MS6.3779 Jpgs

"Repeating my statement that our offer was made in good faith, and affirming that the offer remains good, providing the request contained in this letter can be complied with. I beg to sign myself, very truly yours, "NATE SALSBURY.

"P.S.--I inclose you herewith a copy of the laws of the State of Illinois, governing matters of this kind, so that you can see for yourself the Humane Society is making no idle threats, but as power under the law to greatly interfere with your plans."

Humane Society Acts.

No official word having been received from Chadron within a reasonable time, the Illinois Humane Society thereupon undertook the charge of the case, and asked the co-operation of certain of its sister societies, in either its abatement or its control. The Minneapolis Humane Society immediately and adequately responded and Messrs. Paul Fontaine, secretary, and W.W. Tatro, chief agent, came to Chicago to assist. Messrs. Fontaine and Tatro, who had had come correspondence with Mr. Weir, were when upon consultation detailed to meet the cowboys and their committee at Chadron, carrying a letter from the Illinois Humane Society to them; and Officers little and Williams were sent forward to the Mississippi to arrange what should be necessary its possible crossings. Two others officers of the Illinois Humane Society were detailed to Freeport and DeKalb in this State, and two others to the city limits. It was determined that no cruelty should be permitted within this State or the State of Iowa, which latter State the Sioux City Humane Society actively assisted and Governor Boles acceded to the petition of the Illinois Humane Society, and issued instructions to all peace officers of the State to see that the laws against cruelty were enforced. Governor Altgeld, of Illinois, on similar request issued a substantially similar proclamation. We did not believe it possible, not withstanding the foolish assertions and published threats of an alleged cowboy that any such amd race as was announced would be attempted, but it was our duty to be prepared for it, and we were prepared.

Carrying the greeting of the Illinois Humane Society to the Chadron committee, Messrs. Fontaine and Tatro found many sympathizing friends there, and, as is usual, also found that the devil was not quite so black as he had been painted. The committee agreed that the Humane Society should supervise the race, and, where cruelty should be perceptible, interfere; and further that its orders should be obeyed, and its advice followed in the treatment of the animals, so convinced were the cowboys of the fairness and friendliness of the society.

The substantial control of cruelty in the race being thus assured, the men started from Chadron in company of the humane officers in the late afternoon of the 13th of June, ten contestants and nineteen horses; each man but one riding one and leading another horse, according to the rules of the race.

How They Were Watched.

To recount the details of the succeeding days would be tedious, and as they are matters of record in the Illinois and Minneapolis societies offices, it will suffice to say that a careful watch and examination of every arrival and departure of every horse at and from all registering stations from starting point to goal was made; one officer seeing the last man leave the one station, and another seeing the first arrive at the next. One detail of the Illinois Humane Society officers meeting the men at Dubuque Ia., where the entered Illinois; another detail was added, meeting them at Freeport, and still another added at De Kalb, whence, it was assumed, the race would present, if at all, its cruelest features. Several cautions and warnings were given by the officers from time to time where any sign of overuse occurred; several horses were, at various points, ordered out of the race, and all directions were complied with by the contestants with but one exception- Stephens, who was afterward overhauled and corrected.

Berry, the first rider, arrived at the Wild West show grounds about half past 9 o'clock a.m., on the 27th of June, his horse tired, but in good condition, having covered the whole distance without a substitute. The president and three officers of the Illinois and two of the Minneapolis Humane societies were present. The other riders appeared later, arriving at different times, on the same day and on the two days succeeding, 28th and 29th. Stephens was the last to arrive. All the horses were examined by the Illinois and Minneapolis Humane societies as they arrived, the Illinois society also having two veterinary surgeons upon the ground to make medical examinations, which were made in each case, not only at the time but on the succeeding days. Every assistance was rendered by Colonels Cody and Salsbury to the Humane Society. All the horses arrived in good condition, and without evidence of any cruelty that would be held to be a violation of the statutes. Resting and feeding en route were done, as a rule, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m; light feeding at other times also. Stephens was reported on the 2 h after the trace was practically ended, as having been abusive to his animal at DeKalb. Two officers of the Illinois Humane Society were immediately detailed to proceed to find him, and, if charges were found to be true, to arrest and prosecute; but the officers found him riding quietly in and without any evidence of cruelty visible, the officers, unknown to him, following him into the goal.

The officers report much ignorance on the part of the so-called veterinary surgeons all along the route, except at Sioux City and Iowa Falls, in which places competent veterinaries were found. Opinions were given by the charlatans referred to of the condition of horses that were discredited by our officers, and afterwards disapproved. The observations and judgment of many good horsemen were secured by the officers throughout the journey. These notes tend to show the care exercised by the officers.

Acknowledgment is made of the able and wise services of Secretary Fontaine and Officer Tatro of the Minneapolis society and of Officers Little, Williams, Nolan, Dean, Sylvester, and Snowden of the Illinois Humane Society. The press of Chicago, and indeed the leading papers of the country, have been particularly clear, humane, and helpful; they have made the work undertaken by the Illinois Humane Society a compartively easy task. Thanks are due and respectfully tendered to the Governors of Iowa (Mr. Boles) and of Illinois (Mr. Altgeld) for their timely official interpositions.

Finally the nation is to be congratulated upon so universal and expression of execration of such cruelty as was promsied at the beginning of this madcap, foolish proposition of a 1,000-mile race in mid-June over our hot prairies without a possible result of the least vlaue, and upon its prompt and unmistakable determination to repress it; that was worth all it cost. And the cowboys themselves thanked for their ready and adequate response to the Humane Society's appeal to them for fair play toward their faithful horses and their cheerful acquiescence in and obedience to the law. JOHN G. SHORTALL,

President American Humane Association Chicago, July 1.

Chicago Herald July 2nd

LUCKY COWBOY WINNERS OF PRIZES.

Joe Gillespie Gets a Total of $250 and a Colt Revolver.

Paul Fontaine, the judge of the recent cowboy's race, awarded that prizes yesterday. It was agreed that he should settle the controversy, and his decision satisfied all. These are the amounts each received in the distribution of "Buffalo Bill's Wil West purse of $500:"

John Berry .............. $175 Joe B. Gillespie ........ 50 C. W. Smith ............. 75 George A. Jones ....... 75 James H. Stephens.... 50 Doc Middleton ......... 25 J. E. Albright ............ 25 Joe Campbell ........... 25

The Chadron, Neb., purse of $1,000 was divided as follows:

Joe B. Gillespie ....... $200.00 C. W. Smith ............ 200.00 George A. Jones ...... 187.50 James H. Stephens .. 187.50 Doc Middleton ........ 75.00 J. E. Albright ........... 75.00 Joe Campbell .......... 75.00

Winner of saddle offered by Montgomery Ward & Co. - John Berry. Winner of Colt revolver - Joe Gillespie.

Inter Ocean July 2

PRIZES AWARDED.

Distribution of the Money to Winners In the Cowboy Race.

There was an amicable meeting yesterday in Colonel Cody's dining tent, at the Wild West camp, of contestants and parties interested In the Chadron-Chicago cowboy race, when Mr. Hartzell, of the Chadron committee, was empowered by the committee and the cowboy racers present, to refer the settlement of the awards to Paul Fontaine, of the Humane Society. A general discussion of all the circumstances connected with the race took place and all interested parties offered to abide, willingly and freely, in whatever award or decision Mr. Fontaine might make or give, the relative positions of the horses in the race not to be considered by him. The technical protest against Berry's being in the race was upheld, but in consideration of the fact that he rode a fair, square race, and, as old Joe Gillespie expressed it, "Bezat the race," the boys recognized him to the extent of agreeing to Mr. Fontaine's decision by letting him have $175 out of the Buffalo Bill's Wild West purse of $500, together with the saddle given by Messrs, Montgomery Ward & Co., of Chicago, for the first man in.

It was decided that Joe Gillespie was first in the race as per the Chadron agreement, and he was awarded $50 of the Wild West prize, $200 of the Chadron purse, and the revolver offered by the Messrs. Colts, The purses and property were awarded as follows by Mr. Fontaine, his award being based upon such facts as were brought before him, together with his own personal k nowledge and observations of the race along the route:

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Purse of $500-John Berry, $175; Joe Gillespie. $50 C. W. Smith, $75; George A Jones $75; James H Stevens, $50; "Doc" Middleton, $25; J. E. Albright, $25; Joe Campbell, $25

Chadron Purse of $1,000-Joe Gillespie, $200; C. W. Smith $200; George Jones, $187.50; James H. Stevens, $187.50; "Doe" Middleton, $75; J. E. Albright, $75; Joe Campbell, $75.

Saddle Give by Messrs. Montgomery Ward & Co.-To John Berry.

Revolver Presented by Messrs. Colts-To Joe Gillespie.

Post July 2nd

COWBOY PRIZES DIVIDE.

The Constant in the Famous Race Reach an Amicable Settlement.

There was an amicable meeting yesterday in Colonel Cody's dining tent, at the Wild West camp, of contestants and parties interested In the Chadron-Chicago cowboy race, when Mr. Hartzell, of the Chadron committee, was empowered by the committee and the cowboy racers present, to refer the settlement of the awards to Paul Fontaine, of the Humane Society. A general discussion of all the circumstances connected with the race took place and all interested parties offered to abide, willingly and freely, in whatever award or decision Mr. Fontaine might make or give, the relative positions of the horses in the race not to be considered by him.

The technical protest against Berry's being in the race was upheld, but in consideration of the fact that he rode a fair, square race, and, as old Joe Gillespie expressed it, "Bezat the race," the boys recognized him to the extent of agreeing to Mr. Fontaine's decision by letting him have $175 out of the Buffalo Bill's Wild West purse of $500, together with the saddle given by Messrs, Montgomery Ward & Co., of Chicago, for the first man in.

It was decided that Joe Gillespie was first in the race as per the Chadron agreement, and he was awarded $50 of the Wild West prize, $200 of the Chadron purse, and the revolver offered by the Messrs. Colt.

The purse and property were awarded as follows by Mr. Fontaine, his award being based upon such facts as were brought before him, together with his own personal knowledge and observations of the race along the route:

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Purse of $500-John Berry, $175; Joe Gillespie. $50 C. W. Smith, $75; George A Jones $75; James H Stevens, $50; "Doc" Middleton, $25; J. E. Albright, $25; Joe Campbell, $25.

Chadron Purse of $1,000-Joe Gillespie, $200; C. W. Smith $200; George Jones, $187.50; James H. Stevens, $187.50; "Doe" Middleton, $75; J. E. Albright, $75; Joe Campbell, $75. The saddle given by Messrs Montgomery Ward & Co.-To John Berry.

Revolver Presented by Messrs. Colts-To Joe Gillespie.

The above award, as already stated, was decided upon by Mr. Fontaine after considering every circumstance in the race. The fact that it was such a long and keen contest, the position of horses and men being so close and the record made by all such good one, it was in honor and justice for everyone that this equitable decision was made and acquiesced in by all parties.

Inter Ocean July 2"

BUFFALO BILL'S WILD WEST.

Unquestionably the most popular entertainment in Chicago this summer is Buffalo Bill's Wild West. Each week sees an increasing average patronage of the extraordinary exhibition of rough riding, horsemanship, marksmanship, and reproduction of scenes and incidents, life, manner and customs of the various nationalities going to compose his monster entertainment. From 8,000 to 10,000 people have witnessed each performance given, and certainly the record is being broken for attendance at amusements in this country. A pretty incident occurred on Wednesday last when Colonel Alex Majors, the first man for whom Colonel Cody ever did any work, and General Merrill, the first army officer under whom he did active service for the government, were at the grounds, and were introduced by the colonel in his tent after the performance. Both of these white-haired veterans expressed great delight in seeing the performance and in knowing the wonderful progress and popularity of their erstwhile protege. Reminiscences flew thick and fast, and a large party of friends were thoroughly delighted with the stories told by the trio. Many distinguished visitors have graced Buffalo Bill's entertainment by their presence within the last seven days. Boxes and box seats can be secured at McIntosh's library, No. 41 Monroe street, by those who take time by the forelock and secure them before starting for the grounds.