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LOS ANGELES, CAL., January 7, 1887.
COL. WM. F. CODY: DEAR SIR,- Having visited your great exhibition in St. Louis and New York City, I desire to congratulate you on the success of your enterprise. I was much interested in the various life-like representations of Western scenery, as well as the fine exhibition of skilled marksmanship and magnificent horsemanship. You not only represent the many interesting features of frontier life, but also the difficulties and dangers that have been encountered by the adventurous and fearless pioneers of civilization. The wild Indian life as it was a few years ago will soon be a thing of the past, but you appear to have selected a good class of Indians to represent that race of people, and I regard your exhibition as not only very interesting but practically instructive. Your services of the frontier were exceedingly valuable. With best wishes for your success, believe me very truly yours,
NELSON A. MILES, Brigadier-General, U. S. A.
"HE IS KING OF THEM ALL.,"
HEADQUARTERS MOUNTED RECRUITING SERVICES,
ST. LOUIS, MO., May 7, 1885.
MAJOR JOHN M. BURKE: DEAR SIR,-I take pleasure in saying that in an experience of about thirty years on the plains and in the mountains, I have seen a great many guides, scouts, trailers, and hunters, and Buffalo Bill (W. F. Cody) is the king of them all. He has been with me in seven Indian fights, and services have been invaluable. Very respectfully yours,
EUGENE A. GARR, Brevet Major-General, U. S. A.
JERSEY CITY, 405 BERGEN AVE, February 7. 1887.
HON. WM. F. CODY: MY DEAR SIR,-I fully and with pleasure endorse you as the veritable "Buffalo Bill," U. S. Scout, serving with the troops operating against hostile Indians in 1868, on the plains. I speak from personal knowledge, and from reports of officers and others, with whom you secured renown by your services as a scout and successful hunter. Your sojourn on the frontier at a time when it was a wild and sparsely settled section of the continent, fully enables you to portray that in which I have personally participated-the continent, fully enables you to portray that in which I have personally participated-the Pioneer, Indian Fighter, and Frontiersman. Wishing you every success, I remain very respectfully yours, H. C. BANKHEAD, Brigadier-General, U. S. A.
"SPRING THAWS REVEAL BAD GUIDING."-Dodge.
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20 WASHINGTON, D.C. February 8, 1887.
MR. CODY was chief guide and hunter to my command, when I commanded the District of North Platte, and he performed all his duties with marked excellence. W.H. EMORY, Major-General, U.S.A.
HEADQUARTERS 7TH CAVALRY, FORT MEAD, DAKOTA TERRITORY, February 14, 1887. MY DEAR SIR,--Your army career on the frontier, and your present enterprise of depicting scenes in the Far West, are so enthusiastically approved and commended by the American people and the most prominent men of the U.S. Army, that there is nothing left for me to say. I feel sure your new departure will be a success. With best wishes, I remain, yours truly, JAMES W. FORSYTH, Col. 7th Cavalry.
HOTEL RICHMOND, WASHINGTON, D.C. January 9, 1887. W.F. CODY (Buffalo Bill) was with me in the early days, when I commanded a Battation of the 5th Cavalry, operating against the hostile Sioux. He filled every position and met every emergency with so much bravery, competence and intelligence as to command the general admiration and respect of the officers, and become Chief of Scouts of the Department. All his successes have been conducted on the most honorable principles. W.B. ROYALL, Colonel 4th Cavalry, U.S.A.
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"BUFFALO BILL'S" HOME AND HORSE RANCH ON THE OLD FIGHTING GROUND OF THE PAWNEE AND SIOUX.
HEADQUARTERS 1ST CAVALRY, FORT CUSTER, M.T. I often recall your valuable services to the Government, as well as to myself, in years long gone by, especially during the Sioux difficulties, when you were attached to my command as Chief of Scouts. Your indomitable perseverance, incomprehensible instinct in discovering the trails of the Indians, particularly at night, no matter how dark or stormy, your physical powers of endurance in following the enemy until overtaken, and your unflinching courage, as exhibited on all occassions, won not only my own esteem and admiration, but that of the whole command. With my best wishes for your success, I remain your old friend. N.A.M. DUDLEY, Colonel 1st Cavalry, Brevet Brigadier-General, U.S.A.
TALLAHASSEE, FLA., January 12, 1887. HON. WILLIAM F. CODY:--I take great pleasure in recommending you to the public, as a man who has a high reputation in the army as a Scout. No one has ever shown more bravery on the Western plains that yourself. I wish you success in your proposed visit to Great Britain. Your obedient servant, JNO. H. KING, Brevet Major-General, U.S.A.
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LASSOING WILD HORSES ON THE PLATTE IN OLD DAYS. -- LINES INSPIRED ON WITNESSING THE PRAIRIE CHIEF CARESSING HIS BABY DAUGHTER, LITTLE IRMA CODY.
Only a baby's fingers patting a brawny cheek. Only a laughing dimple in the chin so soft and sleek. Only a cooling babble, only a frightened tear. But it makes a man both brave and kind To have them ever near. The hand that seemed harsh and cruel, nerved by a righteous hale.
As if cleft the heart of the Yellow Hand in revenge of Custer's fate. Has the tender touch of a woman. As, rifle and knife laid by, He coos and tosses the baby, Darkling "apple of his eye." -Richmond.
MR. NATE SALSBURY, VICE-PRESIDENT AND MANAGER. Born 1846, February 28th in Freeport, Ill., the family being descendants of the early Vermont settlers; went out with the first Illinois troops; served through the entire Rebellion; was the youngest enlisted soldier in the Army of the Cumberland; wounded three times; is a member of Post II, G.A.R., Department of Massachusetts; went on the stage in 1868; has acted before every English-speaking public in the world.
The Amusement Department will be under the personal supervision of this eminent actor, whose successful career is now a matter of American Stage History. Years of continued success as a caterer to the amusement loving public of this country, Australia, India and Europe, both as actor and manager, is a guarantee that the "Wild West" will be presented in a manner and style commensurate with his well-known managerial ability and artistic judgment. MR. SALSBURY long ago invested heavily in the cattle business in Montana, and is now part owner of one of the largest and most valuable ranches in the Northwest. During his repeated visits to the same he became impressed with the scenes and episodes witnessed, and thought of the feasibility of presenting them as far as practicable to the citizens of the East.
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An interchange of opinions with Col. Cody disclosed a similar intention, so that to the fertile brains of MESSRS. CODY AND SALSBURY we are indebted for the first conjuring up of this novel project. They spoke of it years ago, and SALSBURY went to Europe to see if it would be advisable to take such a show on the Contient. Meanwhile, with MR. SALSBURY'S knowledge, "BUFFALO BILL" started the enterprise to see if it could be made successful in this country. Last year's experiences were proof that it would, and now all hands will join in getting up a "Wild West" show that will be remarkable in all respects.
JOHNNIE BAKER - THE YOUNG MARKSMAN.
JOHNNIE BAKER was born at O'Fallon's Bluffs, on the banks of the South Platte River, in Western Nebraska, in the year 1870. His father is the well-known "Old Lew Baker, the ranchman," and was the owner of Lew Baker's O'Fallon's Bluff Ranch, in its day an important landmark. This place was one of the most noted on the great overland trail - the scenes, incidents, Indian attacks, etc., belonging to exhaustive pages in the early history of that, in old times, exposed and dangerous section. Here Johnie's babyhood was passed in unconscious proximity to dangers seldom courted by the most sturdy, and his first "bug-a-boo" was not of the maternal imagining, but an existing fact, continually threatening, in the shape of the heartless, savage Sioux. Cradled amid such pioneer surroundings, and dandled on the knees of all the most celebrated frontiersmen, the genuine old buckskin trappers - the first frontier invaders - his childhood witnesses the declining glories of the buffalo-hunters' paradise (it being the heart of their domain), and the advent of his superior, "the long horn of Texas," and his necessary companion, "The Cow-boy,"
The appearance of these brave, generous, free-hearted, self-sacrificing rough riders of the plains, literally living in the saddle, enduring exposure, hunger, risk of health and life as a duty to the employer, gave him his first communion with society beyond the sod cabin threshold, and impressed his mind, as well as directed his aspirations, to an emulation of the manly qualities neccessary to be ranked a true American Cow-boy.
When the Pony Express, the Stage Coach, adn the wagon-trains were supplanted by the steam-horse, Baker's station became useless, and "Old Lew" removed bag and baggage to North Platte, a little town of magical railroad growth. Here he built a fine house, which became the headquarters of the "old-timers," and many a tenderfoot can remember the thrilling incidents related of "life on the trail" - a life that now belongs alone to history and to romance - while Old Lew dispensed hospitality like a prince. But the ways of "city life", a too big heart, of which the "shiftless, genial attinities" and rounders took due advantage, caused his former prosperity to be a remembrance only, and Johnnie set to work manfully, for one of his age, to lend a helping hand. Perfectly at home in the saddle, he was never content unless with some cow-boy outfit, or at Mr. Cody's (whose homestead, extensive horse and cattle ranches, are near), where his active spirit found congenial associations, until he became recognized as "BUFAALO BILL'S boy." In the winter months he occasionally went to school, and being an apt scholar, has a fair education. Mr. Cody, on organizing his distinctly American exhibition, could not leave little Johnnie out. He can be seen every day with the Wild
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West, mounted on his fiery little mustang, riding, roping, shooting --repeating on the mimic scene of his own experiences, and the boyhood life of his elder, more famed associates; and any boy of his own age, who can excel him in shooting, riding, and lassoing can "break every man in the outfit," as there are none who will not risk their pile on "THE COW-BOY KID."
ANNIE OAKLEY. This celebrated Girl Shot was born at Woodland, Ohio. Ever since a toddling child she has had an inherent love for fire-arms and hunting, and at the age of ten she, as often as ammunition was obtainable, would smuggle her brother's musket and steal into the woods where game at that time was plentiful. Naturally, she was a good shot, and came home well supplied with game. At the age of twelve she was presented with a light, muzzle-loading shotgun and also a breech-loading rifle. Witht the shot-gun she improved rapidly, and became such a fine shot that she rarely missed a quail or pheasant, and at the age of fourteen she had paid off a mortgage on her mother's homestead with money earned from the game and skins shot and trapped by herself alone--while her aim with rifle was so true that she was debarred from entering in the turkey matches which were the popular holiday amusement in that part of the country.
Then came a local reputation; and with improved fire-arms she attracted wider attention, and for the past several years she has been shooting before the public with great success, and although she has many times beaten all records, like the modest little girl she is she never uses the word Champion in connection with her name. "SITTING BULL," the great Indian Chief, after seeing her shoot in St. Paul, Minn., adopted her into the Sioux tribe, giving her the name of "WATANYA CICILLA," or "LITTLE SURE SHOT."
The first two years before the public she devoted to Rifle and Pistol Shooting, and there is very little in that line she has not accomplished. At Tiffin, Ohio, she once shot a ten cent piece held between the thumb and forefinger of an attendant at a distance of 30 feet. In April, 1884, she attempted to beat the best record made at balls thrown in the air--the best record was 984 made by Dr. Ruth. MISS OAKLEY used a Stevens' 22 cal. rifle and broke 943. In February, 1885, she attempted the feat of shooting 5,000 balls in one day, loading the gun herself. In this feat she used three 16-gauge hammer guns; the balls were thrown from three traps 15 yards rise; out of the 5,000 shot at, she broke 4,772; on the second thousand she only missed 16, making the best 1,000 ball record, 984. Besdies the thousands of exhibitions she has given in Europe and America, she has shot over fifty matches and tournaments, winning forty-one prizes; her collection of medals and fire-arms, all of which have been won or presented to her, is considered one of the finest in the world.
MISS OAKLEY is also an accomplished equestrienne, and her success with the public has been greatly enhanced by the fact that in dress, style and execution she is as original as she is attractive.
ANNIE OAKLEY.