251
GREERS HALL ONE NIGHT ONLY Monday, Sept. 8, THE ORIGINAL THE SCOUTS OF THE PLAINS. BUFFALO BILL, (Hon. W. F. Cody,) TEXAS JACK, (J. B. Omohundro,) WILD BILL, (J. B. Hickok) Corp of Wild Indians and full Dramatic Corps perform FRED G. MAEDER'S great drama of Buffalo Bill, KING OF THE BORDER MEN, With the living heroes in the cast.
252
Oof! Oof!
But on three occasions do we remember Greer's Hall being so packed as it was last evening. Before seven o'clock the stairway and small hallway were packed with people struggling to get beyond the closed doors. The air was stifling and the surging mass yelled worse than the Pawnee's did during the performance. The doors at the lower entrance were closed and those at the head of the hallway were opened. Then came a rush and one lady fainted. She was pulled inside and quickly recovered. Clothing was at a discount, and it was amusing to see the people search for articles that were pulled out of place. If one put his arm up it staid up; and if the feet left the floor they were sure to remain thus until the inside of the hall was gained. By 7.20 o'clock every seat was taken and large numbers were standing. In 10 minutes more the hall was packed in every part, and the whistling, shouting and cat-calls were commenced. For three-quarters of an hour the noise was great, and when the curtain raised nothing was heard except the cry of "sit down." Buffalo Bill's reception was warm and hearty. The piece itself did not amount to much. The attractive features of the evening's performance were: Buffalo Bill and his companion, Texas Jack, the splendid acting of Walter Fletcher as Snakeroot Sam, Fred. G. Maeder as an 1812-pounder, Lizzie Safford as Lillie Fielding and the war dance of the four or five Pawnee braves. A special favorite with the audience was Rena Maeder as Kitty Muldoon. Applause always greeted her appearance.
253
Buffalo Bill In West Chester
By LOUISE M. JONES
THE popularity of Buffalo Bill rivaled that of the Pied Piper. The genial giant with his long hair and goatee, broad-brimmed hat and leather trappings had admirers whenever he appeared on West Chester streets.
He was not a stranger here as noted in a quotation of the Local News 5-22-1873: "Hon. Wm. F. Cody, known to our readers as Buffalo Bill is in our borough today, the guest of Col. Guss to whom he is related. He stated that he had rented a fine brick dwelling on Washington Street between Walnut and Matlack, into which he proposes to move his family at once." In a later edition 8-9-1873: "Buffalo Bill does his own marketing."
Col. Cody was born on the frontier and spent his boyhood there. When he was ten the family moved farther west where his father lost his life in an encounter with the Indians.
During the construction of he Kansas-Pacific railroad Buffalo Bill was employed to hunt buffaloes for the meat supply of the men working there. Records shows that he shot 4280 of the animals with one gun which he called "Lucretia Borgia". On one encounter his horse fell upon him and caused an injury from which he never fully recovered. Several times he was wounded by arrows and bullets.
He was also one of the riders of the Pony Express.
In West Chester, on the stage of old Horticultural Hall, now the home of the Chester County Historical Society, his troupe rehearsed for their first stage show. Later they toured the midwest and Chicago in a tented show. While here, the Indians had an encampment in a woods east of town; later the whole troupe lived at the Turk's Head. The horses were quartered at the Sheller farm in East Bradford or on a farm near Romansville.
This ad in the local paper 9-4-1873 appeared in the Amusement column: "At Horticultural Hall. THE ORIGINAL SCOUTS OF THE PLAINS, Buffalo Bill, Texas Jack, Wild Bill and a company of wild Indians: a full Dramatic Company will perform.
Time - Sept. 9, 1873.
"Admission 50 and 75 cents."
Ah, for the good old days!
Real Indians!
254
HORTICULTURAL HALL.
[horizontal line]
ONE NIGHT ONLY.
[horizontal line]
Tuesday, September 9th, 1873,
THE ORIGINAL
SCOUTS OF THE PLAINS.
BUFFALO BILL,
(Hon. W. F. CODY.)
TEXAS JACK
(J. B. OMOHUNDRO.)
WILD BILL.
(J. B. HICKOK.)
A CORPS OF WILD INDIANS,
Full Dramatic Company, will perform Fred. G. Maeder's Great Drama of
BUFFALO BILL,
KING OF THE BORDER MEN,
in which the author and RENA MAEDER,
the charming Comedienne, will appear
Admission, 50 and 75 cents.
JOHN RUCKABY,
Agent.
255
HORTICULTURAL HALL.
[horizontal line]
ONE NIGHT ONLY.
[horizontal line]
Tuesday, September 9th, 1873.
THE ORIGINAL
SCOUTS OF THE PLAINS:
BUFFALO BILL,
(Hon. W. F. CODY,)
TEXAS JACK,
(J. B. OMOHUNDRO.)
WILD BILL,
(J. B. HICKOK.)
A CORPS OF WILD INDIANS,
Full Dramatic Company, will perform Fred. G. Maeder's Great Drama of
BUFFALO BILL,
KING OF THE BORDER MEN,
in which the author and
RENA MAEDER,
the charming Comedienne, will appear.
Admission 50 and 75 cents.
JOHN RUCKABY,
Agent.
Agent.