170

the exciting drama with the deepest interest, and
when the accident occurred was leaning far over the
railing. Near the close of the last act there was a
trial of skill between Buffalo Bill and other scouts in
the troupe at shooting glass balls sprung from a trap.
The rifles need in shooting at the glass calls were
loaded with bullets, but the charge of powder was
supposed to be so small as not to give
the bullets any penetrating power, except at
such a short distance as the width of the stage.
For some reason, Buffalo Bill was not fortunate in
his aim on the opening night. Owing to want of
practice, short of range, or the way in which the rifles
were loaded, he did not strike the balls as often as
expected, and this circumstance seemed to disturb
him. During the shooting he missed six balls in
succession, and misses appeared to be the rule and
hits the exception. The contest was then stopped,
and Buffalo Bill, mounting his pony, waved adieu to
the gathered Indians and scouts, and rode up an
ascent representing a mountain, taking his victorious
leave, as it were, accompanied by the plaudits of
the encampment. As he rode up the mountain
he fired two shots from the rifle with
which he had been shooting at the glass
balls. The two shots were fired upward. One of them
did no damage, the bullet probably going into the flies
above the scenery, but the second one struck the boy
in the gallery, entering near the shoulder and passing
backward going through the left lung and lodging
somewhere in the back. The ball is so far inward
the doctors have no hope of finding it. Whenever
the wound is exposed the air from the lungs can
be seen passing through it. The boy is kept under
the influence of opiates, and during yesterday weakened
very much.

Mr. Cody, in an interview last night, said that the
shooting was an accident which gave him genuine regret.
He had been shooting at the glass balls with
his Springfield rifle, and the cartridges he used had
small charges of powder, just enough to make the
bullet break the glass. he had no idea that the charge
of powder was sufficient to carry the bullets from one
side of the theatre to the other. He had tried them
yesterday just to satisfy himself, and found that the
bullets did not even penetrate a piece of wood as thin
as the side a cigar box.

In firing at the glass balls he always stood rear the
footlights and shot backward, the bullets lodging in
a large target of [softwood?] suspended in the rear
of the stage. The firing at glass balls had ceased, and, mounting his pony, he proceeded to make his final exit, going up a "run" at the back of the stage representing a mountain. The Indians of his troupe had not been doing as well as usual, as it was the first night, and they had not been properly stirred up. They are a very excitable people, and the least little thing that starts their enthusiasm. For the purpose of stirring them to such a show of wildness as would make the close of the performance exciting to the audience, he shouted as he urged his pony forward and fired two shots in the air.

He had two kinds of cartridges in his belt to use in the rifle. One which were blank cartridges, and the others which he had used in shooting at the glass balls, had bullets in them. By mistake, he says he must have got hold of one of the wrong cartridges. Still, if the boy had worn a coat, the bullet probably would not have scratched him. But as he was in his shirt sleeves it penetrated the flesh. It was one of those accidents that happen once in a lifetime, and he was really and truly sorry for it. He had been to see the boy, and spent some time with him. He had been informed on good authority that the wound was not at all dangerous, and he intended, with the consent of the parents, taking the boy along with him as soon as he recovered. He was very sure that the reported dangerous character of the wound was an utter mistake.

the exciting drama with the deepest interest, and when the accident occurred was leaning far over the railing. Near the close of the last act there was a trial of skill between Buffalo Bill and other scouts in the troupe at shooting glass balls sprung from a trap. The rifles need in shooting at the glass calls were loaded with bullets, but the charge of powder was supposed to be so small as not to give the bullets any penetrating power, except at such a short distance as the width of the stage. For some reason, Buffalo Bill was not fortunate in his aim on the opening night. Owing to want of practice, short of range, or the way in which the rifles were loaded, he did not strike the balls as often as expected, and this circumstance seemed to disturb him. During the shooting he missed six balls in succession, and misses appeared to be the rule and hits the exception. The contest was then stopped, and Buffalo Bill, mounting his pony, waved adieu to the gathered Indians and scouts, and rode up an [accent?] representing a mountain, taking his victorious leave, as it were, accompanied by the plaudits of the encampment. As he rode up the mountain he fired two shots from the rifle with which he had been shooting at the glass balls. The two shots were fired upward. One of them did no damage, the bullet probably going into the flies above the scenery, but the second one struck the boy in the gallery, entering near the shoulder and passing backward going through the left lung and lodging somewhere in the back. The ball is so far inward the doctors have no hope of finding it. Whenever the wound is exposed the air from the lungs can be seen passing through it. The boy is kept under the influence of opiates, and during yesterday weakened very much.

Mr. Cody, in an interview last night, said that the shooting was an accident which gave him genuine regret. He had been shooting at the glass balls with his Springfield rifle, and the cartridges he used had small charges of powder, just enough to make the bullet break the glass. he had no idea that the charge of powder was sufficient to carry the bullets from one side of the theatre to the other. He had tried them yesterday just to satisfy himself, and found that the bullets did not even penetrate a piece of wood as thin as the side a cigar box.

In firing at the glass balls he always stood rear the footlights and shot backward, the bullets lodging in a large target of [softwood?] suspended in the rear of the stage. The firing at glass balls had ceased, and, mounting his pony, he proceeded to make his final exit, going up a "run" at the back of the stage representing a mountain. The Indians of his troupe had not been doing as well as usual, as it was the first night, and they had not been properly stirred up. They are a very excitable people, and the least little thing that starts their enthusiasm. For the purpose of stirring them to such a show of wildness as would make the close of the performance exciting to the audience, he shouted as he urged his pony forward and fired two shots in the air.

He had two kinds of cartridges in his belt to use in the rifle. One which were blank cartridges, and the others which he had used in shooting at the glass balls, had bullets in them. By mistake, he says he must have got hold of one of the wrong cartridges. Still, if the boy had worn a coat, the bullet probably would not have scratched him. But as he was in his shirt sleeves it penetrated the flesh. It was one of those accidents that happen once in a lifetime, and he was really and truly sorry for it. He had been to see the boy, and spent some time with him. He had been informed on good authority that the wound was not at all dangerous, and he intended, with the consent of the parents, taking the boy along with him as soon as he recovered. He was very sure that the reported dangerous character of the wound was an utter mistake.