Hon. W. F. Cody-"Buffalo Bill."
We give in this weeks' issue a picture of Hon. W. F. Cody, a man known the world over as a border hero of whom too much cannot be said in the way of praise for valuable aervices rendered the Government as an army scout, guide, and Indian fighter.
Born in Iowa in 1843, at a time when the State was a border, and at an early age going with his father to Kansas, in the midst of the troubles there that "tried men's souls" William f. Cody was reared amid scenes of danger, and met with many thrilling adventures here he reached his thirteenth year, becoming a "boy hero" when killing his first Indian before he entered the teens.
the death of his father, from the reslut of wounds recieved in the Kansas War, left the boy the support of his mother and sisters, and, precocious for his years, he joined an emigrant train as teamster, and rapidly rose from that position to hunter and guide over the overland trails to the Far West.
Of his numerous adventures, narrow escapes, Indian battles, and hardship volumes could be written, for he made his name famous along the border from Utah to Texas, and, though a mere boy in years, few men were his superior in strength and endurance, while the cunning, and, in fact, won the name of being able to "out-Injun, Injun."
Of Mr. Cody's gaining the title of "Buffalo Bill" several stories are told, one of which is that when a boy-hunter to one of russel, Major, and Wadell's trains carrying government supplies west to the forts, he was alone on the prairie one day hunting, when he espied a tremendous herd of buffaloes coming toward him at full speed.
The train encampment was miles away, the boy was on foot, and there was but one chance to escape being trampled to death, and that was to reach a lone cottonwood tree some distance off.
A fleet runner, he gained the tree, and drew himself up into the branches just as the herd of thousands of buffaloes coming tearing along beneath him.
Scarcely hah he menatly congratulated himslef upon his lucky escape, when he espied behind the herd half a hundred Sioux warriors in full pursuit, and he knew that they would make short work of him, for they would also pass under the tree.
To remain was certain death, and his fetile mind saw a chance, one in a thousand, and he seized upon it at once.
