Buffalo Bill's Wild West In England (Part 1)

BUFFALO BILL'S "WILD WEST" IN MANCHESTER

Buffalo Bill's "Wild West" company has gone to Manchester, and will open there on the 17th inst. Its locale will be the race course, where it is proposed that they shall remain for no less a period than five months. A huge building is being erected for the entertainment in the yard adjoining the grand stand. This will provide sitting accommodation for 10,000 persons. The building is 600 feet long, some 200 feet wide, and 80 feet in height from the ground to the apex of the roof. To the left on entering the yard is a building which will be known as the Indian village or encampment. This is 200 feet long by 85 feet wide, and is half the height of the principal building. In the village the tents of the Indians will be pitched in the centre, and the tents of the cowboys and other performers will be placed along the sides and at the ends of the building. The camp will, of course, be open to all visitors to the entertainment. The interior will be set off with scenic effects and "properties," so as to give the camp as realistic an appearance as possible. At the far end of the great building a space has been cut off and will be fitted up as a stage. Here a variety of scenes illustrative of life in the Far West will be enacted. This will be an improvement upon the performance as given in London, where everything took place in the open air, without any change of scenery or "properties." The stage, as it may be called, is some 140 ft in length, and the proscenium is about 100 ft. wide, with a height of 50 ft. A semi-circular frame is placed at the rear of the stage area, and through this medium, by an ingenious mechanical arrangement, the scenery will be changed as required. At each end of the frame there will be a large cylinder upon which the scenery which is to be in one continuous piece of canvas, will be rolled, and the scenes can thus be easily changed as desired. Mr. Mat Morgan is repsonsible for the scenery. He has spent many years in America, and is thoroughly acquainted with the scene he has depicted. In addition to the semi-circular scenes at the back, "set" pieces will be introduced, and also "wings" and properties appropriate to the events represented. The scenery will form a series of tableaux, and teil a connected story. For instance, there will be a representation of a primitive forest in America, with the sun rising at dawn. On the stage there will be elk, buffaloes, and other animals, with Indians out on the hunt. Then follows a representation of landing of the Pilgrim Fathers on Plymouth Rock, the settlement of New England, and the rescue of General Smith by Pocahontas. Another scene represents a prairie fire. This will be one of the most realistic of the series, for in addition to the fire there will be a stampede of Indians, buffaloes, elk, and other animals, just as may sometimes be seen in the wild West. A further scene will illustrate the arrival of pioneers on the prairie land, the camping out as in actual life, and the ploughing and sowing of the land. Next there will be an illustration of an episode in the history of America-- the annihilation of General Custer's force by the Indians under Sitting Bull. Amongst Colonel Cody's Indians are fifteen or twenty who actually took part in the battle. The tableaux will conclude with a representation of a mining village. Thus, successful as was Buffalo Bill's "Wild West" in London, it is anticipated that it will be even more successful in Manchester.

THE "WILD WEST" SHOW MANCHESTER. Many thousands of the British public during summer witnessed the striking, and unique entertainment at Earls Court, London, which is known as "Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show." Nevertheless there was a numerous body of the provincial population which was unable to visit the metropolis accordingly, with the proverbial Yankee 'cuteness promoters of the exhibition have cut the Gordison by camping in the midst of Manchester—in fact, on a well known racecourse in that busy city. A building has here been erected, [?] throughout with the electric light and the amphitheatre, day and night, combination of cowboys and Red Indians all them genuine and unadulterated sons of the [?] illustrate life as it is witnesed in the "Wild West" of the United States - the Indian encampment [?] herds of buffalo and elk; the lassoing of animals [?] manner of robbing mail coaches; feats of [?] such as horsemanship, marksmanship, and a hundered and one items which form part of the ordinary existence of frontiersmen. Toe [?] claim to picture to the [?] by the aid of historical characters and [?] animals, a series of animated scenes and episodes depicting the reclamation of the prairie [?] the savage Indians and wil++d animals. The [?] figure, of course, in the show is Buffalo Bill [?] (Mr. William F. Cody), with whose adventurous [?] our readers doubtless are perfectly familiar; [?] whole entertainment will intensely interest the spectator. The representations of the several [?] prairie fires, and the blizzard (of which we [?] heard so much recently) are all most vivid and realistic. The Wild West, from beginning to end both instructive, exciding and amusing, and [?] be seen by all, whether young or old, male or female, who are tired of the monotonous entertainment usually provided in this country. Apropos of Buffalo Bill, there is told a story of him which is too good to be lost. It was height of his fame in London—when he divided time between drawing-rooms, the box-seat of [?] Charles Beresford's drag, and his [?] . Some cantankerous person called upon him "show cause" why his Exhibition should not be condemned as a nuisance. Buffalo Bill determined to engage the best solicitor in London for the defence, and instructed his secretary to the effect. The secretary knew as little about London lawyers as Buffalo Bill did, but he took advice from a friend—who, being a humorist, directed him to Mr. Freshfield, solicitor to the Bank of England. When the secretary arrived at Mr. Freshfield's [?] he insisted on seeing the principal in moment's delay. He was shown into Mr. Freshfield's room, and, producing the summons to show cause, flung it on the table under the [?] nose. "There," said he, "see that document? You've got to fight that case, and money's no option Mr. Freshfield looked up. "Who are you, sir?" asked quietly. "I, sir," was the answer, "am a representative of the Hon. W.F. Cody." "[?] who," asked Mr. Freshfield, not at all impressed, "of the Hon. W. F. Cody?" The visitor was profoundly shocked by this distressing ignorance. [?] himself, "What," he cried, "not know Buffalo Bill know Alexander the Great, Julius Ceaser, Mr. Gladstone, and Daniel Webster? Then I'm—[?] have this brief." And he went forth to find the[?] best lawyer in London.

BUFFALO BILL BURLESQUED AT THE CARDIFF THEATRE.

Amongst the many innovation which have taken place in Mr. Fletcher's pantomime at the Cardiff Theatre Royal since its commencement none has created more fun and laughter than the introduction of Buffalo Bill and his famous Wild West Show. The audiences which flocked to the theatre on the evenings of Monday and Tuesday to see the "only one" were no doubt disappointed. They did not see the firey untamed mustangs curvetting round the boards, the Red Indians did not scalp the innocent travellers, nor were any glass balls shattered by the unerring rifle of the renowned William. We cannot imagine that the confiding public expected to see the "Grand shooting acts," the "Terrific race for life by Wild Indians," or even witness the celebrated Sioux tribe "tame the fiery steed." Doubtless their minds were troubled with vague longings that, because it was possible, it might be probable. They did not anticipate seeing the numerous horde Colonel Cody located in London, and afterwards sent to Cottonopolis. It was not to be expected that an Indian village could be established on the commodious boardsof the Cardiff Theatre Royal. And, then, how about the ahppy hunting ground? Well, Buffalo Bill was announced, and if even William sent a letter of apology, they could still see Cinderella display her elegant foot and fit on the tiny-shoe, and when the time came for the celebrated white chief to make his appearance, the occupants of the pit and gallery moved uneasilyin their seats and waited expectantly. The hope of seeing the Indian village and its inhabitants had long since faded, but th ehope which ever lingers could not be conquered, and they all waited eagerly for William. It is but just to say that William did make his appearance, armed from head downwards. He was accompanied by the Yellow Chief, surnamed Yellow because he makes his enemies yell "Oh," and Spotted Dog was in attendance. He, it appeared, was fond of that tasty morsel. The audience also had the felicity of seeing a couple of Indians very much on the war path. In fact, said the audience, if this is not the real thing it is a good apology. The double-barrelled B shot the moon, and the Red Indians scalped one another with apparent enjoyment. We had the bottle trick, and "Nature's gentlement" exhibited their matchless skill with the rifle at a few inches from the target. The audience did notseem to be impressed with the last named trick, and, sad to say, they had by this time discovered that it was not the real thing they were witnessing. But, then, they had laughed and cried in succession, more at that part of the show than at any other, and they, therefore, could pardon the manager for having "taken them in." At the conclusion the artists were loudly applauded. Their burlesque was very clever, and they added greatly to their reputation. The introduction of the absurdity has infused a lot of "go" into the pantomime, and it will, no doubt, act as a great inducement to the public to attend.

A SIOUX BABY'S BAPTISM. On Saturday, at St Clement's, Ordsall Lane, Manchester, there was a very large congregation, on the occasion of the baptism of the daughter of Little Chief, who is a sub-chief of the Ogallala tribe of Sioux. The mother's name is Good Robe. Her first-born child died in London when Buffalo Bill was performing there, and this one was born in the Wild West camp on the 3rd inst. The Rev. J. J. Scott officiated Buffalo Bill interpreting the service. The child's name is to be Over the Sea among the tribe, but its baptismal name was Frances Victoria Alexandria, Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, of Salford, and Mrs. Whittaker were the godparents. The father, and the whole of the male Indians in camp, attended in war costume. A special chant was sung by the Indians present. Four chiefs, named Red Shirt, Eagle Heart, Little Bull, and Blue Horse, have presented the infant with a gift of ponies, in accordance with the custom of their country.

THE SUNDAY AMUSEMENTS OF THE UPPER CLASSES.

In the Upper House of Convocation for the province of Canterbury, one of the principal subjects for discussion was "The Sunday Amusements of the Upper Classes." It was initiated by the Bishop of Exter laying on the table a petition which set forth "That there has been of late very marked increase in the employment of the afternoon and evening of the Lord's Day by amusements of various kinds in the upper and fashionable classes of society. That the society papers (so-called) in particular, and occasionly the daily papers on Monday give more or less full accounts of entertainents which have taken place. Those of recent date include formal dinnerparties, smoking concerts, theatrical, and semi-theatrical performances, comic recitations, and amusing programmes of fun and frolic, exhibitions of jugglery, Sunday parade in Hyde Park, coach drives of clubs, the drags assembling at Hampton Court, Richmond, and other places of resort; the "Sunday up the river;" clubs and private houses, exhibitions (once at least) of the Wild West Show, Show Sunday in the Studio of Artists. Some of these are novelties in the way of Lord's day profanation. That the long lists of those present at these Sunday amusements which are given in the society papers embrace men of eminence in art, science, politics, and commerce, as well as mere dilettanti men and women whose prominence in only that of devotion to pleasure. That many of these amusements are public. That their presence testifies to very loose Sunday habits on the part of the rich, and great, and noble of the land. Such abuses of the Lord's Day evidence an insatiable desire for distraction and dissipation, a very low regard for the claims of the Word of God, and a determination to put away the restraints of religion." The petitioner, who numbered 104, asked counsel on the subject, and suggested a protest against Sunday excursion trains, and a remonstrance against the Sunday amusements and entertainments. The signatories included members of both Houses of Parliament, clergymen, and others. The discussion which arose on the question was adjourned, as it was held that the Bishop of London (who was absent) should be present, as in his disocsse the alleged Sunday desecration had been committed.