331
Journal Aug 12.
Custer's Last Charge to Be Depicted.
To every one who watched the brilliant achievements of General Custer in the civil war and, later on, the plains, the Battle of "The Little Big Horn" will always be interesting. Led into an untenable position by the carelessness and incompetency of his subordinates. Custer made a brave stand for his life and the preservation of his command, but numbers were against him and he was overpowered.
Colonel Cody and Mr. Salsbury have decided to make a representation of Custer's last charge as part of the programme they are offering to the public in their "Wild West" exhibition. The programme as at present arranged will be carried out every day without fail, and the adding thereto of the "Battle of the Little Big Horn" will serve only to make the exhibition more interesting, and the entertainment more valuable and more educative. Among the many noted persons taking part in the representation who were engaged in the campaign of 1876 through the valley of the Big Horn at the time of the massacre of Custer, and his forces will be Buffalo Bill himself, who was then Chief of Scouts of the United States army; Private Hackett, who was with Colonel Reno in the first engagement of that campaign, and Chiefs Painted Horse, Little Wolf, Last Horse, Black Bear, Red Elk and other who were among the Indians opposed to Custer's forces.
Extensive arrangements have been made to perfect all the details and make them as true to the original as possible. New and correct scenery on an extensive scale made from photographs and sketches, and duplicates of the implements of civilized and savage warfare used in that battle have been procured for use in the representation. These, with so many of the original participants in the war, will serve to make the reproduction of these scenes by Messrs. Cody and Salsbury, not only historically correct, but peculiarly unique, in that it will be the first time in the history of amusements that original characters are seen in mimic representation of historical events in which they were chief actors. On Wednesday when the first representation is made one of the most distinguished audiences of military and other notables ever gathered together will be present.
Post Aug 12.
Although the Wild West show continues to enjoy a very large patronage at the arena, corner of Stony Island avenue and Sixty-third street, the management has decided to introduce a novelty in the programme next Wednesday in the form of an exact reproduction of Custer's last fight, partcipated in by three chiefs who were in the conflict. Meantime the regular entertainment will be presented twice daily, "rain or shine."
Times Aug 13"
The only novelty of any account in this week's amusement bill will be found in Buffalo Bill's Wild West. There, Wednesday next, it is intended to add to the realistic exhibition of frontier life a dramatic representation of the tragic massacre of the Little Big Horn, where the gallant Custer and so many more brave American soldiers bit the dust. Many of the Indians who took part in that horrible affair will appear in the mimic show. Every attention will be paid to the details of the work, and as nearly a perfect representation will be given as the prescribed limits of the arena and the limited number of people will allow, but it is safe to say that all the salient features will be brought out with a fidelity to history astonishing to the spectator. New scenery on a grand scale has been made from photographs and sketches; all the necessary and correct implements as properties have been secured, and as many of the actors were actual participants in the battle a thrilling representation may be confidently anticipated by the public. Col. Cody and Mr. Salsbury do not do things by halves.
Herald Aug 13"
LITTLE BIG HORN MASSACRE.
The massacre of the Little Big Horn has become a sadly memorable event in the history of the Indian fronter. It was and will be remembered when all other battles between the United States army and the Indians shall have been forgotten. It occupies a page alone in the memoirs of Indian warfare. To reproduce this scene, having as actors many of those who actually participated in the campaign and some who were in the battle itself, is a wonderful undertaking. Ye this is soon actually to be done here in Chicago. Chiefs Plenty Horses, Painted Horse and Rocky Bear, who were in the fight, are now with Cody and Salisbury in their great "Wild West," and with them are many of the Indians who formed the rank and file of the Indian forces. Assisted by other Indian members of the "Wild West" and joined by members of the Seventh United States cavalry, led by Colonel W. F. Cody himself, these historic characters will in the Wild West grounds on Wednesday, Aug. 16, give a vivid and realistic picture of the great battle, giving in detail every incident of that terrible struggle. This great exhibition will not only be of historical interest, but will, it is promised, be a beautifully real picture.
The addition of this feature will not cause the omission from the programme of any other of the interesting numbers which have made the "Wild West" so popular, but is in the nature of an extra attraction. At all other performances prior to Wednesday next the same attractive exhibition that has already won such universal and unqualified approval will be given each day.
New scenery has been prepared, and will not only be on a scale of immensity never before seen, but will be made with absolute fidelity to the photographs and sketches made on the ground. Over three hundred people will be engaged, and no doubt the entire representation will be faithful, thrilling and interesting.
Sunday Globe Aug 13"
PASSING OF CUSTER.
Battle of Little Big Horn to Be Reproduced by Buffalo Bill.
THRILLING WILD WEST SHOW.
The Most Famous Episode in the History of Indian Warfare.
(DRAWING) A THRILLING event of the rarest interest in the history of the west will be added to the many mimic scenes of the settlement of that country as given by Buffalo Bill at his Wild West entertainment on Sixty-third street next Wednesday afternoon and each succeeding day until the close of the season. All of the many interesting features that have served to make the Wild West the most popular entertainment ever offered to our people will be retained intact, and in order to give renewed and added interest thereto Col. Cody and Mr. Salsbury have decided to reproduce the most thrilling chapter in the history of Indian warfare of the present century.
No more picturesque figure adorns the pages of modern history than that of the lamented Gen. Custer, and his military career through the late war of the rebellion and afterward as an Indian fighter in the northwest is all through entwined with laurels of an imperishable species. No more intrepid cavalrymen belonged to the union forces, save the gallant Sheridan, and both become famous, especially for their daring charges and the almost invariably successful results that followed them. At the close of the civil war Custer was sent to the frontier and proved himself a wise and succesful antagonist of the red man, until on June 25, 1876, at the battle of the Little Big Horn, with 245 men at his back he made his last charge on a Sioux village of over 3,000 well armed and equipped Indians, with the result that this last desperate but necessary sortie on his part was the entire annihilation of himself and his gallant men. No more bloody page can be found in the history of America than that descriptive of the battle of the Little Big Horn. The wily cunning and shrewdness of the red man was practiced with the utmost finesse by the thousands who were opposed to the handful of supporters of Custer, and it is no marvel that the latter were so suddenly and completely wiped out of existence.
Col. Cody (Buffalo Bill) was the chief of scouts of the United States army under command of Gen. Crook, and it is this incident in history that he and Mr. Salsbury have decided to add to their programm and with the aid of the famous Seventh cavalry, many of whom were cut down like blades of grass in that campaign, together with a number of the chiefs and Sioux Indians engaged in that war, some of whom were directly opposed to Custer when he fell, the thrilling representation of that day's massacre will be given in the arena of the Wild West.
New and correct scenery has been painted. All of the properties and implements necessary for correctness in detail have been prepared and it is safe to say thats with their reputation for faithful presentationof all that they advertise to do the production of the battle of the "Little Big Horn, or Custer's Last Charge" will be the most thrilling, the most picturesque and the most accurate representation of a historical event that has ever taken place in the history of amusements in America.
Chiefs Rock Bear, Painted Horse, Plenty Horses and other Sioux warriors of the Ogalala band who were led by the famous Big Road in the fight with Custer, will take part in the mimic scene as it is presented by Col. Cody. These characters, with Col. Cody himself and members of the Seventh cavalry now with him, will serve to add a realism to the picture presented that never before has it been possible to give any sort of entertainment. Actual participants in one of the bloodiest wars of the country seventeen years afterward taking part in an arenic representation of the same will naturally excite an interest and lend a value to the representation that could not be had from the employment of ordinary actors and imitation soldiers and savages.
The addition of this scene to the other features of the Wild West will complete and round out a program the equal of which has never been, and it would be impossible to repeat anywhere. Until the production of the battle of the Little Big Horn on Wednesday next the principal program will not be changed, and the crowds that are now attending each performance will no doubt be largely augmented by this addition.
Tribune Aug 13
Buffalo Bill's Wild West has a novelty for its patrons in "The Battle of the Little Big Horn; or, Custer's Last Charge," which will be given Wednesday for the first time. The participants will include many who were actually in the battle and who took part in the campaign. The Indian Chiefs Rocky Bear, Painted Horse, and Plenty Horses led their savages in the fight, and are now with Buffalo Bill; and with them are many braves who followed their leadership in that direful conflict. Col. Cody was himself at that time chief scout of that United States army, and took a prominent part in the campaign.
Post Aug 13.
ARENA - WILD WEST.
The thousands of visitors who have attended the remarkable exhibition given by Cody and Salsbury's Wild West have been impressed not only with the magnitude but with the perfection of detail of the entertainment, and it has not seemed possible that anything more could be added to further its attractiveness. Ever on the alert, however, to provide their patrons with the fullest measurement, the managers have arranged for the presentation of one of the most realistic and exciting arenic displays ever offered to the public. Among the members of the Wild West forces are the noted Indian chiefs, Rocky-Bear, Painted-Horse and Plenty-Horses, all of whom were active participants in the scenes of the famous Custer massacre, otherwise known as the Battle of the Little Big Horn, and with them are many braves who also took part in that terrible conflict. These, together with the detachment of the Seventh United States Cavalry and other members of the aggregation, will next Wednesday give an exact reproduction of that sanguinary conflict, for which new scenery has been painted. Every movement of the troops and of the Indians will be faithfully followed, and every incident accurately reproduced. The entire force of the wild west and congress of rough riders of the world will participate in the great production, and Colonel Cody himself will be a prominent figure. Until the exhibition on next Wednesday the usual excellent programme will be given as usual twice each day, at 3 and 8:30 p. m., and the new feature will be in the nature of an addition and will in no manner curtail the regular programme.
Sunday Democrat Aug 13
COL. W. F. CODY.
Col. Cody, the soldier, scout, statesman and traveler, known throughout the whole world as "Buffalo Bill" is without doubt one of the most remarkable men of modern times. Few if any with the disadvantages with which he had to contend in his early years have risen to the prominence and world-wide celebrity of Col. Cody. Born and passing his early childhood amid the stirring scenes of the wild West, his character partook somewhat of the nature of his surroundings and we first hear of him, a mere boy, taking his place among the cowboys of the plains, with his pony and lariat, filling a man's place and sharing in the dangers of his comrades. Before attaining the age of manhood he had been wagonmaster and guide for the big wagon trains that were then the only means of transportation across the plains. At the breaking out of the civil war he became a soldier, but did not gain very great distinction except among the few commanding generals that knew him, as his was the dangerous work of carrying dispatches through the enemy's country. After the war he returned to the plains and became a scout and guide for the U. S. Army and was commissioned colonel and chief of scouts. In every extended campaign since the war Col. Cody has been a prominent figure, both as guide and scout, and as arbitrator and mediator. He is the Indian's friend in peace and a bitter foe in war; but whether friend or foe he has the respect and confidence of all the Indians in the West. Col. Cody was elected to the state legislature of Nebraska, but resigned after a short time, as he could not bear the frequent wrangles and discussions arising in the house. He is at present adjutant general of his state, and is the choice of the people for the next governor, THE SUNDAY DEMOCRAT being the first paper to announce the fact. He has for several years been traveling with the Wild West show and has illustrated wild western life in almost every country on the face of the globe. Associated with him in this enterprise are Major John. M. Burke, (Arizona John), and "Nate" Salsbury. As manager of the enterprise no better man can be found than general Major, who is a good judge of human nature and knows an Indian like a last year's almanac. "Nate" Salisbury brings his extensive experience in the show business as managerof that part of the business, and cannot be excelled as a successful manager. Their mammoth show is patronized by thousands of our best citizens as well as all distinguished foreigners from abroad. This show is different from any other in existence and cannot be duplicated by any other men, as it requires great personal influence to secure the wild talent.
Sunday Telegram Aug 13
The daring riding of the cowboys, the Indians, Cossacks and the Arabs continues to attract great attention at Buffalo Bill's wild west. Performances are given each day, Sunday included, at 3 and 8:30 p.m., rain or shine. Visit the unique show to-day and you will not regret it.
Christian Standard Aug 5
Last Thursday was Waif's Day. Ten thousand of Chicago's poor children, including boot-blacks, newsboys, street musicians, etc., were given a free ride on the Illinois Central trains to the picnic grounds near Jackson Park. Here they spent several hours in sports, contests for useful prizes, and in general relaxation, after which they were given a free dinner. Ten thousand boxes of food which had been kindly donated by good citizens were soon devoured by the hungry little fellows, many of whom scarcely know what a good meal is. The day wound up with a visit to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, which pleased the urchins beyond expression. Mrs. Potter Palmer had generously offered her entire salary as Lady's Manager, something over $6,000, to assist in giving the waifs the pleasure of a day at the World's Fair, but the authorities did not take kindly to the scheme. Pres. Higinbotham is quoted as saying that he did not care to throw the gates of the White City open to such an undesirable class of visitors. But Buffalo Bill - big, kindhearted generous Buffalo Bill- came to the rescue, and placed Chicago's coming citizens under-lasting obligations to him for a deed of love that may result in the transformation of many lives into something better and nobler. It is to be regretted, however, that the flinty-hearted officials of the Exposition could not be moved upon to permit the children the glorious privilege of a day at the Fair. It would have lingered in their memories as a sweet dream, and inspired them to rise above their lowly plane.
Post Aug 13.
"The Life of Buffalo Bill, from Prairie to Palace," is out and will be in the possession of every tender youth thirsting for buffalo hunts and gore- at a distance. Buffalo Bill is the hero of the boy-- every kind of boy, from seven to seventeen. And, fortunately, his is the life to inspire and not to excite vainly or unduly. Buffalo Bill is unique, and sometimes one is led to think he is the only typical American who has ever won distinction abroad. He is, at any rate one of the two or three who have attained social eminence on account of his Americanism. For, laugh at the term social eminence as applied to a scout if you please, and pooh-pooh the "distinction" conferred upon a mere showman, it is nevertheless the fact that Colonel Cody, or General Cody, or whatever his title is - he seems to have grown an honor or two in the last few years- was received, entertained and sought by persons of rank and fashion in England, who saw in him what they considered the true American sportsman. And sport is the fetich of all England, male and female. Colonel Cody was an honored guest at small and intimate parties, like dinners; he was the friend of the Prince of Wales, not a solicitor for his favor, as so many would-be swells are; he was appreciated, feted and courted. Then it began to be suspected in America that there must be something in him, and now he is a man of some social distinction here. Oh, shame on our fierce democracy!
As for the contents of the book, they are no doubt extremely thrilling. The preface and introduction are poetic to the verge of sublimity, if not always technically pure. To speak of the youths of the time of Fremont, Carson and others as "relicts of the perfected histroy they inaugurated" is to confuse the ordinary English student, who has supposed hitherto that only women - and widows at that-- could br relicts.
But: "The romance, the fiction woven around his (Buffalo Bill's) personality is dispelled in the white light of stern and veritable facts, just as the golden rays of the morning sun drive the mist from the mountain tops." The lover of metaphor will suffer here, just as the philologist agonized over the relicts of his dead hopes (male) in the other sentence.
There are interesting stories of incidents in the life of Colonel Cody, exciting escapes and deeds of great valor. Many great authorities have testified to the bravery of Buffalo Bill, whose record has now and then been questioned by the envious. There is no doubt that he was a distinguished addition and help to our officers in Indian warfare.
The book is history, and the account of the buffalo bunts are wildly exciting, all the more so because of their authenticity.
However, a story need not be true to be thrilling. One of the most blood-curling hunting stories ever written is a quiet, unsensationally told tale of a chase of the "soko," an animal which probably never has lived. It is Phil Robinson who tells it, in his "Under the Sun"-- one of the most amusing books ever written, by the by. The soko is an ape so human that it walks erect, leaning on a walking-stick which it cuts for itself, tearing off a strip of the bark just where the hand comes. It was so human and so canny that it walked with the hunting-party -- which was out after itself- in the dusk, and nobody knew it until one of the party, left behind, ran to catch up and found that they had their full number, not counting him! One will never forget the awful creepiness of that moment to the reader. The soko had attached himself to the camp and awalked with it under cover of the darkness until he came to a safe escape.
The hunt was long and dangerous, for the creature had the brute strength and ferocity of the wild beast combined with the intelligence of man. At last he was trapped, and dying he laid his head on the breast of one of the men-- sapped of his strength and harmless now-- and died, uttering the word "Mamma," and giving his murderers a last pathetic and reproachful glance. It is a breathless tale, full of strength and tremendous interest. And of course absolutely impossible.
Record Aug 13.
The Gen. Custer demonstration will be added to Buffalo Bill's Wild West programme tomorrow, and promise to be an event in the amusement world.
332
Journal Aug 12.
Custer's Last Charge to Be Depicted
To every one who watched the brilliant achievements of General Custer in the civil war and, later on, the plains, the battle of "The Little Big Horn" will always be interesting. Led into an untenable position by the carelessness and incompetency of his subordinates. Custer made a brave stand for his life and the preservation of his command, but numbers were against him and he was overpowered.
Colonel Cody and Mr. Salsbury have decided to make a representation of Custer's last charge as part of the programme they are offering to the public in their "Wild West" exhibition. The programme as at present arranged will be carried out every day without fail, and the adding thereto of the "Battle of the Little Big Horn" will serve only to make the exhibition more interesting, and the entertainment more valuable and more educative. Among the many noted persons taking part in the representation who were engaged in the campaign of 1876 through the valley of the Big Horn at the time of the massacre of Custer and his forces will be Buffalo Bill himself, who was then Chief of Scouts of the United States army; Private Hackett, who was with Colonel Reno in the first engagement of that campaign, and Chiefs Painted Horse, Little Wolf, Last Horse, Black Bear, Red Elk and others who were among the Indians opposed to Custer's forces.
Extensive arrangements have been made to perfect all the details and make them as true to the original as possible. New and correct scenery on an extensive scale made from photographs and sketches, and duplicates of the implements of civilized and savage warfare used in that battle have been procured for use in the representation. These, with so many of the original participants in the war, will serve to make the reproduction of these scenes by Messrs. Cody and Salsbury, not only historically correct, but peculiarly unique, in that it will be the first time in the history of amusements that original characters are seen in mimic representation of historical events in which they were chief actors. On Wednesday when the first representation is made one of the most distinguished audiences of military and other notables ever gathered together will be present.
333
Post Aug 12.
Although the Wild West show continues to enjoy a very large patronage at the arena, corner of Stony Island avenue and Sixty-third street, the management has decided to introduce a novelty in the programme next Wednesday in the form of an exact reproduction of Custer's last fight, participated in by three chiefs who were in the conflict. Meantime the regular entertainment will be presented twice daily, "rain or shine."
334
Sunday Democrat Aug 13
COL. W. F. CODY.
Col. Cody, the soldier, scout, statesman and traveler, known throughout the whole world as "Buffalo Bill" is without doubt one of the most remarkable men of modern times. Few if any with the disadvantages with which he had to contend in his early years have risen to the prominence and world-wide celebrity of Col. Cody. Born and passing his early childhood amid the stirring scenes of the wild West, his character partook somewhat of the nature of his surroundings and we first hear of him, a mere boy, taking his place among the cowboys of the plains, with his pony and lariat, filling a man's place and sharing in the dangers of his comrades. before attaining the age of manhood he had been wagonmaster and guide for the big wagon trains that were then the only means of transportation across the plains. At the breaking out of the civil war he became a soldier, but did not gain very great distinction except among the few commanding generals that knew him, as his was the dangerous work of carrying dispatches through the enemy's country. After the war he returned to the plains and became a scout and guide for the U. S. Army and was commissioned colonel and chief of scouts. In every extended campaign since the war Col. Cody has been a prominent figure, both as guide and scout, and as arbitrator and mediator. He is the Indian's friend in peace and a bitter foe in war; but whether friend or foe he has the respect and confidence of all the Indians in the West. Col. Cody was elected to the state legislature of Nebraska, but resigned after a short time, as he could not bear the frequent wrangles and discussions arising in the house. He is at present adjutant general of his state, and is the choice o the people for the next governor, THE SUNDAY DEMOCRAT being the first paper to announce the fact. He has for several years been traveling with the Wild West show and has illustrated wild western life in almost every country on the face of the globe. Associated with him in this enterprise are Major John M. Burke, (Arizona John), and "Nate" Salisbury. As manager of the enterprise no better man can be found than the genial Major, who is a good judge of human nature and knows an Indian like a last year's almanac. "Nate" Salisbury brings his extensive experience in the show business as manager of that part of the business, and cannot be excelled as a successful manager. Their mammoth show is patronized by thousands of our best citizens as well as all distinguished foreigners from abroad. This show is different from any other in existence and cannot be duplicated by any other men, as it requires great personal influence to secure the wild talent.
335
Sunday Telegram
Aug 13
The daring riding of the cowboys, the Indians, Cossacks and the Arabs continues to attract great attention at Buffalo Bill's wild west. Performances are given each day, Sunday included, at 3 and 8:30 p. m., rain or shine. Visit the unique show to-day and you will not regret it.