1873 Buffalo Bill Combination News

TEXAS JACK

The White King of the Pawnees

The Hero of this sketch, J.B. Omohundro, better know as Texas Jack, was born on James river, in Eastern Virginia, in the month of July 1874, and is, therefore, twenty-seven years old. He was a wayward child, and at the early age of nine years ran away from home, but was captured and brought back by his father, and remained at home discontented until eleven years of age, when his second attempt at decamping was successful, and he wandered around among the drovers and stock-raisers until the breaking out of the war, and being of Southern blood, espoused the "lost cause," returned to his home, and entered into the Confederate service under Floyd. Afterward, he was assigned as a scout under Major General J. B. Stuart, then in command in Northern Virginia. He had delivered a dispatch to General Stuart but a second before he was killed.

He served during the entire war, and, at its close, returned to Texas and entered upon a sailor's life, cruising along the eastern coast, thence to the West Indies and South America, embracing a period of eighteen months. Was wrecked on the coast of Florida and worked his way back to Texas. This is was in 1866. He then became a "cowboy," acting as guide to the drovers between the Colorado and Rio Grande rivers. He had the reputation of being the best guide in the country, and his services were sought after by every drover of that region. The Texas cattle trade then to k northward direction and Jack opened the first route and drove the first herd of cattle numbering 3, 000 head, through the Induan territory to Western Kansas. He then guided herds to Abilene, Kansas, and to a point on the North. Platte, in the State of Nebraska.

These journeys were long and tedious and were attended by danger at every point. Bands of hostile Indians infested tie entire route and to baflie these lurking, murdering ends required not only a man of bravery but of judgment and cunning superior to that of the savages. In this, he was eminently successful. When all other means failed, Texas Jack was worth a regiment of soldiers in an attack, and his yell when a charge was made is said to have been heard for miles, and to have carried dismay into the ranks of the red devils. In 1870–'71 he hunted in Nebraska and made the acquaintance of Buffalo Bill. He Joined the Government scouts in February last, and during the past season hail command, by order of General Walker, of 3,200 Pawnee Indians on their summer hunt.

The writer of this article received through General Walker the information that Jack had managed the Indians better than any of his predecessors, and that his report was the most acceptable of any received at the Indian Office. So highly did the Indians regard him that ho earned the well-deserved title of "the White King of the Pawnees."

His hairbreadth escapes from, death at the hands of the redskins have been numerous, and to him on one occasion was Buffalo Bill Indebted for his life. It happened in May 1872, on the Loun Fork river, Minnebraska, wheres a band of Sioux Indians stole some horses. The red thieves were pursued and overtaken by Bill and Jack, who each killed an Indian. A

route and drove the first herd of cattle numbering 3, 000 head, through the Induan territory to Western Kansas. He then guided herds to Abilene, Kansas, and to a point on the North. Platte, in the State of Nebraska.

These journeys were long and tedious and were attended by danger at every point. Bands of hostile Indians infested tie entire route and to baffle these lurking, murdering ends required not only a man of bravery but of judgment and cunning superior to that of the savages. In this, he was eminently successful. When all other means failed, Texas Jack was worth a regiment of soldiers in an attack, and his yell when a charge was made is said to have been heard for miles, and to have carried dismay into the ranks of the red devils. In 1870–'71 he hunted in Nebraska and made the acquaintance of Buffalo Bill. He Joined the Government scouts in February last, and during the past season hail command, by order of General Walker, of 3,200 Pawnee Indians on their summer hunt.

The writer of this article received through General Walker the information that Jack had managed the Indians better than any of his predecessors, and that his report was the most acceptable of any received at the Indian Office. So highly did the Indians regard him that ho earned the well-deserved title of "the White King of the Pawnees."

His hairbreadth escapes from, death at the hands of the redskins have been numerous, and to him on one occasion was Buffalo Bill Indebted for his life. It happened in May 1872, on the Loun Fork river, Minnebraska, wheres a band of Sioux Indians stole some horses. The red thieves were pursued and overtaken by Bill and Jack, who each killed an Indian. A third redskin had just drawn a bead on Bill when Jack's quick eye caught the gleam of the shining barrel and the next instant "the noble red" was on his way to the happy hunting ground, his passage from this sublunary sphere being expedited by a bullet from Jack's rifle, at a distance of one hundred and twenty- five yards. Another of the tribe was brought to the ground and apparently killed, but as Jack went sweeping by, the red rascal raised himself and began popping at; the scout with a six-shooter, that made Texas mad all over: to think the "big Ingin" had been playing possum on him riled him so, without any ceremony, he gave the copper-colored aborigine his quietus, and then raised his hair, and the scalp now hangs in Ward's Museum, at Rochester. N. Y. The first Indian ever killed by Bill was when he was about 14 years old, and as a somewvhat singular coincidence Jack was only about the same age when he performed a similar feat.

Hundreds of incidents could be recited of Jack's skill as an Indian fighter, and his wonderful exploits would fill a volume. His appearance is decidedly prepossessing, his frank, laughing countenance, his wealth of dark, curly hair, and his merry, hazel eye make him a general favorite with the fair sex, and coupled with his fine physique and immense strength cônstitutes him a prince among men.

The Scouts in the Treasury.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. William F. Cody, (Buffalo Bill) and Mr. J. B. Omohundro, (Texas Jack,) accompanied by Mr. F. A. Aiken, of the Republican and Mr. Thomas Shailer, of the secret service division, made a tour a of the Treasury Department.

The Distinguished visitors created quite a sensation among the fair maids, and it was a doubtful question which was attracted the most, the ladies, or Bill and Jack.

After passing through the various rooms, the party brought up in the vault, and on being hold that it contained six hundred millions of dollars, Buffalo Bill exclaimed, "Lock me up and let me die here!"

The visit was a very pleasant one owing to the kindness and attention of the superintendent, Mr. George B. McCartee, assisted by Colonel Evans; and the celebrated scouts were more than pleased, and as they expressed it "would like to live there forever."

NED BUNTLINE. Soldier, Scout, and Novelist. The name of. Ned Buntline, the alias of Colonol E. Z. C. Judson, through the medium of his facial and brilliant pen, has become a household word, and his stories are more widely read than those of any other author engaged in the same field of Journalism. His has been a very, eventful career, and a short sketch like this can give but a very brief idea ọf his wonderful exploits and successes.

Colonel Judson was born in 1823, on the homestead which he now owns, at the head of the Delaware river his inclination asserted itself at an early age, and he then only a boy served through the Florida war of 1838 and 1842; also, in the Mexican war of 1846 and 1847, and in all the Indian wars, and was in the field from the breaking out of the rebellion until the surrender of Johnston.

At the close of the Mexican war, the Colonel turned his steps Westward and explored the uninhabitable wilderness, of which Chicago was then the border village.

For three years he was with the Snakes and Blackfeet, acting as agent of the Northwestern Fur Trading Company, and during that time made himself familiar with the traits of Indian character, which, in his afterlife have served him so well in depicting the scenes which the eyes of but few white men had ever looked upon. For several years he was on to Santa Fe trail with Aubrey, the great tur trader of St. Louis, whose murder by gamblers created a profound sensation throughout the whole country, and whose death no nan deplored more than Colonel Judson.

The scars left by thirteen bullets are now upon his person; on his broad breast, an Indian's vengeful knife has left its ghastly mark. Notwithstanding all his hardships and his wild adventures on sea, in forest, and in traversing the vast prairies, the Colonel is still hale and hearty and looks good for many an active campaign in the future.

Confining himself, to no country or clime, he has followed the impulses of his roving disposition and traveled tho wide world over, but scarcely a year has passed during the past three decades that has not found him, for a greater or less time, among the mountains or on the plains, enjoying the wild excitement and enduring the hardships of border life.

In his present tour, the Colonel is accompanied by his young and beautiful wife: they are inseparable, and the womanly devotion and tenderness which she bestows upon lier talented husband and which he so richly deserves is remarked by all. Colonel Jadson's first acquaintance with Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack and his subsequent successful effort to bring them before the public are best described in his own words

"In my travels in the West I have met with every description of scouts including Kit Carson, Major Bridger, and hundreds of others noted in the annal of military life on the plains. With these men, I have been on terms of the most intimate friendship but never met a live scout until chance Ted to the acquaintance of Buffalo Bill. The meeting took place several years ago, and we have been firm friends and boon companions ever since, having camped together, hunted together, and, when occasion required, fought together.

"During this time I studied the character of my friend thoroughly and searchingly, and fAnding that he was all that my fancy desired, I determined to bring him before the American people as a real specimen of the nobles of the frontier; as one of the daring scouts who, day and night, from one year's end to another, have

talented husband and which he so richly deserves is remarked by all. Colonel Jadson's first acquaintance with Buffalo Bill and Texas Jack and his subsequent successful effort to bring them before the public are best described in his own words

"In my travels in the West I have met with every description of scouts including Kit Carson, Major Bridger, and hundreds of others noted in the annal of military life on the plains. With these men, I have been on terms of the most intimate friendship but never met a live scout until chance Ted to the acquaintance of Buffalo Bill. The meeting took place several years ago, and we have been firm friends and boon companions ever since, having camped together, hunted together, and, when occasion required, fought together.

"During this time I studied the character of my friend thoroughly and searchingly, and finding that he was all that my fancy desired, I determined to bring him before the American people as a real specimen of the nobles of the frontier; as one of the daring scouts who, day and night, from one year's end to another, have periled their lives in protecting settlers from the lurking savages, whose gleaming knives bad drunk the blood, not only of their enemies, but of weak women and helpless children; whose tomahawks have brained the noblest and purest in the land; and whoso black hearts lave thirsted and hungered with an insatiate appetite for the lives of Irish victims to be added to the long list of those who have suffered martyrdom at the stake, and whose reeking scalps adorn the lodge-poles for the chiefs and 'braves' of the children of the forest and plain. Having found and thoroughly studied my hero, I wrote the romance of two others, detailing the adventures of the same heroic character. I met in his wanderings, was found another Western hero, and having introduced them to the American public with my pen, I determined to bring the brave scouts before the people, that they might be seen as they are, men of honor, truth, and sobriety, and who have all the nobler attributes that a generous nature some times, but not very often, bestows upon her children. It was with considerable difficulty that I could secure their consent to appear in so public a manner, but finally prevailed upon them, and on the 16th of last December they made their debut in Chicago, before an audience of twenty-five hundred people, completely filling the house, and the thermometer twenty- three degrees below zero."

They have since played in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other cities, with unparalleled success.

The piece they appeared in at Chicago was the one they have rendavad during their tour. It was written in four and had only five rehearsals before being put on the stage.