Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-26
BUFFALO BILL
An APPREcIATIvE LETTER con-
CERNlNG WILLIAM r. CODY.
How He Was First brought Into Promi-
nence by the Exertions of Professor
Ward, OF Rocheste-His Life on the
Plains and as q Theatrical Man.
Especial Correspondence.l

lSpeCtnl IOrrespOnuence.I
ROCHESTER, N. Y, May 2l.-Sixteen years
ago last january "Buffalo Bill" was a scout
OF the western plains He was about 50
years old and had never been east OF the Mis-
sissippi river. He was a poor man, who
seemed to have found his place in the world
as hunter, "crack shot" and desirable
escort for parties who would seq life or the
border Of civilization, or rathtr beyond it.
Gen. Sheridan in those days had no lack
of applications from foreign tourists for some
one, the proper person, to conduct them
safely through a buffalo hunt and camp
ing out among the redskins. Happy were
they If Buffalo Bill assumed the responsible
ity, and perhaps nothing surprised them
moro In their strange experience than to find
so true gentleman, man so honest trusty
and high minded, where the opposite had
hardly been out of the order of things
Brave, ready, keen, the perfect confidence he
inspired and never betrayed was not less
than the admiration be was sure to excite
that personal fascination which made the
correspondents of the London press write of
the man as ''sitting his prancing white
horse like a centaur,n possessing ''the courtly
manner of graudee Of old CASTLE" and as
fulfilling every requirement for a hero Of
romance The fact that he is a genuine gem
tleman by nature and was such when be sup
ported his little family at Fort Mcpherson
by his meager earnings, and was good hus.
band and father when the contrary would
hardly have been uncensured, largely ex-
planned his wonderful success.
Professor Henry A Ward, Of Rochester
n. ", the famous natural scientist, had as
much to do with the development of that
success as any one. Perhaps he gave the i'm
pulse TO the evolution.
1t was in January Of 1872 that grand buf-
falo hunt was arranged for the Duke Alexis.
Professor Ward was honored with an invita-
tion, which, he received so late he did not
reach the hunting grounds until the hunt
was over. Not a bad thing for him, how
ever, for he found horses and hunters in
plenty for the scientific ends ne had in view,
and then he met Buffalo Bill for the first
time, and the rifle of the expert hunter was
at once engaged for an expedition In the in
serests of Wards Natural Science establish
ment.
Professor Wards estimate of William F.
Cody has known no decrease from that time
to this. 1t is the old story of enthusiastic
admiration for Buffalo Bill Cody told him
of his invitation to visit New York by the
Unioa club and the Jeromes, and his reluc-
tance to accept Ward urged him to go-in-
sisted upon it; Cody should go east in his
company, which changed the view of the
journey. Finally Cody decided to 60, but
Ward must wait until Mrs. Cody could make
a suit of clothing for the traveller Mrs.
Cody did her best and as speedily as possible,
and, so arrayed, the hunter turned his
face eastward, little thinking he would
return as a scout of the plains no more He