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Buffalo Bill-He Intends Gunning After Captain Jack.
Hon Wm. F. Cody, better known to our readers as "Buffalo Bill," is in our borough to-day, the guest of Col. Guss, to whom he is related.
As many of our readers are aware, Mr. Cody is now the leading star in the celebrated play entitled "The Scouts of he Prairie," which is delighin all Philadelphia a present. In conversation with this noted scout and hunter of the Western wilds, he has informed us that he is about to take up his residence in West Chester, or rather he will locate his family here. He has rented a fine brick dwelling on Washington street, between Walnut and Matlack streets, into which he proposes moving his family at once, they being now stopping at New York.
As for Bill's personal self he informs us that after he has filled his dramatic engagement which expires on the 28th of next June, he will again return to the war path after Captain Jack, in the employ of the Government as Chief of Scouts, under General Sheridan, to whom he is very much attached. We rather think our hero entertains the idea (and we trust it is well founded) that he can trap Captain Jack. One thing is certain if he gets within anything like a respectable range of him with his rifle (which he calls "Lucrena Borgia"), that somewhat prominent Indian individual will more than probably bite the dust.
Bill looks better than when last he paid us a visit, which would prove that his new sphere (that of the stage) is congenial both to his physical and mental make up. We wish him the success he deservedly merits on whatever stage of life he may be called upon to act his part.
THE PRAIRIE SCOUTS.
This play was presented by its famous delineators, Buffalo Bill (Hon. W. F. Cody), Texas Jack (J. B. Omohundro), and Ned Buntline, supported by a powerful company, at the Opera House last night, to a large and enthusiastic audience. The play was preceded by the comedietta "Jenny Lind at Last," in which Miss Bessie Sudlow gave some of her capital burlesque acting, bringing down the house be her graceful witti cisms, songs and dances, while the comicalities of Mr. G. C. Daven port were equally appreciated. The main feature of the entertainment, "Prairie Scouts," in regard to its acting at least, must be pronouned a splendid success. It is well put upon the stage, with first class scenery, every part is taken by an artist, and the genuine Indians give a novetly to the performance. The talents of Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack seem to be illimitable, for they are as much at home on the stage as on the war-path, and the perfect ease with which they lassoed live Indians and carried them off the field with one hand was refreshing to behold. In the character of Cale Durg, the trapper, Ned Buntline shows himself a most accomplished actor as well as novelist, and Miss Bessie Sudlow, as Dove Eye, was excellent. But the most beautiful and artistic acting was given by Senorita Eloe Carfano, as Hazel Eye, combining with physical beauty rare powers of elocution and dramatic talent. The comedians of the play, G. C. Davenport and Walter Fletcher, in their respective Irish and Dutch characters, kept the house in a roar, and received repeated encores.
AMUSEMENTS.
"THE SCOUTS OF THE PRAIRIE."
The Grand Opera House, last evening, was crowded with an eager, interested audience, all anxious to gaze upon those famous heros -- Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack -- and upon the writer whose facile pen has so thrillingly depicted their daring expoits -- Ned Buntline. There curiosity was gratilied by the presentation of the thrilling drama, "The Scouts of the Prairie," in which all three appaered, the latter as Cale Durg, the Trapper. The play was presented with life like accuracy, and Texas Jack lassoed the Indians as vigorously as he ever did upon the Western plains, while Buffalo Bill, blazed away with as much energy as he ever did among his savage foes. The audience cheered and applauded tremendously and lovers of the sensational drama had their desires fully satisfied.
Original and Aboriginal.
Advice to the manager. Give us a show for our pile.
Miss Laura Matilda wont go to a show where paw-knees are a feature.
Lo, the poor Indian does not travel with the Buffalo Bill crowd; them fellows are all rich, large stock of paint on hand and feathers paid for.
Some of the locomotive drives of the Reading Road are angry because of the auricular appendages of the Aborigines have styled injun ears.
A man who is behind in his water rates refused to go to the show last night, because being an indifferent scholar he read on the poster that Taxes Jack would appear, and he did not want to see the collector.
In reply to a dorrespondent, we explain that a bunt line is a rope stretched arcross a ship to trip up the steerage passengers going aft and the after ones steering forward.
The report that the Pawnee Indians appear on horseback at Union Hall, originated in the fact that they were seen sitting on saw-horses behind the scenes, waiting for their call.
Small boy says if he can't be a duke or a clown in a circus he wants to be a wild Indian with a show so he can travel all over the country and go on the warpath for grub at swell hotels.
The famous Buffalo Bill has bought a house in West Chester, where he proposes to locate his family, and when his dramatic engagements are concluded he intends to return to the war path on the Plains, as chief of the scouts, in the employ of the government.
Prairie Scouts.
If there was needed any evidence of the drawing capacity of the Prairie Scouts, the packed Opera House Saturday evening would satisfy the most incredulous. The dress circle and parquette were well filled, and the gallery presented a sea of heads. The first piece went off in a very spirited manner, introducing BESSIE SUDLOW. G. C. DAVENPORT. and Mr. WENTWORTH in characters particularly pleasing and adapted to each, they carrying the audience with them throughout, eliciting frequent and hearty applause. The greater demonstrations however were reserved for the most sensational of all sensation plays the "Prairie Scouts." From the rising of the curtain on the first act to its going down on the last, the various scenes were watched with intense interest, and at the crowning point of some thrilling situation the applause was deafening. There is much good acting in the play where the parts require it. But if all the characters were taken by professional artists it would in a great measure destroy the naturalness and mar the effect of the play. Border life is not supposed to be very refining or attractive to cultivated tastes, and the more natural it can be presented, the better idea is obtained of its real character. There can possibly be none more capable of representing to the life all the varied scenes of border life, as these whose lives have been spent as brave and active participants in its perils and dangers. They do not pretend to be actors, i.e. "Buffalo Bill" or "Texas Jack," they simply present to the view of an audience scenes in actual border life, similar to those through which they themselves have passed. It requires no stretch of the imagination, the real personages are before us , with their wonderful coolness, great courarge, marvelous strength and powers of endurance. Finer specimens of physical manhood are seldom seen than those presented in the persons of Hon. WM. F. CODY, "Buffalo Bill," and J. B. OMOHUNDRO, "Texas Jack." The name of NED BUNTLINE is so well known he needs no introduction; people were anxious to see the greater writer, and hear him speak. In the Prairie Scouts he makes Temperance one great point in the drama, and his speech to one who is adicted to the vice of intemperance is one of the most eloquent appeals we have ever listened to. It was received with tremendous applause. BESSIE LUDLOW as "Dove Eye" and Senorita ELOE CARFANO fully sustained the reputation that had preceded them and added greatly to the success of the play. DAVENPORT and FLETCHER were perfectly irresistable and kept the audience in the best of humor throughout. The same programme will be presented this evening. Those who saw it Saturday evening need no urging to attend; those who did not will miss seeing one of the greatest sensations of the day if they do not go to-night. The seven Indians accompanying the party perform their pats, it is said, true to life (except the real killing of course.) We haven't been on the border to see, but if that is the way they perform we don't know as we care about going. We rather see it at the Opera House. Ugh! Big Injun.
Serious [word?]
Wikednokemonahed told us yesterday that he has only felt like home once since he bade adieu to the Far West and that was at the Reading tavern where he stopped. The hash was so full of nice light hair that he felt all day as though he had scalped a whole family of young boys and girls.
Except those who have become bald reading about Captain Jack of the Modoc band, all the fellows in town got their hair razeed to quarter of an inch when they heard of the Indians coming with Buffalo Bill, and some of them have had their scalps done up with pumice stone and oil, to turn the edges of the scalping knives.
"Ugh! Big chief me, take much scalp; kill warrior heap; eat thousand pale-face pappoose. In Setting Sun land got plenty lodge, plenty squaw, plenty dog, big chief me, boss the whole caboose dam. Down to Allentown put up at hotel, corner street around, make both ways: big-bugs stay there too; me big bug, nother kind, --see? me wanted to sleep in bed with other big bugs, but they eat big chief. Not big bug; no: what you call bed-bug, yes, dam, Ugh!"
The Prairie Scouts.
A very large audience came out on Saturday evening to witness the novel entertainment provided for them by the famous Ned Buntline, or as he is less known, Col. E. Z. C. Judson. The performance was like itself and like nothing else ever produced on the stage. It was full of strange and thrilling situations and startling effects and all produced by characters who themselves have passed through somewhat similar scenes in real life. Hon. Wm. F. Cody, or as he is better known, "Buffalo Bill," and J. B. Omohundro or "Texas Jack," splendid specimens of physical manhood were very prominent in the play and so pleased the audience that they were brought before the curtain and, the first named made a brief speech. Ned Buntline's termperance speech is one of the best things in the play and would make a man's fortune on the lecture platform. No one can wonder at the immense success of the pience or that it creates such an excitement where it is produced. Bessie Sudlow both in the first play and in the main performance displayed much ability as an actress and was very pleasing, while Fletcher and Davenport, with their inimitable brogue, singing and dancing, added immensely to the entertainment. The Bill will be repeated this evening and those who wish to see something that they have never seen before and are not likely to see soon again, if ever, will assuredly be on hand.
OPERA HOUSE. --Last evening a very large audience witnessed the attractions there, under the auspices of Buffalo Bill, Texas Jack, and Ned Buntline.
The opening operatic comedy brought out the versatile powers of Bessie Sudlow and G. C. Davenport in no ordinary manner, and their really fine singing and burlesque acting brought down the house.
"The Scouts of the Prairie," though of the ultra sensational school of dramas, is necessarily so by reason of its intent, viz: to represent the wild life on the frontier, being dramatized from Ned Buntline's story of the same name. The roles of Cale Durg and Buffalo Bill, as well as Phelim O'Laugherty and Carl Pretzel, were welll sustained throughout, and each of them evoked frequent prolonged applause. The Indian element of the play, though picturesque, is not up to the standard of excellence we were prepared to see, but was creditable and above mediocrity. The role of Hazel Eye, a female trapper, was overdone. Senorita Carfano's forte is high tragedy, in which she would excel, and no doubt does.
As a whole, the company is good, and the playing conforms well to the character of the piece. It will repay our citizens to witness it, if only for its novelty, and to hear the very excellent temperance lectures of that well known and versatile gentleman, NED BUNTLINE (Mr. E. C. Judson).
This evening another opportunity will be afforded of attending this unique entertainment.
PERSONAL.-- Hon. Wm. F. Cody, generally known as "Buffalo Bill," visited the EAGLE office to-day. Mr. Cody is a member of the Nebraska Legislature, representing the Twenty-sixth district of nine counties, in the House. Mr. Cody is a tall, stalwart, and handsome young man, with long hair, falling in natural ringlets on his shoulders. His manners are courteous and af[?]ble, and his conversation is very interesting, especially in reference to the great West. He will appear this evening at the Mishler Academy. He will leave Reading to-morrow morning. His intelligence and cou[?]tesy surprised many persons, who imagined "Buffalo Bill" to be a "border ruffian," instead of the gentleman he is.
Buffalo Bill and the Pawnees.
Considerable excitement was caused yesterday at noon, by the arrival in town of Buffalo Bill (Hon. W. F. Cody.) Ned Buntline, Texas Jack, and a half dozen Pawnee Indians. A large crowd followed them from the depot to their quarters at the Merchants' Hotel, and Mortimer House. In the afternoon on invitation of L. F. Whitney Esq., Ned, Bill, and Jack, with the Pawnees in full war costume, took an excursion to Minersville, where they had a pleasant time, returning early in the evening. On the route out, and at Minersville, they created gerat furore.
The Scouts of the Prairie.
Union Hall was crowded last night to witness the performance of Ned Buntline, Buffalo Bill, Texas Jack and the Pawnee Indians. The entertainment commenced with the musical comedy, "Jenny Lind" in which the lively character of "Jenny Leather-lungs" was most capitally rendered by Miss Bessie Sudlow, who is a spirited actress. Mr. George Davenport, the low comedian, is also very clever and kept the house in a roar of laughter. The performance of the scouts and Indians was very exciting, and gave an excellent idea to the audience of the dangers and excitements of frontier life. The impression made last night, will no doubt crowd the house this evening.
A matinee will be given this afternoon. Price of admission-- 50 cents for adults: 25 cents for children.
Prairie Scouts.
To-night and Monday night NED BUNTLINE brings his "Prairie Scouts" out at the Opera House, on which occasion BUFFALO BILL and TEXAS JACK will make it warm for the red skins. In speaking of this drama in Washington, the Star of that city says:
"The rate at which Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack disposed of the red skins at Wall's Opera House last night, would be very satisfactory if practiced in earnest at the lava beds, but from some mistake in the arrangements out there it is the Modocs who do the shooting and our men who do the dying. If the Indians got up a drama for an Indian audience, they would probably present the "war of extermination" in a light more in accordance with Captain Jack's ideas. Anyhow, the audience at Wall's Opera House last night seemed to greatly admire the dexterous way in which Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack handled their pistols and threw their lassoes, showing a facility with both weapons which would make lively for a real opponent. The ease, too, with which the athletic Buffalo Bill picks up a hundred and fifty pound dead Indian by the belt and carries him off as if he was a kitten, shows there is no make believe about the hero's muscle. There was a large audience present last evening, and the frequent and hearty applause testified that all were well pleased.
NED BUNTLINE'S DRAMATIC TROUPE TO-NIGHT.
This evening at the Mishler Academy will appear for the first time in this city Ned Buntline's dramatic combination, who will present the drama "The Prairie Scouts." Of this entertainment the Washington Star says of this troupe:
There is but one verdict concerning the performance of "The Prairie Scouts." at Wall's, and that is "first rate." Everybody says so, and everybody goes to see them. There has hardly been a pleasant night since the engagement commenced, nd yet they have drawn the largest houses of the entire season; and it is no matter of wonder, for all their repesentations are truthful ones, and are just such scenes as are being enacted every day on the plains of the Far West, and those who tread the boards at Wall's this week, were, but a few months ago, scouting along the wildest portions of our [word]. [word] one should go and see them. The scenes they present are as great objects of interest as are those in a menagerie, and every father thinks he must take the whole household to a menagerie. To-night and to-morrow night, with the matinee, will close the engagement.
That Buffalo Hunt.
FL. MCPHERSON, Sept. 12,
To the Editor of the HERALD:
I have been anxiously waiting to hear from Mr. Huston, who, I see, has accepted my challenge. He says he wrote to Gen. [?]istern & Miller to make arrangements with me. Those gentlemen have heard nothing from him. He says I am anxious to crawl in to something. I will make him crawl in to a herd of buffalo pretty lively before he caries any money away from this section of country I am ready to hunt with Mr. Huston or any man in America.
Respectfully yours,
W. F. CODY.
"Scouts of the Prairie."-- We do not believe there ever was such a rush for admittance into Union Hall as there was last night. It was with the utmost difficulty that anything like order could be brought out of the great jam of people, trying to force their way in. They did get in finally and crowded the Hall to repletion. So far the evening was a success. Was it in other respects? yes, [?] if thouroughly entertaining an audience composed of all the elements of society, can be called a success. We shall not attempt a description of the play, for it was only a sucession of incidents, comic, serio-comic, serious, melting, and tragic. There was plently of punpowder with sparks applied to it. Altogether we should say the "Scouts of the Prairie" is a most satisfactory entertainment. We look for a jam to-night equalling that of last night.
A matinee will be given by the Prairie Scouts this afternoon, at 2 o'clock, when the price of admission will be 50 cents for adults, and 25 cents for children.
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