Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-05-17
WESTERLY RANGrP,
uffalo Bil.-A 5gA.se AMI Vaiied
Career.

NuAiu nAAA-A ~ hAhu sAA NaAAoe
Career.
This oclebmted scout, 90 well known
" bis famous exploits and the pen OF
Ned Buntllne, was born In Scott county,
iowa, In 1889. and received the Christian
anne Of William v. Cody. AT ten year
II age he removed with his father, Isaac
Cody, 70 Kansas. The elder Cody was
elected member Of the frst Kansas
Legislature, which met VI Lecompton,
md was one Of the moet active settlers
In the struggle that made " bleeding
Kansas" free State. His life was eac
ificed 10 the cause, as he WINS Killed 10
1886 during the border rufilan war by the
pro-slavery party.
William, In order to support bis sisters
Ind widowed mother. although only 10
years old, entered the service OF Russell,
Major 4 Waddell as frelghter across
he plains, and continued In that employ
nsnt until the establishment of the pony
xpr IS, IN which he was the first rider
tha' II rted on the route. He left this
,uti' ,ss when the telegraph superseded
t, and nler 4 the army az a scout under
)ene'al Blunt, and served 10 the noted
!ompuy known a. the Red-egged
'coLt-. Although not out OF his teens,
Is retmtation as dare devil scout, who
ear, neither hostile Indian nor treach-
roue white man, was widespread. He
'erveh during the war OF the rebellion as
1 scout Ia the army Of the West, and per-
formed marvellous feats Of daring, which
won Tor him many encomlums from the
commander Of that department
AT the close Of the war he was employed
70 hunter for the Kansas Pacific rail-
road at a salary OF $500 a month and
found, and during bis eighteen months
service killed 4, 2S0 buffalo, as recorded on
the books Of the company, which earned
for him the sotibriqtlst which has made
him name and reputation wherever his
native tongue Is spoken, and which has
placed him among the favored list at the
Imperial Court at 81. Petersburg
Subsequently he challenged any man 10
the world to kill that description Of cattl,
with him, and his defiance was accepted
by man named Comstock. Arrangements
were accordingly made, aud the match
took place on Kansas plalns, and wal
witnessed by nearly one thousand persons
who hled hither from all parts. Th'
contest was $500 a side, lasted an entii,
day, and when the slain cattle wer'
counted at night II was found that sixty
nine had met death at the hands of Bill
while his antagonists score numbered
only ffty-four.
At the breaking out Of the Indian wa
Of 1857, he became General Sheridan
scout and guard. During the wiuter O
1868 he was attached TO General Carr
command, and since that time until with
In about three months. has served as
scout to General Sheridan. His thiillln
adventures during his career are too M
merous TO mention In detail, but it ma
be truly said he has never turned his bac
10 mortal foe, and many q redskin ha
taken passage to the happy huntin
grounds on a through ticket, furnishe
through the smooth barrel of his uuerrin
rife. As marksman, as a hunter, as
scout as a horseman, and as a maj
Buffalo Bill may he said to b. the Kin
of the Pralrles. In personal arpearanC
Mr.. Cody Is a model Of manly beauty.
About six feet In height, straight Ms a
arrow, peri, city proportiOned, with 1n'
waving hair failing down upon n
shoulders, large, clear, brown eyes Thu
look calmly upon the most frlghtfl
scenes, he is one to win the admiratiC
OF the fair sex, or lead his fellows In Il
fiercest conflict. Naturally enough,
: all his conflicts he has not passed Vi
scathed, aud many a scar and wout
bears Silent witness Of his bravery, one
which, in his leg, still troubles him 5
verely
He was married at St. Louis in 1856
and to-day is the proud father Of thr
children-two girls and a boy. His so
the eldest, lie named Elmer Judson Cod
I aud hat the sprig Is fashioned after Il
aren't tree may be inferred, whom II
I known that Elmer is famous among /
ula mates as " Kit Carson" as his faith
=, Ia Rinnng his friends as "Bufialo Bill. Z"
As tefore mentioned Mr.. Cody We
' duih . the war, fsvorlte guide for She
, tan nd Custer, aud won the firm person
|, friendship, not only Of those distinguish
> nj ilary men. but all with whom he "
} associated. When the Grand Duke Alea
y vas afforded an opportunity TO hunt bl
g ialo upon the prairles, Mr., Cody "
!. detailed a. bis especial guide, and recelv
!. from the Imperial visitor substRut
: tokens Of his regard.
y At the recent State election he "
y chosen a meAiber Of the Nebraska Leg
= lature, but his taste not being 10 Il
y direction he resigned to undertake I
70 tour of the Eastern States with his frieI
" Colonel Judson and Texas Jack.