Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-30
SHERIDAN AND BUFFALO BILL.

How the Noted Scout Gave a Royal Duke a
Wild Ride.
General Sheridan has often visited
Omaha, and his face is familiar to many
of of our citizens, in whose heart he holds
warm place, says a correspondent of the
Omaha Herald OF all his visits to
Omaha none is more memorable than
that in January, 1872, when he and his
staff came here to meet the Grand Duke
Alexis, of Russia, and suite, and to go
with them on a grand hunt in the west
ern part of the state, which was then
thickly populated with buffaloes."
The buffalo hunt, which was conducted
under the direction of General Sheridan,
was very successful affair. The details
were executed by Buffalo Bill, who was a
great favorite with Sheridan. During
the hunt great war dance was given by
Spotted Tail and his Indians, 1900 in all,
who had been brought down from their
agency by Buffalo Bill to entertain the
visitors. On the return from the hunt
the Grand Duke and General Sheridan
took seats in a dOuble-seated open car
rage drawn by four splendid cavalry
horses, which were not much used to the
harness. The driver was Bill Reed, an
overland stage driver. On the way IN
the Grand Duke frequently expressed his
admiration of the sklllful manner in
which Reed handled the reins. Sheridan
informed him that Buffalo Bill had also
been stage driver in the Rocky Noun
tains, and thereupon his Highness ex-
pressed desire to see hin. drive. Buff
falo Bill was in advance and Sheridan
sang out to him: "Cody, get in here and
show the Duke how you can drive. Mr..
Reed will change places with you and
ride your horse" "All right, General"
responded Cody, and in few moments
he had the reins and the bosses were
dancing over the praire. When they
were approaching Medicine Creek, Sheri-
dan said: "Shake 'em up little, Bill, and
give US some oldtime stage driving"
Bill gave the horses crack or two of the
whip, and they struck an unusally rapid
gait. They had a light load to pull, and
kept increasing their speed at every
lump. Bill found it difficult to hold them.
They fairly flew over the ground. At
last they reached steep hill or divide,
which led down into the valley of the
Medicine. There was no brake on the
wagon and the horses were not much on
the hold-back. Bill saw that 1t would be
impossible to stop them. All he could
90 was TO keep them straight in the track
and let them go it down hill for three
miles, which distance was made, it is
claimed, in about six minutes. Every
once in while the wheels would strike q
rut and take a bound, and not touch the
ground again for fifteen or twenty feet
The Duke and the General were kept
rather busy in holding their positions on
the seats, but when they saw that Bill was
keeping tie horses straight in the road
they seemed to enjoy the dash. Bill was
unable to stop the horses until they ran
into the camp where they were to obtain
fresh relay. The Grand Duke said he
didn't want any more of shat kind of
driving, as he preferred to go little
slower. General Sheridan laughed and
said: "That lis nothing unusual in this
Western country. We do every thing out
here with grand rush."