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How "Buffalo Bill" Got His Name.

Of Mr. Cody's gaining the title of
"Buffalo Bill" several stories are told,
one of which is that when a boy-hunter
to one of Russell, Major and Waddell's
trains carrying Government supplies west
to the foris, he was alone on the prairie
one day hunting, when he espied a tremendous
herd of Buffalo coming toward
him at full speed. The train encampment
was miles away, the boy was on
foot, and there was but one chance to
escape being trampled to death, and that
was to reach a lone cotton-wood tree some
distance off. A fleet runner, he gained
the tree, and drew himself up into the
branches just as the head of thousands of
buffaloes came tearing along beneath
him. Scarcely had he mentally congratulated
himself upon his lucky escape,
when he espied behind the herd half a
hundred Sioux warriors in full pursuit,
and he knew that they would make short
work of him, for they would also pass
under the tree. To remain was certain
death, and his fertile mind saw a chance,
one in a thousand, and he seized upon it
at once. He would drop down on the
back of a huge buffalo bull and thus ride
out of danger. This he did, landing
astride of the back of an animal that,
frightened fearfully, endeavored to throw
him off, but in vain. Fortunately the
herd headed toward the train encampment,
and as the men ran out to secure
fress buffalo meat, the saw, that one of
the bulls had a rider, and a crack shot
bringing the animal down, it was found
to be Bill Cody, who was then and there
christened "Buffalo Bill."