BUFFALO BILL.
A Short History of this Distinguished
Native of Scott County.
Hon. W. F. Cody, perhaps better known to the world as "Buffalo Bill,"
arrived from New York by the train from the east last evening, and took up his quarters at the Burtis. A GAZETTE reporter had the pleasure of making his acquaintance an hour later, and from him learned a very little concerning his eventful life. Mr. Cody was born in Scott county, near Le. Claire, in 1845. His father, who is well remembered by early settlers, was Isaac Cody, who on arriving in the then territory of Iowa first made his home in Davenport, afterward residıng at Walnut Grove, 15 mıles north, Claire. When his now-famous son was eight years of age, Mr. Cody removed to Kansas, where a few years later he lost his life in the endeavor to make Kansas a free white State. After his father's death, when young Cody was but 12 years old, the support of his widowed mother and sister devolved upon him, and he took to the plains for a livelihood. Growing up under such circumstances, his natural fondness for excitement and adventure led hım to become a scout and guide, and the most of his life since has been passed as such. For the past 12 years, he has been a guide and chief scout for nearly every military expedition carried on in Nebraska, Dakota, and Wyoming. He was with General Crook, within thirty-five miles of of the Custer massacre at of that terrible slaughter in 1876. The sobriquet of Buffalo Bill was earned while the Kansas Pacific railroad was being constructed when he was employed by the company for eighteen months as a hunter, to provide meat for the scene time The 1,500 men who were working on the construction of the road. During that time he killed 4,280 buffalo. In a single run through a herd one day, on a hoise without a saddle or bridle, he slaughtered 69 buffalo.
For four years past Mr. Cody has been engaged in the stock business, running a ranche at North Platte, Neb. He now owns a herd of 4,000 cattle at that place.
On Monday and Tuesday evening of next week at the Burtis Opera House, he will open out for his eighth annual theatrical season, with the largest combination he ever had. The dramatic portion of the troupe comes from New York, arriving Friday night, while the Indians, from the Indian Territory, accompanied by the Boy Chief of the Pawnees, a white child adopted by the tribe and made chief at the age of 13 years, will come in Saturday morning.
