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on the very spot where on his return to Spain landed the world's greatest explorer, Christopher Columbus. Here the patrons were demonstratively eulogistic, the exhibition seeming to delight them greatly, savoring as it did of an addenda to their national history, recalling, after a lapse of 400 years, the resplendent glories of Spanish conquests under Ferdinand and Isabella, of the sainted hero, Cristobal Colon--1492, Columbus in America--1890, "BUFFALO BILL" and the native American Indian in Spain!
Recrossing the Mediterranean, via Corsica and Sardina (encountering a tremendous storm), Naples (the placid water of whose noble bay gave a welcome refuge) was reached, and in the shadow of "Old Vesuvius," which in fact formed a superbly grand scenic background, another peg in history was pinned by the visit of the cow-boy and Indian to the various noted localities that her abound; the ruins of Herculaneum, Pompeii, and the great crater of "the burning mountain," striking wonder and awe as well as giving geological and geographical knowledge to the stoical "Red man."
Then the famed of the famous cities" of the world, Rome, was next visited, to be conquered through the gentle power of intellectual interest in, and the reciprocal pleasure exchanged by its unusual visitors, the honor being given to "the outfit" as an organization, of attending a dazzling fete given in the Vatican by his Holiness Pope Leo XIII and of receiving the exalted Pontiff's blessing. The grandeur of the spectacle, the heavenly music, the entrancing singing, and impressive adjuncts, produced a most profound impression on the astonished children of the Prairie. The Wild West in the Vatican!!
The company were photographed in the Colosseum, which stately ruin seemed to silently and solemnly regret that its famed ancient arena was too small for this modern exhibition of the mimic struggle between that civilization (born and emanating from 'neath its very walls) and a primitive people who were ne'er dreamed of in a Rome's world-conquering creators' wildest flights of vivid imaginings.
Strolling through its arena, gazing at its lions' den, or lolling lazily on its convenient ruins, hearing its interpreted history--of Romulus, of Caeser, of Nero--roamed this band of Wild West Sioux (a people whose history in barbaric deeds equals, if not excels, the ancients Romans), now hand in hand in peace and firmly cemented friendship with the American frontiersmen--once
Image COLOSSEUM, ROME.
gladiatorial antagonists on the Western Plains. They, listening to the tale on the spot, of those whose "Morituri te Salutant" was the short prelude to a savage death, formed a novel picture in historic frame! The Wild West in the Colosseum!!
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Artistic Florence, practical Bologna, grand and stately Milan, and unique Verona were next added to the list. Verona's superb and well preserved "Arena", excelling in superficial area the Colosseum and holding 45,000 people, was specially granted for the Wild West's use: and the home of Shakespeare's love-lorn heroine placed another picture in the Red man's tour of the native land of his discoverer. The Indians were taken by "BUFFALO BILL" to picturesque Venice, and there shown the marvelous results of the ancient white man's energy and artistic architectural skill. They were immortalized by the Camera in the Ducal Palace, St. Marc's Piazza, and in the strange street vehicle of the Adriatic's erstwhile pride-- the gondola-- contributing another interesting object lesson to the distant juvenile student members of their tribe-- to testify more fully to their puzzled senses, the fact of strange sights and marvels whose existence is to be learned of in the breadth of knowledge necessitated by their future existence.
Moving via Innsbruck through the beautifully scening Tyrol-- the Bavarian capital, Munich, with its naturally artistic instincts gave a grand reception to the beginning of a marvelously successful tour through German-land which included Vienna (with an excursion on the "Blue Danube"), Berlin, Dresden, Leipsic, Magdeburg, Hanover, Brunswick, Hamburg, Bremen, Dusseldorf Cologne, along the Rhine past Bonn, Coblentz, "Fair Bingen on the Rhine" to Frankfurt, Stuttgart, and Strasburg. These historic cities-- with all their wealth of legendary interest, art galleries scientific conservatories, educative edifices, cathedrals, modern palaces, ancient ruins, army manceuvrings, fortification, commercial and varied manufacturing and agricultural industries, and the social, genial, friendly, quit customs of its people--should form good instruction to the
Image ARENA, VERONA.
rugged rovers of the American plains-- heirs to an empire as much more vast in extent and resources, as is the brightness of the diamond, after the skill expended by the lapidary, in dazzling brilliancy to the rude unpolished stone before man's industry lends value to its existence.
At Strasburg the management decided to close temporarily this extraordinary tour, and winter the company. Although in the proximity to points contemplated for a winter campaign (Southern France and the Rivera) this was deemed advisable on account of the first and only attack from envious humanity that the organization had encountered. This subject will be more fully referred to in another chapter, as it necessitated the manly but expensive voluntary procedure of taking the Indians to America, to meet face to face and deny the imputations of some "ten-cent" villifiers, whom circumstances of petty political "charity" and "I-am-ism", and native buoyancy permit at times to float temporarily on the surface of a cosmopolite communiy, and to whose ravings a too credulous public and press give hearing.
The quaint little village of Benfield furnished an ancient nunnery, and a castle with stables and a good range, here the little community of Americans spent the winter comfortably, being
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feasted and reted by the inhabitants, whose esteem they gained to such an extent that their departure was marked by a general holiday, assisting hands, and such public demonstrations of regret that many a rude cowboy when once again careering o'er the pampas of Texas will rest his weary steed while memory reverts back to the pleasant days and whole-souled friendships cemented at the foot of the Vosges mountains in disputed Alsace-Lorraine.
In Alsace-Lorraine I whose anomalous position menaces the peace, not only of the two countries interested, but the civilized world; whose situation makes it intensely--even sadly-- interesting, as the theatre of that future human tragedy, for which in the ear of mankind strains day and night, listening for detonations from the muzzles of the acme of invented mechanisms of destruction. The lurid-garbed angel of devastation hovers, careering through the atmosphere Image AFTER THE BATTLE--FIELD OF WOUNDED KNEE--CAMPAIGN 1890-91.
of the seemingly doomed valley, gaily laughing, shrieking exultingly at the white-robed angel of Peace, as the latter gloomily wanders--prayerful, tearful--hopelessly hunting, ceaselessly seeking the return of modern man's boasted newly created gods: Equity, Justice, Reason!
What a field for the vaunted champions of humanity, the leaders of civilization! What a neighborhood wherein to sow the seeds of "peace on earth and good will to all men." What a crucible for the universal panacea--Arbitration! What a test of the efficacy of prayer in damming up the conflicting torrents of Ambition, Cupidity, Passion, and Revenge, which threaten to color crimson the swift current of the Rhine, until its renown as the home of wealth and luxury be eclipsed by eternal notoriety as the Valley of Death!
Leaving the temporary colony under the charge of his director partner, MR. NATE SALSBURY (whose energy found occupation in attending to the details of the future), COL. CODY, the Indians, and your humble servant departed to America, arriving safely, and after refuting satisfactorily, by the Indians themselves, the base slanders that emanated in the imagination of notoriety-seeking busybodies, proceeded to the seat of the Indians, and the record of the Wild West's representatives on the spot, in the mutual interests of an excusably excited (and, to a certain extent, unintentionally wronged, yet headstrong and misguided) warlike people, and of the governmental authority, as well as of the peaceful solution of a serious situation--has been a matter of journalistic comment so recently as to need no reference here.
After a short, bloody, and mixed campaign, peace was restored, the Government authority was secured, and a selected band of Indians, composed equally of the "active friendly," headed by Chiefs "LONG WOLF," "NO NECK," "YANKTON," "CHARLEY," "BLACK HEART," and the "band of hostages" held by the military under Gen. Nelson A. Miles, at Fort Sheridan, and headed by the redoubtable "SHORT BULL," "KICKING BEAR," "LONE BULL," "SCATTER" and
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"REVENGE," were given special permission to come with "BUFFALO BILL" for a short European tour, and left Philadelphia in the chartered Red Star Streamer, Switzerland. The significance of this fact should still forever the forked tongue of the human serpents, who without rhyme, truth, or reason, have tried to stain a fair record--which has been justly earned, and by its very prominence, perhaps, difficult to maintain.
Coming direct from the snow-capped hills and blood-stained valleys of the Mauvaise Terre of last winter's central point of interest, it cannot be denied that an added chapter to Indian history, and the Wild West's peculiar province of truthfully exhibiting the same is rendered more valuable to the student of primitive man, and to the ethnologists' acquaintance with the strange people whose grand and once happy empire (plethoric in all its inhabitants needed) has been (rightfully wrongfully) brought thoroughly and efficiently under the control of our civilization, or (possibly more candidly confessed) under the Anglo-Saxon's commercial necessities. It occurs to the writer that our boasted civilization has a wonderful adaptability to the good soils, the productive portions and the rich mineral lands of the earth, while making snail-like pace and intermittent efforts among the frigid haunts of the Esquimaux, the tangled swamps of Africa, and the bleak and dreary rocks of Patagonia.
A sentimental view is thus inspired, when long personal association has brought the better qualities of the Indian to one's notice, assisting somewhat to dispel the prejudices engendered by years of savage brutal wars (conducted with a ferocious vindictiveness foreign to our methods). The savageness of Indian warfare, born in the victim, and probably intensified by the instinctive knowledge of a despairing weakness that renders desperate the fiery spirit of expiring resistance, which latter (in another cause) might be held up for courage and tenacity as bright as that recorded in the pages dedicated to the heroes of Thermoylae.
After all, in what land, in what race, nationality, or community can be found the vaunted vestal home of assured peace? And where is human nature so perfected that circumstances might not awaken the dormant demon of man's innate savageness?
But then again the practical view of the non-industrious use of nature's cornucopia of world-needed resources and the inevitable law of the survival of the fittest, must "bring the flattering unction to the soul" of those--to whom the music of light, work, and progress, is the charm, the gauge of existence's worth, and to which the listless must hearken, the indolent attend, the weak imbibe strength from--whose ranks the red man must join, and advancing with whose steps march cheerily to the tune of honest toil, industrious peace, and placid fireside prosperity.
Passing rapidly through the, to them, marvelous experience of the rail road, and its flying express train, the sight of towns, villages, cities, over valley, plain, and mountain--to the magic floating house (the steamer), sadly learning, while struggling with mal de mer, the existence of the "big waters" that tradition alone had bruited to incredulous ears, was passed the first portion of a tempestuous voyage. Its teachings were of value in bringing to the proud spirits of the self-reliant Dakotans the terrible power, of nature, and of the white man's marvelous skill, industry, and ability in overcoming the dangers of the deep, the reward of patience being found in a beautifully smooth approach to land. The Scilly Islands and a non-fog encumbered journey up the English Channel--unusually bright with sunshine--the grand panorama of England's majestic shores--her passing fleet of countless examples of all kinds of marine architecture, the steaming up the River Scheldt with its dyked banks and beautifully cultivated fields, opened to the marveling nomad his first edition of Aladdin, and landed him, wonderingly surprised at the sight of thousands of white men peacefully greeting his arrival, in the busy commercial mart of Antwerp.
After introducing the Indians to hotel life for the first time, a tour of the city was made, among the notable points visited being the Cathedral which grand edifice aroused their curiosity, the grand picture, Rubens' "Descent from the Cross,"
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bringing to the minds of all--white men, 'friendlies,' and "hostiles"--the contributing cause of the late regret able campaign--the "Messiah craze"-- an interest intensified by the fact that the aesthetic-looking "SHORT BULL," and some of the others, had been the leading fanatical believers (probably even apparently conscientious), promoters, and disciples of the still mysterious religious disease that lately agitated the Indian race in America. In fact, after the death of "SITTING BULL," the central figures of this strange belief were "SHORT BULL" as the religious leader, and "KICKING BEAR" as the War Chief. Grouped together with "SCATTER," "REVENGE," and others, in moody contemplation of this subject was the late defier of a mighty nation of 65,000,000 people--nearly all of whom teach or preach that truthfulness of the picture's traditions. A man in two short months transported from the indescribably desolate, almost inaccessible natural fortresses of the Bad Lands (Mauvaise Terre) of Dakota to the ancient city of Antwerp, gazing spellbound on the artistic reproduction, by the renowned artist, of the red man's late dream--"The Messiah." Respect for his thoughts and the natural stoical nature of the Indian leaves to future opportunity an interesting interrogative of what passed through the mind of the subtle chief. Suffice to say that surprise at the white man's many-sided character, and the greatness of his resources in the past and present, was beginning to dawn more and more on the new tourists. Arriving the next day at Strasburg--introduction to the cowboys, the camp life, the Cathedral, the great clock, the fortifications, etc., was followed by the delight of each brace on receiving his pony, and once more with history friend, the horse, the Ogallalla and Brule in a fewdays felt as though "Richard was himself again."
Joining more heartily than was expected in the mimic scenes of the "Wild West," soon the ordinary routine of daily duties seemed a pleasant diversion. A grand reception in Strasburg, the tour resumed to Carlsruhe, Mannheim--including a visit to Heidelberg Castle--Mayence, Wiesbaden, to Cologne (the Rhine legends of Lurline, etc., giving interest to the Peau Rogue en route), Dortmund, Duisburg, Crefeld and Aix-la-Chapelle, terminated a tour of Germany filled with the most pleasant recollections. The tomb of Charlemagne (Carolo Magno)! The history of this great warrior was interpreted to attentive ears, a lesson being instilled by the relation that after all his glory, his battles, triumphs, and conquests in which he defeated the dusky African prototypes of the present visitors to his tomb, peace brought him to pursue knowledge, to cultivate that arts and sciences, and that after two hundred years of entombment his body was found by Otto, the Saxon, sitting erect upon a granite throne, the iron crown upon his head, imperial sceptre in right hand, while his left rested on an open volume of Holy Scriptures, the index finger pointed to the well-known passage.--"What will it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Here by the grave of the founder of Christianity stood the latest novitiates to its efforts, who may yet, in following its teachings, it is hoped, make such progress through its aid and education as to furnish one of their race capable of holding the exalted chieftainship--the Presidency of their native land--the Empire of the West. Who can say--why not?
Belgium--Brussels, its Paris, brings vividly to mind, in its semblance of language, people habits, beauty, wealth, culture and appreciation remembrances of our delightful sojourn in the capital of the how-truly-named La Belle France. Visit Waterloo. From Pine Ridge to historic Waterloo! Our immense success, courteous treatment, the repeated visits and kindly interest of that most amiable lady, the Queen and enthusiastic horsewoman, her pleasant reference to London in the Jubilee year, combined to increase the gratitude the Wild West Voyagers feel for the treatment everywhere received in Europe since, in 1887, we invaded "Old England," and pitched our tents in the World's Metropolis--London. So, after a short season in Antwerp, our motley cargo set sail across the North Sea to make a complete our farewell visit to our cousins of the isle, revel in a common language (bringing a new pleasure to the ear), hoping to receive a continuance of that amicable appreciation of our humble efforts that the past seemed to justify. Landing at Grimsby and proceeding to Leeds in Yorkshire we commenced a provincial tour of Great Britain. The reception everywhere accorded us was so hearty in its nature that a sentiment of relationship insensibly permeated the Yankee exiles. From Leeds we went to Liverpool the great shipping port, thence to Manchester where old friendships were renewed and new ones formed--a notable event being, a benefit to nineteen of the Balaclava survivors (who were indigent), resulting in great success, not only financially, but from an historic point, because of the participation in our performance of three generations, the past, present and future English soldier--in the battle scarred veterans; the Prince of Wales' Own (Lancers) and the boy cadets of the city. Sheffield with its busy factories was next visited and the Indian found a new cause for amazement in the world's cutlery city. Stoke-on-Trent with its marvelous Wedgewood ware works and other inumerable pottery industries gave another lesson in Caucasian progress and opened to the Red man new wonders in the art of table decoration. Nottingham and its busy lace looms; Leicester of historic interest