Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-05-25
the WILD WEST.
A Splsndid Exhibition to an I'm
mense Audience.
Buffalo Bill the Victim of Painful but not
Serious Accident - The
Programme.

y
afternoon, By Buffalo Bill and his unique
OF cowboys, vsnqueros, Indians
LADY msrksmen and riders. buffslos, Next
can buros, mustangs, and shooting irons,
proved what it was confidently expected to
be-one OF the most interesting and IN
structive entertainments ever given in this
city. So confident were the public in the
promises of Messrs. Cody & Salisbury that
they turned out to the number OF six or
seven thousand, and greeted every feature
upon the long programme with rounds OF
hearty applause.
The rain of early morning had left the
fair grounds track in prime condition ard
cooled the atmosphere to most agreeable
temperature, and nothing was thus wanting
which could contribute TO the enjoy ment CT
the occasion. The parade at 10 o'clock
drew almost the entire population into the
streets, and the passage of the long line OF
COWBOYS, frontiersmen and Indians proved
q most interesting sight AS early as |
O. clock people began TO flock to the Island
and when the hour of 2:30 arrived, fixed
upon for the Inauguration Of the pro,
ersmme there were not less than 5000
people within the enclosure, while hundreds
watched the eceHe from the roofs of build
ings in the city and from the slope OF Chap
line Hill. The grand stand was the Mecca
toward which all turned their steps after
entering The Fair Ground gates
and, although it holds about 1900, seats
we're soon at premium, and the crowd be-
gan to string along the quarter stretch
fence until it stood two or three deep for
quarter Of a mile.
The reporters stand was occupied by
Mr.. Frank Richmond, the clever director
OF the performance, and at 2:30 he opened
the entertainment by grand
paraded BY the entire strength Of the com
pany, he announcing the identity of each
individual or group as they few by on
horseback There were over two hundred
people, of whom one hundred and thirty
were Indians, the latter of the Sioux and
Commanche tribes and as the braves
psraded past in all the glory of little clothes
and much paint, they presented striking
and picturesque spectacle.
OF the long programme it is impossible
to speak in detail. The illustration of
the old pony express, by which the mails,
in snti-Pscifc railroad days, we're
carried between the Missouri river and the
Pacific slope at an astonishing speed and
at fabulous rates of postage, the presenta'
ton of the we'll known Sergeant Bates, the
laughabe exhibition of the difficulties OF
riding a buckiug horse, the buffalo hunt,
the lassoing of cattle, the battle between
Indians and cowboys, the attacks on the
old Deadwood coach, and on the settler 9
cabin, the war" and grass dances Of the
Indians-all were enacted in the most sat
isfactory and realistic manner. The exhi-
bition Of Workmanship was little short OF
wonderful, and one is at loss to decide
whether Miss Lillian Smith, Miss Annie
Oakly, Johnnie Baker, the KID" or But
fslo Bill himself is entitled to the most
praise.
The one unfortunate feature OF the day
was an accident to Mr.. Cody in
his representation Of his celebrated
duel with The Cheyenne chief, Yellow
Hand, in the month following the Custer
massacre. The Sioux Chief American
Horse was personating Yellow Hand, and
the two had clinched, separated, and each
started to dismouut The Indisn had
losped to The ground, and Buffalo Bill was
following, when his left leg caught in the
bride Of American Horses animal,
and the heavy strap held the
f;ontiersman as in vice for sew
eral minutes, despite the exerlions of sew.
eral men TO free him. When at last he
was released, be endesvored to go on, but
the pain from bis leg was too grest, and
he was assisted to the reporters
stand and Drs. Hazlett and Garrison ." ,r.
moned, who after an -,,a,;on No
hounceu 'nF "".uscles just beneath and be-
IT, r." rne knee very badly torn and wrench.
ed, and advised perfect quiet for few
days. Notwithstanding this, however, Mr..
Cody, although suffering excrutistipg pain,
insisted on giving his exhibition Of marks.
msuship, but he was soon forced to seek
the shelter Of his tent, where the I'M ured
limb IVES dressed. He was afterwards re.
moved TO his room at the Mcclure House,
where he wac rapidly mending last night
He will ba on hand this afternoon, and
will go through his portion of the perform.
ance.
This afternoon the programme OF yes
terday will be repeated, aud all who desire
to wit1ess remarkable exhibition should
attend. The com bination leaves this even
ing for Cumberland. Hsgerstown, and
Frederick City, reaching Washington. D.
G., Saturday From there they go on to
the Eastern cities, and will spend the sum
mer on Staten Island. Next May The
troupe will 20 to Europe, and will proba-
bly, remain abroad two or three years.