MS6.3779 Jpgs

Inter Ocean June 30

Lessons from the Cowboy Race.

The first and the most unpleasant lesson learned is that "cowboy racing" is just as dishonest as Washington park or Garfield park racing. This lesson would have been omitted but for the praiseworthy zeal of THE INTER OCEAN cycling commissioner, who followed and watched the horsemen, and who detected some of them in the fraudulent act of riding on cars and in buggies when they were supposed to be pattering along the roads on horseback. One of them gave his horses a ride and a rest on the cars from Dixon to DeKalb. There was little or no betting on the outcome, and therefore it was supposed that the race would be an honest trial of the endurance of men and horses. It proves to have been a tricky scramble for lucre.

Another lesson is in cruelty to animals. For though the condition of the horses while in the State of Illinois and outside of it-they do not seem to have been closely inspected-was not wretched enough to warrant the interference of the officers of the Humane society, yet it is certain that several of them were ruined for life; indeed, they 'were so reduced in strength as to compel their abandonment on the way by their riders. The horse brought in by Rattlesnake Pete would have fared better had its rider refrained from the cup that cheers and inebriates, but as to how it fared under the actualities of the race may be learned when the proceedings of the suit of the Humane society against that rider are made public.

We do not know that there is any other lesson. We have learned, it is true, that bronchos and cowboys can endure great hardships. But we did not need to learn it again. The narratives of a hundred forced marches with Crook, a thousand journeys across the plains, myriads of 'perilous adventures on the frontiers had taught us this long ago.

The race was projected by Colonel Cody, of Wild West fame. He is an enthusiast as to horses and horsemen, and doubtless meant that there should be an honest and humane test of the powers of bronchos and cowboys. He was not able to control the conduct of the riders, and the result is that the race has been neither honest nor humane. We assume that by this time he is convinced that his judgment was at fault. As proprietor of what without any exaggeration may be called "the greatest show on earth," he has nothing to lose by confession of his error. His exhibition is marvelous enough without the addition of one or two broken down bronchos and a few Ricky riders.

Chicago Herald July 1st

GHOST OF P. T.BARNUM.

HIS SPECTER AROUSES KATE FIELD.

She Gives Fair Managers a Hint of What the Great Showman Would Have Done to Furnish Sadly Lacking Pleasure Novelties.

GENTLEMEN OF THE ORLD'S FAIR ADMINISTRATION. SIRS:-As days fly the shortcomings of the great fair are becoming shorter and, if it were to be a joy forever, the worst faultfinder on earth might sit down complacently with folded hands and wait for the good time coming. Unfortunately the-life of the fair is one-third gone already, and, while you are serving an apprenticeship in the show business, cutting your teeth on the public, when, like Richard III., you should have been born with a full set, wisdom teeth included, this same public dislike the part they play in a suggestive evolution. They object to acting In the capacity of india rubber extraordinary.

Don't be offended, gentlemen, for no offense is intended-you are very clever; you are bright and shining lights in your own spheres, but remember what was once said about a distinguished American who undertook to manage a hostelry for the first time. "He's a fine man, but he can't keep a hotel."

You are fine citizens, but you don't know how to run a show. Resent the expression as much as you please, the World's Columbian Exposition is nothing more nor less than the greatest show on earth. That is the reason people go to it and that's the reason every man, woman and child out of swaddling clothes ought to see It early and often.

What P. T, Barnum Would Have Done.

There's just one man who could have made the fair a gigantic financial success and he is dead. Of course, I mean the lamented P. T. Barnum, who knew how to fool and how to amuse the public. He did not hesitate to declare in his autobiography that the people liked to be humbugged, provided the humbug were well done. He knew human nature from A to Izzard and the first thing he always did to catch his public was to make it so easy for them to get to his show that they couldn't keep away. If he had been taken into your confidence he would have made love to the railroads before turning up ground for your magnificent buildings. Having settled upon excursions from every part of the United States, Central and South America and Mexico, he would have negotiated with the Cooks and Gazes of Europe and arranged with Atlantic steamers to bring their excursionists at reduced rates. Having gone thus far, Mr. Barnum would have sent out drummers to beat up trade and these drummers would have set every town and hamlet wild with enthusiasm. Excursions would have been as thick as Colorado flies in August, and you would have needed clubs to prevent them from taking Jackson Park by assault and battery.

Sure of an audience of 300,000 & day, Mr. Barnum would have then arranged your programme accordingly. Knowing that the average man and woman likes music and motion better than anything else, he would have secured every great military band in the world that could be had for love or money.

Bands From Every Corner of the Earth.

He would have appealed to the national pride of France, England, Germany, Austria, Russia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Sweden and Norway, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Mexico, all the republics of Central and South America, Asia and Africa and every state in our own country to contribute their very best bands. The grandeur of the Idea would have so possessed the minds of the world's potentates and powers that the band exhibit alone of the fair would have set our entire population of 65,000,000 dancing. Where the sound of one band ended another band would have begun, as in a parade. Thus justice would have been done to every nook and cranny of the fair and no exhibitor would have had a chance to complain of neglect. His cup of joy would have been full to overflowing and you would have had the happiest possible family at Jackson Park. Nobody would have had a grievance; if he had he would have buried it in the recesses of his own bosom.

Mr. Barnum's next move would have been to secure living attractions for every section of the fair, so that the Midway Plaisance would not have carried off the lion's share of talk and patronage. He would have opened up negotiations with Buffalo Bill and never permitted him to set up a show of his own outside the fair grounds. It should have been one of the conditions that there was to be a Wild West parade at 10 o'clock in the morning daily in order to get the public early on the grounds and please women and children-when you satisfy these important factors in every household you please the men and get their money.

What a Little Bird Tells.

A small bird tells me that Buffalo Bill wanted to make terms with the fair, but was told that the Wild West was not sufficiently dignified to meet the requirements of the directory!

Are the native tribes of Africa and Asia more worthy of recognition than brave American cowboys, native American Indians and a congress of rough riders of the world?

It was a mistake, gentlemen, to reject Buffalo Bill's offer-a mistake for the fair, but a blessed decision for Colonel Cody and his able managers, who will cover their great outlay before the fair is half over and amuse themselves raking in the shekels during September and October. You have probably seen the error of your ways since then, as another bird says that Tattersall's fine show of horses is to take possession of that empty arena at the south side of Jackson Park. That fine circus has made me ache at its loneliness. It should be full of animals and people every hour of the day.

Having secured Buffalo Bill and all the four-legged animals on earth, Mr. Barnum would have secured samples of every known army and put them behind their national bands on parade days, which would have been every day in the week. The militia of every state would have been invited to have a day and the brave army of the United States would have been asked to contribute the best company of every branch of its service.

Record July 1st

There is enough of color and life and mad daring in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show to stir to greatest enthusiasm the most sluggish nature, and there is so much beauty in the pictures made of men and horses that an artist can look upon them with keen delight. Yesterday in the grand stand dignified women and men, with prosperity and age stamped in every line, cheered and clapped their hands and waved hats and handkerchiefs like little children. The dazzling military evolutions arouse the patriotism in every nature. Buffalo Bill himself forgets his millions and enters into the performance with all his heart. Nate Salsbury, the amusement director and years ago the handsome leading man of Hooley's stock company, never tires of the excitement but it takes Maj. John M. Burke, the general manager, to whoop and yell and clap his fat bands in glee as the United States cavalry race down the great track. The military review of American, English, French, German and Russian cavalry, together with the Indians, is one of the prettiest as well as most inspiring sights ever given to an audience. More than 10.000 men, women and children went into the regulation raptures over the show yesterday. It is an undisputed fact that the attendance at Buffalo Bill's Wild West every day would ill sny half-dozen theaters in Chicago and have a few left over to take excursions on the lake. There is "faking" or false pretenses connected with this entertainment, all the people being genuine and every act advertises being performed with rigid fidelity to honest dealing with the public. The confidence engendered in the public mind by this faithfulness on the part of the management of the Wild West has resulted, as it always will, in the public giving its encouragement and patronage to the enterprise Messrs. Cody and Salsbury have reason to feel proud of their success and gratified with the endorsement bestowed upon them. No one of the large crowd daily in attendance has yet been heard to expres8 anything but the greatest satisfaction at the entertainment and with the beauty of the camp, the interest of the study of home life of the various nationalities represented, and with the comfort expressed while witnessing the most interesting and exciting entertainment afforded. Arrangements have been made by which parties desiring to secure reserved locations in the boxes can do so at McIntoshe's Library, No. 41 more Monroe street, and as all means of transportation going to the World Fair stop directly at the gates of the Wild West it is one of the most accessible points on the city from all parts.

the most sluggish nature, artist can look upon Nate Salsbury, the lake.

Mail July 1st

Buffalo Bill's Wild Wes has had the racing cowboys as an attraction this week. It's greatest show of the kind on earth.

Inter Ocean July 2nd

VERDICT ON COWBOYS

From John G. Shortall of Humane Society.

HE REVIEWS THE BIG RACE.

Letter of Warning as Written by Nate Salsbury.

By the Alertness of the Authorities the Horses Were Saved from Cruelty.

The American Humane Association, through, its president, John G. Shortall, sends the following official statement regarding the cowboy race from Chadron to Chicago:

In March last it was publicly announced that 300 cowboys would ride and race their bronchos from Chadron to Chicago-over 1,000 miles.

Letters and protests began at once to arrive from all civilized parts of the United States, addressed to the Illinois Humane Society and to the undersigned as president of the American Humane Association, recalling the brutality and the National disgrace involved in the German and Austrian cavalry officer ride between Berlin and Vienna of last year, and demanding that the anti-cruelty laws of Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois (the States to be traversed) should be enforced. The Illinois Humane Society took immediate action to ascertain the truth regarding the announcement, the names of the cowboys (for identification), and the route proposed, if any. The laws covering the case were ample. It was with difficulty, however, that any information was obtained -probably because the details were unsettled- and it was not until about May 19 that the Illinois Humane Society had any information that would authorize action. Upon that day a call was made by the president of the Illinois society, upon Colonel W. F. Cody, "Buffalo Bill." and Nate Salsbury, of the Wild West show, urging them to assist in its interference with the race as publicly noticed-those gentlemen having contributed in money and being so well known in the West being thought to be influential to the desired end--with the result that the following letter was sent forward:

Letter to Harvey Weir.

"CHICAGO, May 1 Mr. Harvey Weir, Secretary Cowboys Race, Chadron, Neb. Dear Sir: I am informed by the Humane society of the State of Illinois that the proposed cowboys' race will be embarrassed at every legal point in the State of Illinois, and advices from Iowa go to show that a símilar mode of procedure will be followed in that State. The newspapers of the pity of Chicago have already begun to criticize the affair from an adverse standpoint, as have also a great proportion of the press of Eastern cities. It is quite impossible to make them understand that cruelty will not be practiced in the endeavor by individuals to win the race. I therefore suggest to you, entirely in your own interest, that you address a letter to the president of the Ilinois Humane Society, John G. Shortall, No. 560 Wabash avenue, Chicago, giving him an exact and absolute description of all the conditions you intend to impose upon the riders who participate. You may be sure that unless you do this, and do it with perfect candor and honesty, the race will never terminate in the city of Chicago.

So far as our connection with the race is concerned, you know that our offer was made in perfect good faith, but, at the same time, we will not assume any part of any discredit that may be attached to it by the better class of the community, and unless convincing proof can be given chat cruelty in no form will be practiced we shall withdraw our offer.

"The military ride from Berlin to Vienna last year aroused a very intense feeling in this country against a repetition of it in America, and all the power that lies behind the law will be exerted to prevent the consummation of your race. Unless you give to the public, in the most widespread and absolute way, the conditions of the race, and show them that no cruelty shall be practiced, you will be certain to arouse an opposition that will completely frustrate the success of your plans.

"Colonel Cody is an officer in good standing of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; he is also an officer of the State of Nebraska, and he pleads that you, for the good name of State, either abandon the race entirely or promote it on such lines as are unmistakably opposed to any form of cruelty. The reputation that this entertainment enjoys in the minds and hearts of the American people cannot be jeopardized by any connection, however remote with any affair that would tend to bring it into disrepute.