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... his name was one day mentioned in Washington and he was appointed chief of United States scouts under Genls. Custer and Crook, Cody guiding the expedition into the Black Hills during the gold excitement, his companions and next to him in rank being the celebrated "Texas Jack," who has since died at Leadville where he was buried with military honors, and Capt. Jack Crawford, who subsequently succeeded Cody and has since distinguished himself as the pursuer and reputed slayer of the great Apache chief "Victorio." Buffalo Bill was first brought into general notice through his biographer, the celebrated Ned Buntline, in the columns of the New York Weekly. The stories and Cody's existence were at that time little credited, however, until the Grand Duke Alexis, of Russia, came to this country and engaged in his memorable buffalo hunt under the guidance of Mr. Cody. This first established him as a practical reality and excited public interest in his career. He was then elected state senator to the Nebraska legislature, and served several terms with honor to himself and his constituency. One day Fred Maeder, the dramatist was seated in the lobby of the Bowery theatre, in New York, carelessly scanning over the columns of the Weekly for dramatic material, when his eye was attracted by the title of a story by Ned Buntline, which so excited his curiosity that he procured the serial in full, read it and sketched from it the situation and details of the drama. Ned Buntline heard of Mr. Maeder's project and one day interposed a vigorous protest on the grounds that he reserved all rights. Dramatist and novells entered into correspondence and the result was that Buntline volunteered to go west and secure the original Bison William for the cast. He kept his word, Buffalo Bill on the opening night of the play witnessing its rendition from a box in his buckskin toggery and in full view of an immense audience. He was called for, and hand in hand with Maeder and Buntline stepped before the footlights to exhibit himself to one of the most intensely interested audiences that ever gathered in New York, for Buffalo Bill, by reputation at least, had by this time become as well known in New York city as possibly on the western plains. That inaugurated his career as a dramatic artist, and as Bill says, it suited him so well that he concluded to stick to it. Wild Bill and Texas Jack were afterwards added to the cast, but Hitchcock never felt easy on the stage and soon retired. Buffalo Bill is an exceptionally intelligent gentleman, and to let the secret out entirely, is a disciple of pupil of the famous Wild Bill who has since been assassinated in the Black Hills.
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BUFFALO BILL. A Card from Mr. Craig Regarding the Evening News.
EDITOR GAZETTE:- There appeared in Tuesday evening's News the following:
The amusement public are expecting to see "Buffalo Bill" at the opera house soon. They will be fooled, however. The gentleman who claims to be "Buffalo Bill," is well known by reputation in this city.
In reply, I desire to say that the above is a false statement. The people will not be fooled. "Buffalo Bill" (Hon. W. F. Cody,) the celebrated scout, orator and late member of Legislature of Nebraska, will positively appear at Tootle's opera house next Friday evening, October 7, with his full acting company, troupe of Sioux Indians, etc.
In this connection, I respectfully request that whenever any paper desires to criticise the opera house management, I trust that only facts will be stated. The public will agree with me that it is unfair and unkind in any journal to make such glaring misstatements as the above.
Very respectfully, CORYDON F. CRAIG, Manager Tootle's Opera House.
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AMUSEMENTS. Buffalo Bill.
Hon. Wm. F. Cody and his company, together with Dr. Powell, medicine chief of the Winnebagos, and his band of Sioux Indians, appeared to a crowded house last evening in "The Prairie Waif." The play is from the pen of the well-known John Stevens, former manager of Tootle's opera house, and avoids as much as possible the sensational element which has heretofore characterized Indian dramas. There are plenty of sensational situations in the play, of course, but throughout there is an interspersion of scenes which would be a credit to a production with a title less suggestive of bowie knives and Indian scalps. The scene of the second act, representing the happy home of the buffalo hunter in Utah, is a charming picture of western home life which appeals to every heart. The play on the whole is a decided improvement on modern frontier literature, and we think Mr. Cody deserves credit for thus encouraging an author's innovation on a field which has heretofore been sacred to the pen of the blood and thunderwriter. Mr. Cody of course assumes the leading part, but the rest of the company are given plenty of opportunity, and, some really meritorious acting was done; among others by Mr. Bally who, as Stanley, was exceptionally good, by Mr. Jule Keen as Hans, Mr. Conklin as Lone Deer, and Miss Gilbert and Nellie Lingard. The laughter was incessant and at times the actors were compelled to desist for the uproarious applause that greeted the quickly-varying scenes. The Indian encampment and the dance in the last act constituted a novel and realistic feature and formed a fitting close to a stirring frontier drama.
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THE BUFFALO BILL PARTY.
Buffalo Bill Searching for His Parents' Graves on Pilot Knob
Mr. W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), with a number of relatives and friends, made a search Sunday on Pilot Knob for the graves of Mr. Cody's parents, but could find no graves that could be identified as those sought for.
The Indians at Weston.
Buffalo Bill's Indians, in charge of Mr. Burgess, known among the Pawnee Indians as "Boy Chief," accompanied the Sunday excursion party to Weston, and were much delighted. They created a sensation in Weston, and Burgess, who wears long yellow hair, enjoyed the fact that he was supposed to be Buffalo Bill.
For Atchison.
The Buffalo Bill party left yesterday morning for Atchison. Indians and all.
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NEW OPERA HOUSE. SATURDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 8TH. THE FAMOUS SCOUT.
HON. W. F. CODY BUFFALO BILL
His Mammoth Combination DR. F. POWELL, (White River.)
HE-NU-KAW Handsomest Indian Girl in the World,
A Genuine Band of SIOUX INDIAN CHIEFS,
Supported by a POWERFUL DRAMATIC COMPANY.
The Great Border Drama-Prairie Waif. A grand Street Parade.
Fancy Rifle Shooting, by Buffalo Bill. Reserved Seats, $1.00, for sale at Crew Bros. W. F. CODY, Prop. and Manager. J E. OGDEN, Business Manager.