SCR00007.178

THE TOPICAL TIMES.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22nd, 1887.

LONDON'S FAREWELL TO THE WILD WEST.

Farewell, ye hero of the far Wild West,
'Gainst whose departure we would not protest;
You came, you conquered, now you take your leave,
And many are they, who at parting grieve.
Farewell, Nate Salsbury, all indeed confess
That you were foremost in the show's success.
Good John Burke too, alas from thee we part,
Kind genial friend, with honest monster heart.
Farewell, Buck Taylor, too, who had a spill
And broke your leg whilst riding in quadrille.
And oh, ye Redshirt, native warrior bold,
Would you could speak! Our love must be untold.
Farewell, ye orator, for many a day
Your voice sonorous will ring far away.
Farewell, dear Annie Oakley, whose great skill
And charming manners captures hearts at will.
Farewell to neatest tent with flowers arrayed,
Where many a visit oft to thee we paid.
Farewell to Broncho Charlie's golden hair,
That's turned the head of many a maiden fair.
Farewell, Tom Webb, who never had a fall;
Jim Mitchell, too, the Wild West cow-boy tail.
And Giant Johnson, who from choky gay,
Is welcomed back in Wild West camp to-day.
Farewell, ye Californian belle, Miss Lilly,
Whose shooting's turned the English public silly.
Farewell, ye mustang, and ye bucking horse,
Who tried your best the Cowboys all to toss.
Farewell, ye Buffaloes, ye prancing steer,
Who jumped the fence and made the public cheer.
Farewell to old John Nelson, scout and guide,
Who always on the Deadwood Coach did ride.
And oh, ye pop-corn nigger, dear "Wall-Wall,"
Who broke the heart of many a servant gal.
You've done your best to let the world all know,
"It's sweet as honey and as white as snow."
To all you pretty girls who ride so well,
We say to thee the fatal word farewell!
Farewell to one and all; to part 'tis pain,
All hope ere long to see you back again!

They were telling some rather smart narratives of exploits with the rifle, à la "Little Sure Shot," when a stranger looked in, and the following was his contribution:

"Well, lads, I was out shootin', and I snapped at a squirrel. The cap exploded, but the gun didn't go off. So I took it down from my shoulder, and looked down the barrel, and as I saw the charge was just starting, I brought the gun to my shoulder again and killed that squirrel."