6
On an early train yesterday morning and in the same coach were a merchant from Bagdad accompanied by two "Frenchified" attendants. A Parisian dealer in curios, Commissioner Moore of Minnesota; Judge Henry P. Ware, of Salem Oregon, three animal trainers attached to the German circus, a group of Prussian metal workers, an Armenian "tumbler" or athlete, a detail of English soldiers, colonial cavalrymen who will participate in the big British military tournament several malodorous and Chattering Javanese and the "Honorable" Buffalo Bill.
"Buffalo Bill" in personal appearance, despite his prolonged stay abroad, remains the same striking type of that class of heroes which popularized the editions of Beadle's dime novels and the American penny-dreadfuls. He still wears his white sombrero, his mustachios and imperial and his long hair, all of which is now tinged with gray. The association of princes, dukes and the swells of Belgravia has apparently not dulled the democratic instincts of the Nebraska ranch owner, although it may have swelled his girth a bit. Cody is probably one of the most generally known men alive. There was probably not a man in the town yesterday morning who saw him who did not recognize the man.
Places of Comfort.
Two restaurants are now open, under the management of the Wellington Catering company, on the grounds, and are being liberally patronized. One of them is in the administration building and the other in the south wing of the horticultural building. The service is at present indifferent, but doubtless will be improved in the near future. Prices charged for food are no higher than those asked in clean and respectable cafes uptown, and the quality of the food is fairly good. The steady patronage of the employes on the grounds is divided between the restaurants and those hotels and eating-houses in the vicinity of the grounds that fortunately for their proprietors are prepared to entertain guests. Only a small number of hotels especially designed for the care of exposition visitors will be ready to receive them by May 1. Work is being pushed with vigor by the projectors of thousand or more mercantile enterprises in the neighborhood of the park, and the streets leading to the gates will before the summer is over form avenues of wonders and interest leading up to the grand and colossal "show in the big tent." Henry Murray, the distinguished English statistician, in writing of expositions of the past devotes a large amount of space and time to the consideration of what he calls "the fringe" of the national exhibitions, and regards them as the sources of valuable information and entertainment. The bazars, shops, cafes, street stands, and the wares of the street peddlers, all of which for obvious reasons are and will be excluded from the park grounds, will constitute a great exhibition in themselves.
7
Chicago Record
April 14/93
Indians May Come to Chicago.
Secretary Hoke Smith has granted permission to Buffalo Bill for Indians to visit Chicago with his wild west show. A thorough investigation of the records of the department in regard to Cody and Salsbury's treatment of the Indians and the beneficial results attending the red man's association with this organization having been satisfactory a favorable decision was given. There will be 100 Indians and the directors intend to invite as guests the principal chiefs of historic celebrity to visit Chicago and see the great World's Fair. Maj. Burke, who is here in connection with the matter, called upon President Cleveland to-day and was accorded a hearty greeting. The major has invited the president and party to visit the wild west when in Chicago.
8
In the congress of rough riders of the world the Cossacks show their skill. The men in this part of the show are from all parts of the world--Arabs, Syrians, Mexicans, Indians, cowboys, etc. Each one has his own style of riding and can stick to the back of any horse. After every one of the foreign riders have shown their skill the American cowboy beats them all. These American cowboys are the ones that turned the heads of the Englishmen a short time ago with their perfect horsemanship.
Among the Indian and Mexican tribes represented are the Vaqueros, Rurallias, Arapahoes, Sioux, Brules, and Ogallalas. There are 450 horses and 600 men in the inclosure, the seating capacity of which is 22,000. A herd of twenty-five buffalo will be shown. The Deadwood coach scene is still an attraction.
When the horses were taken from the cars they were exercised inside the inclosure. A Mexican and a cowboy were riding around on bronchos of the bucking variety, when the cowboy made some remark that did not please Pedro, the Mexican, who said: "You think you have a good horse there. but I can beat you for a glass of beer." The bet was accepted and away the two went for the entrance. Pedro come out ahead by lassooing his opponent and pinning his arms to his side so he was unable to use his whip. Several Arabs and Cossacks watching the scene offered to race Pedro, but the superintendent stopped the sport.
The seats in the inclosure are around two sides and one end. At the other end and concealing the stables is a large painting of California mountain scenery. This is 44x306 feet and the half now completed shows the Weber Canon with Pulpit Rock and the Devil's Slide. The work is by Bender of the Schiller. The show will be the same as given heretofore by Col. W. F. Cody, with a few additions.
9
Germany's representatives are a part of the Potsdamer Reds of the First guard uhlan. This is the emperor's body guard, and is under command of Lieut. V. Richter. The uniform consists of a dark blue coat trimmed with narrow red braid, red trousers, high top boots, and an immense red cloth breastplate, whence the company derives its name. The helmet is red and black, with a white horsetail pompom.
The Cossacks, all wiry-looking, bearded fellows, left their home in the Caucasus mountains March 9, and have been constantly on their journey since. Prince Ivan Rostomow Macheradsc is in command. Their undress uniform, which they all wore yesterday, consists of a high, round cap, top boots, and long blouse reaching to the knees, gathered at the waist by a girdle. They are not warlike in appearance, but each man wears on his breast a row of little tubes filled with powder, thrust into tight-fitting pockets.
The American soldiers are in command of Sergt. Maj. Edward Polk and Sergt. Southmayd. They will do Uncle Sam great credit, as they are said to be the finest riders in the service.
"The labor of getting these soldiers together has occupied my time for two years," said Mr. Salsbury. "When in London Mr. Cody and myself determined to get this feature for the world's fair and show the best representative soldiers of the leading nations of the world. How well we have succeeded you can judge better after you have seen their evolutions, which will be a daily feature of our performances. We will give an exhibition of the finest equestrianism the world has ever seen. Everybody knows what magnificent horseman cavalrymen are, but not everyone has seen the wonderful feats performed by Cossacks in the saddle. As for rough riding, our Mexicans, who arrived from Chihuahua a few days ago, and our cowboys are experts beyond competition. The Indians, too, must not be overlooked. We will have 400 mounted men in the arena at one time."
The amphitheater which has been erected for this exhibition is an immense affair, capable of seating 22,000 persons, and is located within a stone's throw of the Woodlawn station. Like Nate Salsbury's stories it is truly great. But Salsbury is modest like all men in the show business, and claims no special degree of Munchausenism for his stories. "Wait till Burke comes," he says Burke is the press representative of the aggregation, and his fame has gone abroad as the champion tall talker of his profession. The first performance will be given one week from next Sunday, and the program will be repeated twice daily until the season closes. When the Indians arrive Monday all the members of the company will be on the ground. The Mexicans and cowboys were amusing themselves yesterday by exercising their ponies, breaking refractory mustangs, and practicing lariat throwing. Whatever be the value of the wild west as an educational factor of the world's fair, "ethnological section" and all, it is certain to be a Mecca for thousands, and Col. Cody and his following will have a repetition of their golden harvest in foreign lands.
10
forms did not have the gaudy trappings of the foreigners, but they did not seem to mind it. A tall young man with the chevrons of a sergeant on his arm leaned against his army saddle, which hung on a low limb, and he eyed the newcomers curiously.
"Well, what do you think of them?" asked Nate Salsbury.
"They can beat us on uniforms and pretty arms," answered Sergt. Southmayde, as he pulled his forage cap over his left eye, "but I will bet American dollars against Russian rubles, stack for stack, that we can lick them to a stand-still.
Genuine Bedouins from the Desert.
Just about sundown the camp was thrown into a state of excitement again by the arrival of a large band of Bedouins. They were the genuine article and fresh from Arabia. They came to New York with the others, but were delayed there to get their equipment ready. They were dressed out in all their native attire. The long-flowing robes and bright head-dresses attracted a great deal of attention, and they handled their long guns in an easy fashion. They were greeted warmly at the camp, and Manager Salsbury surprised the head sheik by talking to him in Arabic with a slight accent.
The Bedouins bring many of their own horses with them and they marched into the camp in a most dignified way with the long guns and lances held upright. Those who were mounted bowed until they touched the horses' manes with their beards and those on foot drew themselves up to their full height and nodded. The Arabs are accompanied by several women and will occupy a row of tents at the north end of the grounds. They disdained Buffalo Bill's offer to provide them with good, substantial Sibley tents and brought their own, which have seen duty on their native sands. Buffalo Bill has 200 horses in his camp and twenty cobwoys are working hard every day to break them.