244

tinel's staff was detailed to interview him, being
convinced that by reason of his barrenness
he could face the savage warriors with impunity.
At the close of the matinees, yesterday,
the reporter in question waited in the hall-way
for an introduction to the presence of the
great scout of the western wilds, Mr. Cody
was

WASHING OFF HIS WAR PAINT

when the h. h. reporter timidly rapped at the
door of his dressing room. A remarkably
savage warrior pulled the door partially ajar
and in choice Cheyennee inquired: "Well,
now, what's the matter with you?" "A reporter
would like to interview Mr. Cody." Mr.
Cody appeared, slightly disarranged, and
begged a few moments' time to arrange his
toilet. Meantime, the painted savage was
closely scanning the reporter's features, as if
in search of some strawberry mark. At last a
broad smile illuminated his swarthy face, and
he said: "Hello, old man! I haven't seen
you before since the fire. Come in!" Feeling
that the remnant of his scalp was safe, the
reporter entered, and the wild warrior introduced
him to the scout of the western wilds,
who received him with a cordial greeting, and
at once asked for his friend Capt. Charley
King, late adjutant of the Fifth United States
Cavalry.

The reporter informed Mr. Cody that Capt.
King was now at the State University at Madison,
employed in teaching the young idea
how to shoot according to the practice regulations
of the army.

"I should like to see Charley," said Buffalo
Bill. "He is a brave man and a splendid soldier.
He was present at my killing of Yellow
Hand, the Cheyenne Chief, which we have introduced
in our play. He was

A SPLENDID LITTLE OFFICER,

brave as a lion. Always volunteering for
posts of danger, and always ready to go to the
front."

By this time Mr. Cody was in his civilized
costume and the reporter looked him over
tall, straight as an arrow, handsome in feature
and pleasing in address, he is the idea of
physical manhood, and his conversation is
much more easy and fluent than one would
suppose possible. Taking a seat, he signified
his readiness to be interviewed, and the reporter
proceeded:

"Mr. Cody, do you know anything about
Ouray's successor?"

"No; I don't even know who he is. I have
paid no attention to the Utes lately. I understand
Ouray is dead, and I know nothing
later."

"You are familiar with the Utes, are you
not?"

"Not so much so as I am with the Cheyennes,
Arapahoes and Sioux. At the late Ute
war, however, I was the first one Gen. Sheridan
telegraphed to, to go forward as a scout. I
have been a guide in the Department of the
Platte for eighteen years. I was in fifty-two
fights in which the Fifth Cavalry, Capt. King's
regiment, were engaged. King, however, was
away much of that time, on detached service."

"Are you familiar with the Ute Character?"

"The Indians are all about the same in character.
I think they have been badly used. I
have led the army against them as a scout,
but always with regret. They have their side
of the story. For honesty and virtue, I think
the Indians are ahead of the whites. They
have been.

me by jumping out from behind rocks. I
think Capt. Jack the best general in America.
With seventy-five men he kept a whole army
back for forty seven days.

"Do you think the Utes any more treacherous
than the balance?"

"No, I do not. Nor any more than the
whites. Where is the white man who would
not fight if everything was taken away from
him? I'm dog-goened if I wouldn't. Give
every man a show. They were here first, and
have a better right here than we have."

"Do you know Sitting Bull, Mr. Cody?"

"I know him when I was a boy. Of his
recent movements I know nothing except
through the press. I have not seen him for
many years."

"Is he, as report says, an educated man?"

"No, sir! He can't speak a word of English.
Do you know how he got his name? The
Indians take their names from some transaction
in their lives. Well, one time he shot a
buffalo in the loins, and it fell on its haunches.
He mounted it back, and thus got

THE NAME OF SITTING BULL."

"Is he intelligent?"

"He is a great warrior. He handles his
men well and has a thorough knowledge of
the country."

"What do you think of the future of the
Sioux?"

"I think they will all drift back again."

"Do you think Sitting Bull will ever become
civilized?"

"I can't tell. He says he will never surrender,
but others have said so and still have
given up. Do you know, I think there will be
another general Indian war before this thing
is settled. There are a great many dissatisfied
Indians."

"Do you think the army large enough for
such an emergency?"

"Oh, yes! The standing army might be
larger, but the militia system is growing so
that in a short time a magnificent army could
be raised. They are all learning to shoot, too.
Another war, and the privates would pretty
much all know which end of the gun goes off."

"You are confident
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER WAR?"

"Oh, yes. And they will make it warm,
too. The Indians are all well armed, and, according
to the old adage, they believe 'in times
of peace prepare for war.' They are all the
time hiding away ammunition."

"Would you turn out, in such an event, if
called on?"

"Oh, I suppose so; but it would be with regret.
You see, my own home would be in
danger. Dakota, Wyoming and northwestern
Nebraska would suffer badly. There are many
Sioux there."

Mr. Cody then related instances of thieving
on the part of agents, that had come within
his knowledge, asserting that by giving the
War Department, control of the uncivilized
savages this sort of thing would stop.

Anybody who imagined Buffalo Bill to be no
more than a howling terror of the plains makes
a mistake.