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parts. We will say that this table (pointing to a square table in the room) represents a large tract of land. On one corner is situated my ranche, and the other three corners are owned by different stock raisers. Well, in the winter time we send our cattle out on the plains to wander at their pleasure, and do not look after them against us til the spring. There are, say 200,000 head of cattle, all branded with the owner's mark, to be divided up amongst us. Then occurs the round up. We send men out to surround the tract of land and drive the cattle together. Then the brands are separated and each man takes his own cattle, and they are driven back to his ranche. We have a system of postal cards which we find very convenient. At the beginning of each year owners of cattle exchange cards, on which the various brands and to whom they belong are written. These are stuck up in a conspicuous place, and should at any time any stray cattle be found, upon reference to the card it will be known, who are the owners, and they are at once notified. This is the way the cattle business is carried on in Nebraska
"Do you have any trouble with the Indians, Mr. Cody?"
"Well, lately they are becoming rather troublesome, and in the last letter I received from home I learned they had stolen sixty one horses and a large number of cattle from one of my neighbors, and that is the reason I am anxious to get home. Here is a letter from my partner, Major Frank North, who is in command of an independent company of men, raised by the Governor of Nebraska, and who says that some of the oldest frontiersmen anticipate trouble, and if the Government does not interfere the cattlemen will organize troops themselves. These raids are made by the Sioux, under command of Spotted Tail and Red Cloud. It is a mistaken idea to think the Indians are a treacherous race; they are peaceable and true if let alone, but they know that in fighting with the white men they are outnumbered and therefore they seize any advantage they can. The fact is, the Indians have not been treated rightly by the American Government: they have had promises made them that were never fulfilled, and this has angered them. They have been equipped with the Winchester rifle and think they cannot be whipped by the white men and now it takes two American soldiers to fight one Indian. I am strongly of the opinion that we shall have trouble with the Indians next summer, and if the whole of the Sioux tribe, numbering about 6,000, start out on the war path, I believe they have strength enough to clean out the whole frontier. The Indians should not even be blamed for these cattle and horse raids we hear so much about, because they are merely retaliating. There are a number of men who make it a profession to steal horses from the Indians, and these depredations were committed to a considerable extent at the time when the Black Hills were inundated with the outcasts of society, and I am sorry to say there are plenty of men who do nothing else but purchase these stolen horses; in fact, there is a regular market for them. Although I have had many a tough fight with the red man my sympathy is with him entirely, because he has been ill-used and trampled on by those whose duty it was to protect him."
"Are you in favor of turning the Indians over to the army?"
"I think the hostile tribes should be in charge of the army, but there are a large number of peaceable Indians who earn their bread by farming, and I do not think it would be right to serve these the same way."
"One more question, Mr. Cody. How did you come to be called Buffalo Bill?"
"During the construction of the Kansas Pacific Railroad I was employed in the killing of buffaloes and 4,280 of these animals fell by my hands and ever since then I have been known as Buffalo Bill. During the past few months I have written an autobiography and the manuscript is now in the hands of the Mesars. Bliss & Co.. the publishers, in Hartford, by whom the book will be issued."
Another friendly shake, and the Herald representative departed.
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