A ROMANCE.
A STORY FROM REAL LIFE.
SINGULAR COINCIDENCE OF NAMES AND CIRCUMSTANCES CONNECTED THE BUFFALO BILL COMBINATION.
The Buffalo Bill Combination, which appeared in the Opera House last evening in the drama of the "Prairie Wail," played in Davenport, Iowa, a week ago last Thursday evening. A day or two later a lady called at the Davenport Gazette office and related a story, which, garnished by the facile pen of some novel writer, would make an intensely interesting romance. She appeared deeply agitated, and, after introducing herself, propounded the following query: "Can you describe Miss Lizzie Fletcher who personated "Ouita" in the "Prairie Wailf," and do you know the route of Buffalo Bill's Combination? The reporter became interested and elicited the following narrative.
The questioner's name is Mrs. Amanda M. Cook, who is now living in Davenport, and her maiden name was Fletcher. Her father's family lived in Derbyshire, England, where Mrs. C. was born in 1850, the eldest of five children, three boys and two girls. Lizzie was the youngest, having been born in August, 1862, in this country. Her parents had crossed the water and settled at a place on the Rock Island branch of the C., B. & Q. railroad, in Henry country, Illinois, called briar Bluff, between Cambridge and Coal Valley.
In 1865, on the 10th of May, Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher and their family of children started by the emigrants' overland route of that time for the [fnr] West. They had traveled without difficulty to Denver where a train of 75 teams was made up to proceed on further West. On the 1st of Augest, 1865, they had reached within one-half mile of Rock Creeks stage station as it was then known, in Wyoming Territory. There the train camped for dinner with Mr. Fletcher's wagon in the lead, as he was driving horses, while the balance was made up of ox teams. They were sudenly surprised at midday by a band of some three hundred Cheyenne Indians, who at once proceeded in their work of killing and capturing. Mrs. Cook, then a girl of 15 years, saw the savages strike down her mother in quick death and cripple her father. Herself and Lizzie, then just two years of age, were made captive and kept by the Indians until the next April. At the time Mrs. Cook. after several unavailing efforts, was ransomed by an Indian trader near that locality, who is now Mr. Charles Hanger, a prominent citizen of Clinton, Iowa. Lizzie was left to grow up with the Indians, and became a great favorits with the chiefs of the tribe. She was owned by one of the chiefs named Cut Nose.
From that day to this, Mrs. Cook, acting by the impulse of humanity, and in accordance with the dying request of her father, who breathed his last in Ohio some five years ago, has persevered in her efforts to find some trace of the captive sister, Lizzie Fletcher. And she has been so successful as to believe no thtat she is still alive. In 1869 General Custer wrote Mrs. Cook that he had word of a scout name Comstock to the effect that he (the scout) had secu Lizzie, but so closely was she watched that he could not get near her. Four years ago, only, another trace came through a guide and army officer that the captive child was still with the Cheyennes.
Mrs. Cook has some reasons for believing that the "Onita" who represents "The Prairie Waif," and whose name is down on the bills as Miss Lizzie Fletcher, is none other than her own sister, Lizzie Fletcher, who at two years of age was separated from her. And among them are these: the names are the same, and this can be accounted for from the fact at the time of the capture there were two half-breeds with the Cheyennes who could talk English and to them Mrs. Cook told her sister's full name. She thinks it would easily have been preserved. The apparent age of "Onita" compared with that of the lost lizzie, who would not if alive be 18 years old. The plot of the play is almost exactly in accordance with Mrs. Cook's experience in some of its parts. And again, in the fourth act of the play a band of Cheyenne Indians appeared in some of these scalp and way dances. Once more, Mr. Cook says that she remembers that Mr. Cody, (Buffalo Bill) was then famous in that country as an Indiana scout and guide.
With all these resemblances one thing seems quite true and that is if "Onita" is not the Lizze Fletcher of the massacre the character that she represents in founded upon history. By spreading this information western papers may be of some assistance in recuing the Indian girl, who is certainly thought to be alive. The story is an any event on stranger than fiction, while no attempt has been made to go outside the bare and the main facts in the case.
Mrs. Cook became so firmly convinced that Miss Fletcher was her long lost sister that she sent a representative to Bloomington and he was here when the Buffalo Bill party arrived this morning. He proceeded to interview Miss Fletcher but that young lady traced back her family relations, demonstrating beyond a doubt that she was another person of the same name, and the gentleman left for Davenport this afternoon, carrying to the anxious sister the sad news of hope agaia deferred. The above article was sent to Mr. Cody, with the following letter:
OFFICE OF THE DAVENPORT GAZETTE,
DAVENPORT, Ia, Sept. 26, 1880.
Hon. W. F. Cody, Bloomington, Ill.:
MY DEAR SIR:--I enclose you a clipping from the Gazette, which pertially explains itself. The lady mentioned, Mrs. Cook, desired to have me write to see if theere is anything more than the identy of names. Will you show the article to Miss Fletcher, and write me if you or she knows anything in connection with the case, and much oblige.
Yours, very truly,
B. F. TILLINGHAST,
City Editor Davenport Gazette.
To which Mr Cody replied:
BLOOMINGTON, Sept. 30, 1880
B. F. Tillinghast:
DEAR SIR:--Your favor of the 26th and clipping of the Gazette at hand, I am very sorry to say that the Miss Lizzie Fletcher of my company, who is playing the part of Onieta, is not Mrs. Cook's sister, although the circumstances connected with her capture are very cimialr to the story of my drama, "The Prairie Waif," I will have "John A. Stevens," the author, write Mrs. Cook where he obtained the incidents connected with the plot and story of the play. I knew of the massacre of the Fletchers and the capture of the two girls, but had forgotten it until it was brought to my mind through the columns of your paper. I knew "Comstock," the scout that "Custer" spoke of, very well. he was killed in July, 1868, by the Cheyenne dog Soldier's While, scouting in Western Kansas. I know other interpreters and scouts now with the Cheyennes, and will do all in my power to find the whereabouts of her long lost sister. The white men Mrs. Cook speaks of must have been Charlie and George Bent. Charlie is dead, but George still lives. I will write him and forward to you whatever information I can learn. It is more than probable that Miss Lizzie Fletcher still lives and is yet a captive among the Indinas. In the year of 1869 I rescued two white women from the Cheyennes. One was wounded by a squaw while attempting her excape, and afterwards died from the effects. The other is living. If I cann lean her address I will write her the full particulars of the case. I know that she will do all that is possible to learn the fate of Miss Lizzie Fletcher.In 1868 I was a prisoner among the "Kiawas." While there I saw two white girls, but could not get a chance to speak to them or effect their escape at the time I made mine, so closely were they watched. I think that General Nelson Miles afterwards rescued them. One of them might have been Miss Cook's sister, as the Kiawas and Cheyennes used to trade together, and the Kiawas might have bought her from the Cheyennes. Mrs. Cook might gain some very important information by writing to General Nelson Miles, headquarters Department Dacota. St. Paul, Minn. Assure Mrs. Cook that I shall try to learn some clue that will lead to the recovery of the missing girl, and whatever I may learn in the future I will immediately forward to you. My present address is North Platte, Lincoln county, Nebraska. All letters addressed to me there will receive prompt attention. Trusting that success will soon be Mrs. Cook's reward, I remain,
Yours truly,
HON. Wm. F. Cody,
(Buffalo Bill.)
St. Louis Times
Buffalo Bill at Pope's Theater.
A better selection for fair week could hardly ahve been made than that to which Pope's theatre is given up. It is calculated to fill the country cousins with delight, and draws a large and unusual element of the home population. The house was packed last evening, and the thrilling scenes of border tragedy elicited unstinted applause. The gods went wild over so much bloodshed, and became at times uproarious. The central figure is, of course, "Buffalo Bill," or as he is known in civilized communities, W. F. Cody. He is the hero in one adventure after another, and gives a pretty exhibition of his powers in rifle shooting. The principal feminie characters, Onita and Sadie, are well sustained by Miss Lizzie Fletcher and Miss Connie Thompson.
The play is made realistic and exciting by the intoducrtion of war and scalp dances by Cheyenne Indians. The scenery is an entertainment of itself. The second act shows Buffalo Bill's home in the mountain gorge, and is a fine piece of work.
The management recognized the fact that nobody wishes to be shut up while Veiled Prophets' procession is in progress, and hence announce that the performance will not commence to night till 9:30. This will give visitors in the city full time to see the pageant and enjoy the unusual attraction at the theatre.
Omaha Herald.
DISTINGUISHED DINERS.
A "Herald" Man Comes Across Them on a Trip East.
Overland With Buffalo Bill----Garfield's Processional Pose.
NEW YORK, August 11, 1860.
To [?] Herald.
Somehow or other--perhaps through the same occult attraction which draws the members of the HERALD staff toward the biggest fight or the loudest racket--the laying-off one found his feet under the mahogany with two distinguished diners on a late trip east, and found them so interesting--the diners--that he is impelled to record what our late friend, A. Ward, would call "big impresshuns."
W. F. CODY,
whose business name is Bufalo Bill, was a fellow-traveler over the Northwestern road from Omaha to Chicago, making the trip in that royal way which, as he observes, is "necessary in my business." He was on his way to New York, where he opens the season with his theatrical company on the 23d inst. Mr. Fant, the Texas cattle dealer, was on the train and rallied the gentleman from Nebraska regarding his devotions, which brought out this little story:
Shortly before Mr. Cody started east he yielded to the solicitations of his family to attend church, and went with them to a service at North Platte. The leader of the choir--a ladt--missed the proper pitch in the opening hymn:
"My soul be on they guard, Ten thousand foes arise!"
and her voice "arose" to a shrill falsetto above high C. She scored for another start with no better success, and yet a third time warbled
"Ten thousand foes ari-i-ise."
When the impulsive Mr. Cody sung out, "make it five thousnad and maybe I can start in." There was a tableau, and he hasen't been to church since.
Uniformly polite as he is toward the fair sex, Mr. Cody yet was constrained on this trip to place one of them in an embarrasing predscament. The luxuriant locks which fall over his shoulders became annoying, and forthwith their owner summoned one of the [Pulimac?] porters to get him a hairpin. "Must have one. It's necessary in my business," rejoined Mr. Cody. The porter left the state room, went through both cars, found that all of the ladies had either retired for the night or were dozing in their seats, and returned empty handed to the state room. He did not dare enter, and after standing outside irresolutely started for a rear seat where a lady say asleep with her head bent foawaed. The porter stealthily removed the coveted toilet "property" from her back hair, and returned triumphatly with it to Mr. Cody, who thanked him without asking where it ceme from, and proceeded to do up his own tresses.
DE GLOYER GARFIELD
