| Page 22THE NOTED SCOUT.
A Heral Reporter's Visit to the Renowned Buffalo Bill Yesterday.
A Chat on Inians, Scalp-Raising, and the stage Business.
A Ohat on Indians, Scalp Raising, and the Stage Business.
A Herald representative called last evening on the redoubtable "Buffalo Bill," Hon. William F. Cody, the renowned Indian fighter and hunter, whose handsome personal appearance and genial bearing is well known to the citizens of Cleveland, and questioned him in regard to the many strange and romantic incidents of a life which is more fit to adorn the pages of romantic reality than any of the brain which sould suggest any of the heroes of the "Leather Stockings" tales. Born upon the Western prairies, and reared amid wild scenes of tumult, his father murdereed in the early days when Kansas with the struggle of a young giant was shaking off the yoke of African slavery, a trained Indian fighter
TAKING HIS FIRST SCALP
at the age of twelve, and having served his young State in earliest manhood as a trusted and an honored member of the Legislature, it is probable that William F. Cody is as well accquainted with all that pertains to the West as any other living man.
"What do you think, Mr. Cody, would secure a better or more successful or economical management of the Indian tribes by the Government?" was asked.
"I think I can sum up my policy in a single sentence. It is this: Never make a single promise to the Indians that is not fullfilled. Agents promise too much. Men of calm, prudent determination must be sent among the Indians as agents. Those who are sent often know nothing of the Indian character, and either through fear, ignorance, or dishonesty are led into making promises which the Government cannot or will not fulfill. Every Indian outbreak that I have ever known has
RESULTED FROM BROKEN PROMISES
and broken treaties by the Government."
"What are your ideas concerning the idea of encouraging agricultural pursuits among the Indians."
"It has already resulted in good and will result in still greater good if honestly and intelligently pursued. You cannot make and Indian work by standing over him with a shotgun. He must be taught that it is to his interest to do so, and brought into it by degrees. Too much cannot be accomplished all at once. But if a wise, firm policy is pursued the Indians will gradually drift into agricultural pursuits."
Mr. Cody thought that the recent outbreak among the Utes was caused by the Indians being badly treated.
He knew that for years miners, contrary to treaty, had been settling upon their lands. The Utes had protested and the Government paid no attention to them, and they had finally taken the matter into their own hands. Mr. Cody had been with the Fifth Cavalry for six years, and he was consequently well acquainted with the Utes. He had taken the first scalp to avenge the Custer massacre. On the same day he also killed Red Knife.
HOW HE GAINED THE TITLE.
The euphonious title of "Buffalo Bill" was gained in this way: In 1867 when the Knasas Kansasroad was being built, I was in the service of the Government. One of the managers of the road came to me and said the men were out of meat, and asked me what I would contract to furnish twenty-five buffaloes a day for. I told him I was in the service of the Government and could not work for him at any price. The company however, made an arrangement with the Government so that I got off. and he hired me at $500 a month to shoot buffalos. I thought $500 per month was the biggest salary any man ever received. I went to work, and in eighteen months I had killed 4,280 buffalos. The "Paddys" employed on the road as a consequence became very tired of buffalo meat. When they saw me coming they knew my appearance heralded a fresh supply of tough buffalo meat, and they said one to another, "Beded, here comes 'Buffalo Bill' agin; sharpen up your grinders, we'll have more buffalo meat now." I soon became known along the entire line of the Kansas Pacific as "Buffalo Bill."
HIS STAGE CAREER.
How the great hunter came to be connected with the stage is as follows, told in his own language:
"It was in the fall of '71," said Bill, "That General Sheridan came to the plains with a party of gentlemen for the purpose of engaging in a buffalo hunt, to extend from Fort McPherson, Nebraska, to Fort Hayes, Kansas, on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, a distance of 228 miles, through the finest hunting country in the worl. In the party were James Gordon Bennett, of the New York Herald, Lawrence and Leonard Jerome, Carl Livingstone, S. G. Heckshire, General Fitzhugh, of Pittsburgh, General AnsonStager of the Western Union Telegraph Company, an other noted gentlemen. I guided the party, and when the hunt was finished I received an invitation from to go to New York and make them a visit, as they wanted to show me the East, as I had showed them the West. I was then in the Department of the Platte, and in January, 1872, Just after the Grand Duke Alexis ' hunt, which, by the way, I organized, I got a leave of absence, and for the first time in my life found myself east of the MIssissippi river. Stopping at Chicago two days, where I was the guest of General Sheridan, I proceeded to New York, where I was shown the 'elephant.' During my visit I attended the performance at the Bowery Theater, in company with Colonel E. Z. C. Judson (Ned Buntline), and witnessed a dramatization of Judosn's story, entitled 'Buffalo Bill' was impersonated by J. B. Studley, an excellent actor, and I must say the fellow looked like me, as his make up was a perfect picture of myself. I had not watched my self very long before the audience discovered that the origional Buffalo Bill was in the private box, and they sommenced cheering, which stopped the performance, and they would not cease until I had shown myself and spoken a few words.
"At the time I had no idea of going on the stage, such a thought having never entered my head. But some enterprising managers, believing there was money in me, offered me as high as $1,000 per week to go on the stage. I told them I would rather face 1,000 Indians than attempt to open my mouth before all those people. I returned to my duties as a scout and during the summer of 1872 Ned Buntline was constantly writing to me to come East and go on the stage, offering large inducements. As scouting business was a little dull, I concluded to try it for awhile, and started East in company with Texas Jack. Met Buntline in Chicago with a company ready to support me.
"We were to open in Chicago in Nixon Amphitheatre on December 16th, 1872. I arrived in Chicago December 12th, 1872. We weredriven to the theater where I was introduced to Jim Nixon, who said, 'Mr. Buintline, give me your drama, as I am ready to cast your piece, and we have no time to lose, if you are to open Monday, and these men who have never been on the stage will require several rehearsals.' Buntline surprised us all by saying that he
HAD NOT WRITTEN THE DRAMA
Yet, but would do so at once. Mr. Nixon said, 'No drama! and this is Thursday. Well, I will cancel your date.' But Buntline was not to ne talked in this way, and asked Nixon what he would rent the theater one week for. 'One thousand dollars," said Nixon. "It's my theater," said Buntline. Making out a check for the amount. He rushed to the hotel, secured the services of several clerks to copy the parts, and in four hours had written the "The Scouts of the Prairie." He handed Texas Jack and I our parts, told is to commit them to memory and report next morning for rehearsal. I looked at Jack's and then at my part. Jack looked at me and said, 'Bill, how long will it take you to commit your part?" 'About seven years, if I have good luck.' Buntline said, 'Go to work.' I studied hard, and next mnorning recited the lines, cues and all, to Buntline. Buntline said, You must not recite cues; they are for you to speak from the last words of the persons who speak before you.' I said, 'Cues bed-d; I never heard of anything but a billiard cue.' Well, night came. The house was packed. Up went the curtain. Buntline appeared as Cale Durg,
AN OLD TRAPPER,
and at a certain time Jack and I were to come on. But we were a little late, and when I made my appearance, facing 3,000 people, among them General Sheridan and a number of army officers, it broke me all up and I could no remember a word. All that saved me was my answer to a question put by Buntline. He asked, 'What detained you?' I told him I had been hunting with me a short time before on the plains, and had been full of his hunt for some time, Buntline saw that I was 'up a stump,' for I had forgotten my lines, and he told me to tell him about the hunt. I told the story in a very funny way, and it took like wild-fire with the audience.
"While I was telling the story, Buntline had whispered to the stage manager that when I got through with my story to send on the Indians. Presenly Buntline sang out, 'The Indians are upon us.' Now this was 'pie' for Jack and I, and we went at those bogus Indians red hot until we killed the last one and the curtain went down amid a most tremendous applause, while the audience went wild.
| Page 22THE NOTED SCOUT.
A Heral Reporter's Visit to the Renowned Buffalo Bill Yesterday.
A Chat on Inians, Scalp-Raising, and the stage Business.
A Ohat on Indians, Scalp Raising, and the Stage Business.
A Herald representative called last evening on the redoubtable "Buffalo Bill," Hon. William F. Cody, the renowned Indian fighter and hunter, whose handsome personal appearance and genial bearing is well known to the citizens of Cleveland, and questioned him in regard to the many strange and romantic incidents of a life which is more fit to adorn the pages of romantic reality than any of the brain which sould suggest any of the heroes of the "Leather Stockings" tales. Born upon the Western prairies, and reared amid wild scenes of tumult, his father murdereed in the early days when Kansas with the struggle of a young giant was shaking off the yoke of African slavery, a trained Indian fighter
TAKING HIS FIRST SCALP
at the age of twelve, and having served his young State in earliest manhood as a trusted and an honored member of the Legislature, it is probable that William F. Cody is as well accquainted with all that pertains to the West as any other living man.
"What do you think, Mr. Cody, would secure a better or more successful or economical management of the Indian tribes by the Governmnet?" was asked.
"I think I can sum up my policy in a single sentance. It is this: Never make a single promise to the Indians that is not fullfilled. Agents promise too much. Men of calm, prudent determination must be sent among the Indians as agents. Those who are sent often know nothing of the Indian character, and either through fear, ignorance, or dishonesty are led into making promises which the Government cannot or will not fulfill. Every Indian outbreak that I have ever known has
RESULTED FROM BROKEN PROMISES
and broken treaties by the Government."
"What are your ideas concerning the idea of encouraging agricultural pursuits among the Indians."
"It has already resulted in good and will result in still greater good if honestly and inteligenly pursued. You cannot make and Indian work by standing over him with a shotgun. He must be taught that it is to his interest to do so, and brought into it by degrees. Too mucg cannot be accomplished all at once. But if a wise, firm policy is pursued the Indians will gradually drift into agriclutural pursuits."
Mr. Cody thought that the recent outbreak among the Utes was caused by the Indians being badly treated.
He knew that for years miners, contrary to treaty, had been settling upon their lands. The Utes had protested and the Government paid no attention to them, and they had finally taken the matter into their own hands. MR. Cody had been with the Fifth Cavalry for six years, and he w2as consequently well acquainted with the Utes. He had taken the first scalp to avenge the CUster massacre. On the same day he also killed Red Knife.
HOW HE GAINED THE TITLE.
The euphonious title of "Buffalo Bill" was gained in this way: In 1867 when the Knasas Pacific road was being built, I was in the service of the Government. One of the managers of the road came to me and said the men were out of meat, and asked me what I would contract to furnish twenty-five buffaloes a day for. I told him I was in the service of the Government and could not work for him at any price. The company however, made an arrangement with the Government so that I got off. and he hired me at $500 a month to shoot buffalos. I thought $500 per month was the biggest salary any man ever received. I went to work, and in eighteen months I had killed 4,280 buffalos. The "Paddys" employed on the road as a consequence became very tired of buffalo meat. When they saw me coming they knew my appearance heralded a fresh supply of tough buffalo meat, and they said one to another, "Beded, here comes 'Buffalo Bill' agin; sharpen up your grinders, we'll have more buffalo meat now." I soon became known along the entire line of the Kansas Pacific as "Buffalo Bill."
HIS STAGE CAREER.
How the great hunter came to be connected with the stage is as follows, told in his own language:
"It was in the fall of '71," said Bill, "That General Sheridan came to the plains with a party of gentlemen for the purpose of engaging in a buffalo hunt, to extend from Fort McPherson, Nebraska, to Fort Hayes, Kansas, on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, a distance of 228 miles, through the finest hunting country in the worl. In the party were James Gordon Bennett, of the New York Herald, Lawrence and Leonard Jerome, Carl Livingstone, S. G. Heckshire, General Fitzhugh, of Pittsburgh, General AnsonStager of the Western Union Telegraph Company, an other noted gentlemen. I guided the party, and when the hunt was finished I received an invitation from to go to New York and make them a visit, as they wanted to show me the East, as I had showed them the West. I was then in the Department of the Platte, and in January, 1872, Just after the Grand Duke Alexis ' hunt, which, by the way, I organized, I got a leave of absence, and for the first time in my life found myself east of the MIssissippi river. Stopping at Chicago two days, where I was the guest of General Sheridan, I proceeded to New York, where I was shown the 'elephant.' During my visit I attended the performance at the Bowery Theater, in company with Colonel E. Z. C. Judson (Ned Buntline), and witnessed a dramatization of Judosn's story, entitled 'Buffalo Bill' was impersonated by J. B. Studley, an excellent actor, and I must say the fellow looked like me, as his make up was a perfect picture of myself. I had not watched my self very long before the audience discovered that the origional Buffalo Bill was in the private box, and they sommenced cheering, which stopped the performance, and they would not cease until I had shown myself and spoken a few words.
"At the time I had no idea of going on the stage, such a thought having never entered my head. But some enterprising managers, believing there was money in me, offered me as high as $1,000 per week to go on the stage. I told them I would rather face 1,000 Indians than attempt to open my mouth before all those people. I returned to my duties as a scout and during the summer of 1872 Ned Buntline was constantly writing to me to come East and go on the stage, offering large inducements. As scouting business was a little dull, I concluded to try it for awhile, and started East in company with Texas Jack. Met Buntline in Chicago with a company ready to support me.
"We were to open in Chicago in Nixon Amphitheatre on December 16th, 1872. I arrived in Chicago December 12th, 1872. We weredriven to the theater where I was introduced to Jim Nixon, who said, 'Mr. Buintline, give me your drama, as I am ready to cast your piece, and we have no time to lose, if you are to open Monday, and these men who have never been on the stage will require several rehearsals.' Buntline surprised us all by saying that he
HAD NOT WRITTEN THE DRAMA
Yet, but would do so at once. Mr. Nixon said, 'No drama! and this is Thursday. Well, I will cancel your date.' But Buntline was not to ne talked in this way, and asked Nixon what he would rent the theater one week for. 'One thousand dollars," said Nixon. "It's my theater," said Buntline. Making out a check for the amount. He rushed to the hotel, secured the services of several clerks to copy the parts, and in four hours had written the "The Scouts of the Prairie." He handed Texas Jack and I our parts, told is to commit them to memory and report next morning for rehearsal. I looked at Jack's and then at my part. Jack looked at me and said, 'Bill, how long will it take you to commit your part?" 'About seven years, if I have good luck.' Buntline said, 'Go to work.' I studied hard, and next mnorning recited the lines, cues and all, to Buntline. Buntline said, You must not recite cues; they are for you to speak from the last words of the persons who speak before you.' I said, 'Cues bed-d; I never heard of anything but a billiard cue.' Well, night came. The house was packed. Up went the curtain. Buntline appeared as Cale Durg,
AN OLD TRAPPER,
and at a certain time Jack and I were to come on. But we were a little late, and when I made my appearance, facing 3,000 people, among them General Sheridan and a number of army officers, it broke me all up and I could no remember a word. All that saved me was my answer to a question put by Buntline. He asked, 'What detained you?' I told him I had been hunting with me a short time before on the plains, and had been full of his hunt for some time, Buntline saw that I was 'up a stump,' for I had forgotten my lines, and he told me to tell him about the hunt. I told the story in a very funny way, and it took like wild-fire with the audience.
"While I was telling the story, Buntline had whispered to the stage manager that when I got through with my story to send on the Indians. Presenly Buntline sang out, 'The Indians are upon us.' Now this was 'pie' for Jack and I, and we went at those bogus Indians red hot until we killed the last one and the curtain went down amid a most tremendous applause, while the audience went wild.
|
