16
[?] eat for him. He was not [?] usually [][] for many of his battles but [having?] killed a few men and [required?] a considerable degree of notoriety as a quick made with his pistol and a dead shot he was caught for and compelled to fight. The country was full of bad men, murder. [our?][?] who committed reckless deeds simply for the reputation it gave them. These fellows used to hunt Bill up every time he [?] into a place and they generally found him when they looked for him. In all the fights he had not one even succeeded in [?] down. [?] fatal [?] [?] [his?] certain [him?] saved him. The other [?] was quietly buried for [?] of Bill subjects ever wealth [away?] and get [cured?] so they could make him [?] trouble. The stories published about him in Harper's Magazine about '61 or '05, were true in all their substance. The most improbable one, his fight with the M. [?] gang is correct as there given. On that occasion, Bill fought single banded ten able-bodied, bloodthirsty [?] armed to the teeth, and killed them all. The fight occurred in a small [compound?] was without doubt the biggest [?] ever caught by any one man. Poor Bill. A [?] [?] sneaked up on him [?] was playing cards with some friends [?] [?], put the [nozzle] [?] [?] his head and fired, Bill [?] [?] [?] him. He came from [?] place in La Salle County, Illinois. [?] on the 18th of August, 1876, that [?] [murder?] [?]. [?] [?] [?] [front?] [of?] my own home, either, [?] the pieasinan. I was born [there?] in Scott county, Iowa. [?] [?] [survey?] the town of [Davenport?], and lived there in a number of [?]. In 1850 he moved his family, me among the rest to Nebraska. I'll never forget my first experience with Barlington. You know there were no trains then to take you on at Davenport [?] the evening and [land?] [you?] [at?] Council Bluffs [next?] morning, and so we, like everybody else went overland. In wagons, [?] we spent the night in Burlington. And next morning I got up and went out and [enjoy?] myself. The town wasn't as big as some places I've seen since, but it was big enough for me to [wonder?] around in for half a forenoon and I wouldn't [have?] found y folks [?] [?] [they?] had [?] [?] to hunt [?]. I've [?] here [?] since but I never [?] again. [?] my father settled out in Nebraska [?] was [undetermined?] Free Soil [man?] and was bound that Nebraska should come into the union a Free Soil state. He hurried to lay out the town of Devenworth and was quite prominent in the early struggle between the Free Soil and Pro. [?] parties. He was killed in one of the [dispute?] fights that made all that [suction?] [?] land of sorrow.
17
Well, we spent the night in Burlington, and next morning I got up and went out and lost myself. The town wasn't at bg as some places I've seen since, but it was big enough for one to wander around in for half a forenoon and I wouldn't have found my folks here if they hadn't turned out to hunt too. I've been here several times since but I never got lost again."
"Yes, my father settled out in Nebraska. He was a determined Free Soil man and was bound that Nebraska should come into the Union a Free Soil state. He helped to lay out the town of Deavenworth and was quite prominent in the early struggle between the Free Soil and Pro Slavery parties. He was killed in one of the desperate fights that made all that section a land of sorrow."
"He must have come in contact with John Brown, then?"
"Oh yes. Indeed. Brown was a neighbor of ours and I used to see him almost every day. There are none of those western celebrities who have lived within the last thirty years whom I have not seen."
"What rifle do you use in your state work?"
"I use a common Winchester. I prefer that rifle because it is so rapid in the operation that I can give a more fancy exhibition with it. On the plains where I have room I shoot generally with my heavy revolvers or with a 44 calibre Winchester, and often with a shot gun. I have a line rifle that I use in long distance shooting, made by Higby, the famous Irish gunsmith. I consider it the most accurate shooting gun at long range that I ever saw. I can kill willow grouse with it shot after shot at two hundred yards. Willow grouse are smaller than your common prairie chickens are here. I am so constantly shooting at flying targets with my rifle that I can hit a smaller object when it is passes through the air than I can when it is at rest. When shooting at a stationary object I wait too long. In shooting at an object in the air I pull just exactly at the instance my sights cover the [?]. In fact I am so acomstomed to that kind of work that I can go out with my Winchester and get twice as many prairie chickens in a day as any man can with a shot gun. I will knock one sitting and keep on knocking them until they are more than hundred yards away. I frequently kill chickens on the wing with my rifle at a hundred yards."
Which way are you bound?
I am now on a short trip from the east to California. I did not intend going out at all myself on the road, but joined the camp which has been playing without me, a couple weeks ago. I put this company out only be-
18
BUFFALO BILL.
William F. Cody- or "Buffalo Bill," as he is generally known- the great scout and Indian fighter, will make his first appearance in Keokuk for several years, at the Keokuk opera house, next Friday evening, presenting his thrilling border drama, "The Prairie Wait." We remember on his last visit here the opera house was unable to hold the audience that assembled to witness his play. He still continues to draw crowded houses, as the following from the Cleveland Herald will show:
The story of Monday night at the Academy was repeated last night. A house so crowded that hundreds failed to gain admittance, and an audience wholly captured by the remarkably effective performance, attested the hold it has acquired upon the affections of Cleveland theatre goers. To-day he gave a matinee, as well as an evening performance, and it may go without saying that both will draw crowded audiences. It is folly to moralize upon Mr. Cody's plays. He has captured the popular heart, knows how to keep it, and if that is not an actor's "business" we know not what that business is.
19
BUFFALO BILL.
Buffalo Bill, the great scout, and his company, visit this city next Friday evening, when they present the sengational border drama, "The Prairie Waif," at the Keokuk opera house, with a band of Pawnee Indians, special scenery, etc. Bill never fails to draw a crowded house. The Cleveland Leader says: "Meanwhile, at the Academy of Music, Buffalo Bill and his combination drew an immense crowd. The house was not only full, but long before the curtain rose people were turned away from the doors because there was not even standing room. For half an hour Bank street was full of a double line of people, one going towards the academy, the other returning because there was no room for them obtainable in the house."
20
BUFFALO BILL.
This noted scout and India fighter, with his excellent company, will present the border drama, "The Prairie Waif" at the Keokuk opera house. Of course he will have a crowded house, as he always does. The Reading, Pa, Daily Eagle says:
"The Prairie Waif," with Buffalo Bill, Mias Lydia Denier, Jule Keen, a band of Pawnee Indians, and a brass band and orchestra, brought two fine houses to manager Miller yesterday as a Thanksgiving offering. Buffalo Bill's athletic figure was the admiration of the audience, and Jule Keen's "Dutchman" frequently convulsed the house with laughter. There was a street parade at noon, which attracted a considerable number of spectators.