be followed in the obscurity of the night. Early in life Buffalo Bill made a continuous ride of 322 miles, making that distance in the incredibly short ime of 22 hours, a wonderful feat of human endurance.
Buffalo Bill apeears at the Academy of Music for three night only and Saturday matinee, commencing Thursday evening next, Feb. 24, with is mammoth combination, which comprises a star dramatic company, a troupe of Cheyenne Indians chiefs, and a superb band and orchestra, producing John A. Steven's new drama entitled "Prairie Waif," a story of the Far West, written expressly for Mr. Cody, and taken from real scenes of his past life.
The scene in the second act being a fac simile of his home in Utah. During this act Mr. Cody will give an exhibition of his fancy rifle shooting, in which he is aknowledged foremost and alone. In the fourth act the Indians will give their scalp and war dance, assisted by Chas. A. Burgess, their interpretor. We clip the following from the Syracuse Standard:
The audience at Wieting Opera House on Saturday night was not only queezed tight into the farthest corner of the theatre, but it hung over the edges like the froth on the top of a schooner of eer. In all respects it was a reproduction of the old assembly ages which made the Mechanics Fair memorable. The occasion of this popular demonstration was the appearance of that hero of the plains Bufalo Bill. A wild shout of approbation lifted itself from the throats of the great crowd, while the timid ladies trembled lest the roof be rent from its fastenings, when its idol, he stalwart Indian fighter, stalked out of the wings. Buffalo Bill as an actor, shows marked evidence of improvements in his art during his short theatrical career. He has an excellent company and a play that keeps the figure of the idolized scout in the eye a good part of the time, a requisite that meets with general approval. Bufalo Bill's author is not so prodigal of powder and ball as he was wont to be, the number of slain being comparatively small in the present play. Still the Indians are made to bite the dust with sufficient expedition to satisfy the gallery gods' appetite for gore. People who have neither a wild desire to see the sturdy son of the forest, whose unerring aim and magnificent prowess are the theme of song and sory, nor an insatiable longing to witness a thrilling depiction in the far west, where life is as cheap as dirt and grit is better than gold, should go to see Buffalo Bill's play to catch a glimpse of an audience of 1,500 people moved to ecstacy by the simplest word of the untrained eloquence of one man. No small part of the show is in front of the footlights.

LYCEUM-Buffalo Bill comenced an engagement at this house last night in a so called new play. He paraded though the streets previously, and drew a large audience of Arabs and others. The crusade against the cheap, trashy fiction which destroys the mental faculties of the youth and others who feed upon it, should extend to this alleged actor and his so-called plays. He gives a matinee Saturday.

BUFFALO BILL
Buffalo Bill drew a five hundred dollar audience to the Opera House last night, and for two hours and a half held them in a most delightful mood. "Prairie Waif" is a border play, but is shorn of much of the blood and thunder that characterized Cody's former plays, and being thus tempered down is much more acceptable to the refined ear. He has a better company than when he visited this city before, some of whom are decidedly talented.
Both Miss Lizzie Fletcher and Miss Connie Thompson are pleasing actresses, the latter particularly being very pretty and fascinating. Jule Keen is a roaring Dutch comedian, and Mark Stanly is one of the best old men we have seen. Harry Clifton and George James (the Danties) played the Hardy's (villians) very acceptably.
The rifle shooting of Buffalo Bill was remarkable. At every crack the potato flew and the audience cheered.
The trained donkey was an interesting feature of the play, and the Indian was dance lent variety to it. Buffalo Bill has become quite a favorite in Zanesville, and will return again in December.

Indians of the Plains
The vicinity of the Opera House was fairly swarming with small boys yesterday afternoon. You couldn't pass along the sidewalk without stepping on six or nine, or knocking over a row of them. They ranged from four years old to twenty, but the hollering was mostly youthful. About three o' clock, the circus come out of the Opera House. Part of it entered a band waon, and the rest got on horses. There was a handsome and manly Bufalo Bill, the man who knocked down Fred May in New York, several weeks ago. He rode a horse adorned with Mexican trappings; following him in "Indian file" were three red men, Camanches, we were told, attired in habiliments with more colors than aunt Ruth's brightest rag carpet; there were feathers on their heads and down their backs, and war paint on their faces; with uplifted tomahawk in one hand and a spear in the other, these "noble representatives of a race fast fading away," were a subject of awe and wonder for the excited small boys who followed the band but kept at a safe distance from the savages; and the source of a good opportunity for the enjoyment by adults of the absurdly ridiculous. Armenius Clayton Johnson was an interested spectator and follower of the procession, and he stated that it was his intention to start for the plains next week.

"The Prairie Waif."
A good sized audience filled the lower opart of the Opera Huuse last night, and the gallery was completely packed, to listen to the play, 'Prairie Waif," and view the famous Buffalo Bill and his "live" Indians. The play of its class, is good, although some parts are overdone. Mr. Cody as an actor in his line of business is first-class, and his support good, especially Mr. Alstadt as "Hans," and Miss Thompson as "Sadie," the latter being particularly bright and vivacious, and much superior as an actress to Miss Fletcher as "Onita." The piece is replete with exciting situations, which continually bring Buffalo Bill into prominence, which is just what his audience enjoy, and to all such as are interested in border drama the play of "Prairie Waif" can be highly commended.