86
"After playing in the leading western cities and running the gauntlet of Boston culchaw, the combination began an engagement at Niblo's in New York City, which continued for weeks. There, as elsewhere, Cody and his players were the topic of conversation, comment and commendation; such particularly was the case with respect to the former. His magnificent presence, graceful movements, natural adaptability to his new vocation, and other personal attributes brought to his acceptance the most gratifying expressions of appreciation from audiences select and critical. He was also made a guest of the Americus club, attended the Tweed ball at Irving hall, and generally led the life of one whose lines were cast in places filled with sunshine.
"Of the compilers and company Andy Burt is in 'Frisco on recruiting service, Major Burke remains in a managerial capacity with Cody, Joe Winter is a farmer living near Elmira, N. Y., and Sid France is ill at Terre Haute, while Texas Jack, Morlacchi, Ned Buntline, John Allen and Walter Fletcher have crossed over the beautiful river and sleep beneath the shade of the trees that line its banks."
87
A luncheon party was given by Colonel W. F. Cody, Wednesday in his tent at the Wild West camp to a distinguished party, including H. H. Prince Isenburg-Birstein, Prince Roland Bonaparte, Baronde Hesse Wartegg, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Chatfield-Taylor, Miss Pullman, Mrs. and Miss Barnes, Miss Peck, Mrs. Holmes, and others. After witnessing the performance the party was driven to Midway plaisance, where the German village was inspected and tea taken at the old German castle.
Chicago May 21/93
88
Tribune May 21
Success of the Wild West.
Buffalo Bill appears to be undergoing again the experience he met with m London. The big arena at Sixty-fourth street and Stony Island avenue, where his hordes of Indians and Tartars and bands of soldiers are giving what is undoubtedly the best and most exciting exhibitions of rough riding, marksmanship and other feats of wildlife, is overflowed with spectators twice daily, notwithstanding the fact that there is seating capacity under the ample roofs for 18,000 people. There is a spirit of recklessness that pervades the entire performance which affords an absorbing interest for all kinds of people. The arena is situated at a point where all means of transportation to the World's Fair come to a common center, so there is but little more difficulty in reaching the place than if it was located downtown. Not the least interesting part of the Wild West is the camp of the Indian and Asiatic riders, and the lines of tents and tepees are visited daily by hundreds of sightseers.
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Post, May 22
Among the foremost advocates of a closed Sunday at the fair are Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts, of Worcester, Mass: Buffalo Bill of the Wild West show; Rev. Herrick Johnson, of the McCormick Theological Seminary, and President Jim Hart, of the Chicago base ball club.
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Dispatch May 12
CHIEF OF SCOUTS
Frontier Hero Whose Name Will Live in History.
Colonel William F. Cody and His Valuable Services to His Country.
His Valor and Courage the Theme of the Great Writers of the War-Praised by Custer, Logan and Sheridan, and Indorsed by Buell, Emory, Merritt and Sherman- Endured the Terrors of the West for the Protection of the People and Not for Cheap Notoriety.
In the mind of the rising generation there exists considerable doubt as to whether or not such a thing as a real live frontier scout ever existed. Yet along the borders of the Arkansas River and its numerous tributaries, on the sides of the black hills, are hundrends of little graves where no loving hand has set even a headstone to mark the spot where a scout lies, while on the great prairies and in the river bottoms and valleys hundreds of little heaps of whitened bones show where faithful scouts, in twos and threes, have fallen beneath the shower of hostile arrows.
Greatest of Them All.
Among those who have survived the awful privations of this hazardous life, the most conspicuous of all the heroes of the plains is Colonel W. F. Cody, or, as he is better known, Buffalo Bill. During the past thirty years no name has been so often mentioned in the war office reports as that of Colonel Cody. In the writings of Generals Custer, Logan and Sheridan, as well as many other famous Indian fighters, Colonel Cody is a prominent figure and is held to the light as the ideal scout, a courageous soldier and a patriot of the stamp to which the west owes its present prosperity. No thoughtful person can hesitate to give such men as Wild Bill Hitchcock. California, Frank Gruard, gallant Jim White and Buffalo Bill the undying credit they deserve. Of these brave men who guided our little frontier regiments in and out of hostile countries, who role by night and day to fight and die beside the wagon train or adobe cabin of some unfortunate settler, Buffalo Bill alone remains. The history of his life is but part of his country.
Name Lives in History.
Thousands of letters from such men as Generals Sheridan, Custer, Logan, Buell, Emory, Merritt and Sherman show how high Colonel Cody was held in their estimation and how much confidence these warriors placed in his abilities and advice. In late years Colonel J. W. Forsyth and General Miles have shown the same confidence, which the records of the war department prove was never violated. Though in the service of his country many years and the hero of a thousand desperate rides, and though he could justly claim the credit of so dozen battles, Colonel Cody has asked nothing from the government beyond the ordinary pay of a scout when on actual duty, and, while holding a colonel's commission, he has always preferred to assume the more dangerous duties of a scout.
It is as it should be, that the honor or conveying to the residents of foreign lands at least a faint idea of the hardships and privations that marked the onward march of the pioneers in bygone days, should devolve upon the man whose very name was held in reverence by those of weaker sex who, by chance or fortune, had found their way into the far west; whose name has in war times brought something akin to fear to the stoic red man.
Buffalo Bill is proud of his title; he thinks more of the uncouth appellation than of the military handle "Colonel," which his army connection entitles him to use. Nor is this altogether to be wondered at. It is under this cognomen that he learned the cunning of the copper-skinned aboriginals and became an adept in fighting them with their own weapon - devilish stealth. Under this title W. F. Cody earned the reputation of being the "greatest scout on earth."