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Buffalo Bill's Most Famous Ride.
WILLIAM F. CODY, "Buffalo Bill," made a remarkable ride in Kansas in 1868, when the State was com paratively unknown. We are not compelled to take the famous scout's word for his fent, for General Phil Sheridan has left the record in his autobiography. That commander started out in midwinter to punish the troublesome red-skins and got as far as Hays City. The following extract from Sheridan's memoirs tells the story of the remarkable ride:
"Mr. William F. Cody, Buffalo Bill, was first brought to my notice by distinguishing himself in bringing me an important dispatch from Fort Larned to Fort Hays, a distance of sixty-five miles, through a section infested with Indians. The dispatch informed me that the Indians near Larned were preparing to decamp, and this intelligence required that certain orders should be carried to Fort Dodge, ninety-five miles south of Hays. This, too, being a particularly dangerous route-several couriers having been killed on it-it was impossible to get one of the various Petes, Jacks or Jims hanging around Hays City to take this communication.
"Cody, learning of the strait I was in, manfully came to the rescue, and proposed to make the trip to Dodge, though he had just finished his long and perilous ride from Larned. I gratefully accepted his offer, and after a short rest he mounted a fresh horse and hastened on his journey, halting but once to rest on the way, and then only for an hour, the stop being made at Coon Creek, where he got another mount from a troop of cavalry. At Dodge he took some sleep, and then continued on to his own post-Fort Larned-with more dispatches.
After resting at Larned he was again in the saddle with tidings for me at Fort Hays, General Hazen sending him this time, with word that the villagers had fled to the south of the Arkansas, Thus, in all, Cody rode about 350 miles in less than sixty hours, and such an exhibition of endurance and courage at that time of the year and in such weather was more than enough to convince me that his services would be extremely valuable in the campaign, so I retained him at Fort Hays till the battalion of the 5th Cavalry arrived, and then made him chief of scouts."
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GOVERNOR CODY.
Col. Wm. F. Cody, known throughout the whole civilized world as Buffalo Bill," has been the recipient of more merited honors than usually falls to the lot of man in any station in life or in any calling. And in every instance the honors have sought the man and not the man the honors. He is now not only requested but importuned to allow his name to come before the people of Nebraska as candidate for Governor of the commonwealth of the state which has been the scene of many of his exploits and whose people bear witness to his many triumphs. A nomination in the state of Nebraska means an election for Col. Cody, for he is popular, not with his party alone, but with the people regardless of party lines and party prejudices. His is a character that has been tried in the fire of many hard years' service of the people, and not found wanting in any particular.
Col. Cody was born in Scott county, Iowa, and went with his parents to Kansas, engaging in the various pursuits of a frontiersman from his earliest childhood. Being successively a herder, wagon-master, pony express rider, trapper, scout, and finally chief of scouts for the United States army. The greatest Indian fighter of our times; the Indian's friend in peace and most implacable foe in war; he has the confidence and respect of the red as well as the white man. His knowledge of the needs of the people of his state is probably as complete as can be developed in one man, and of his integrity and worth there can be no question. He has been through every Indian campaign for forty years and now holds a commission as brigadier general on the staff of the governor of Nebraska.
All success and honor to the future Gov. Cody; there is nothing given him but what is his due.
Col. Cody is one of the largest tax payers in Nebraska, owning as he does, some 4,000 acres of land, and has done more to advertise the state than any other man in it, and his "Wild West", in Chicago being attended by thousands, and by the crowned heads of Europe, entitle him to be esteemed more than any other man in the state of Nebraska.
Chicago Sunday Democrat June 18-93
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Buffalo Bill's Wild West show capped its own climax to date, Sunday, the receipts being over $19,000 from the two performances, while crowds were unable to gain admission. Yesterday's performances were almost as successful, considering the great counter attraction of Chicago day, the amphitheater being packed day and evening.
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Boone and His Coffin.
Daniel Boone's bones rest in his beloved Kentucky, but the house which he built for a home and in which he passed his last days, is a landmark near St. Charles, Mo., where it still stands in a good state of preservation. In the latter days of the old pioneer's life he occupied the attic of the house as both sitting room and workshop, and busied himself making powder horns as souvenirs for friends. Here, too, he kept the cherry wood coffin he had fashioned with his own hands. Not long before he died he used to sit in the coffin several times a day "just to try the fit of it," as one of his old acquaintances says.-Chicago Inter-Ocean.
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The Buffalo Bill Romances.
BUFFALO BILL stories are now "in season." Everybody is talking of him, for everybody, you are told, is in Chicago, where Cody is "a bright particular star," with his huge Wild West Camp Forum and 'Arena. The notabilities as well as the masses flock to his headquarters and enjoy his wonderfully varied "show," that is a quick succession of surprises in marvelous feats of horsemanship and marksmanship, and in all nations parade. Readers may not enjoy all this, for only the privileged few can visit Chicago -those with well-filled purses; but all can enjoy the stories in which Buffalo Bill is the chief actor and "hero."
These romances are certainly among the best in the whole range of American literature; they are so original in character, so striking in incident, and so novel in situations, as to command the liveliest attention, and coming from the skilled pens of Colonel Prentiss Ingraham, Leon Lewis, Major Dangerfield Burr, U. S. A., and Doctor Frank Powell, they, each and all, afford a literary treat that is wholly unique and delighting.
Then, in this now national "Buffalo Bill series" are the novels from the pen of Mr. Cody himself, wherein he introduces a considerable number of bis old trail confederates and field and camp pards-White Beaver, Texas Jack, the Powell Brothers, Wild Bill, Major Frank North, U. S. A., (Fighting Frank"), Buck Bravo, Captain Tayloe, U. S. A., Dashing Dan, Dandy Dick--all "men with a record" in Wild West annals and heroes by their own right. These men are the actors and chief characters in eleven stories, covering as many episodes in real life in the wilderness and on the plains, that are in truth "telling stories," which seem literally to have written themselves, so familiar was the narrator with the events and so stirred with the spirit of the exciting dramas.
This entire series has been immensely popular, as it well deserved to be, and each new romance added to the list both shares in and extends that popularity, as well as arousing fresh interest in all previous issues.
No lover of the Literature of the Heroic" in American life and romance can afford to overlook these notable romances, and as they are always in print, and are to be had at all news stands, everyone who wishes may secure them on demand.
402
1890.] THE AMERICAN BUFFALO. 97
never separate, except that the old bulls leave the herd when whipped out by the younger ones.
A market for buffalo and cross-bred robes undoubtedly is to be expected in all parts of the world, wherever the thermometer reaches zero. The fur-bearing animals are almost if not entirely gone. The Hudson Bay Fur Company are disbanding their forces, because there are no more furs to buy; and furs are of as much value as pure gold. A good bull's head is worth 200 dollars. One all ready for setting up, full size, would cost 200 dollars; and could be mounted upon arrival as preferred.
Col. Jones says that in the Garden City herd there are no females for sale, nor any crosses for sale till the fall of next year. He would sell a few bulls, but not a car-load. When asked what he had for sale in the way of buffalo and crosses, by a party who contemplated starting a herd of these animals - such as would wink at blizzards and storms, and something that even lightning could not strike -the Colonel replied that he had just what was required, but that he would only sell a few bulls on these terms: - Bull calves, ready to wean, 300 dollars each; yearlings, 400 dollars; two-year-olds, 500 dollars; three-year-olds and upwards, 750 dollars. These prices we have no hesitation in publishing, as we presume they are meant to be prohibitive.
There is at present no fixed market for the products of the buffalo. Only one steer, three-fourths buffalo and three years old, has been as yet slaughtered in the Garden City herd. Fifty cents per lb. has been offered for a whole carcase, seventy- five dollars for a choice head, and two hundred dollars for choice head and hide for taxidermists' purposes. At this rate a bull would figure as follows: -
Meat - 1,200 lb. at 50 cents per lb. ... 600 dollars Head and hide ... ... ... 200 " Total 800 ''
Cross-breds would compare about the same. Cows would range about 500 dollars each.
Asked if he would sell his herd of buffalo and half-breds to a syndicate, and if so, what would be his lowest figures, the Colonel replied: - "Yes, I would sell; but my figures would scare you so badly I fear that you would never recover. I might sell one half-interest to a company or individual, at what I would consider fair figures, but I would not sell unless I could have the management of the herd."
Certainly the robe of the "seal buffalo " is destined to take a very high place in the fur emporiums of the world. It has all the iridescent qualities of the real sealskin, and is as fine and soft, though longer in the fur, and some are striped like a tiger. All hail! thrice hail to this new and truly American industry. R. C. AULD.