Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-02-19
Fred May and Buffalo Bill.

day Fred May, of New York, and Buff
falo Bill had an alteration at Cham
berlain's, in Washington, on Friday
night. The particulars are as follows
Fred May, the noted New York club
man, met Colonel William F. Cody
buffalo Billy at Chamberlain's Friday,
and some words passed between the
two men, growing out Of row of ten
years standing. May demanded an
apology, and Cody responded in what
he thought was a sufficient PREPARATION.
May insisted on a more profuse apol-
ogy, and showed an ugly disposition,
whereupon Cody promptly knocked
May down, and also floored one of
Mays friends, who interfered.
1t was said at Chamberlain's Satur-
day night that the row has not blown
over, and hat Cody and May are talk
ing of a duel. Mays friends claim
that he would not have been knocked
down but for the fact that he had been
drinking too much wine.
According to an eyewitness OF the
row Cody was provoked into striking
May, and but for the intervention OF
mutual friends blood might have been
shed, as at least one of the party drew
a revolver.
The story of the affair is thus told by
Major Barber, who was connected with
the administrative department of the
Worlds fair at Chicago.
Colonel Cody, accompanied by
Major Barber, Mr.. George Beck, OF
Wyoming, a son of the late Senator
Beck, of Kentucky, and an officer ofthe
army, entered Chamberlain's together
Friday night to take luncheon, as guests
of Colonel Cody. AS they passed
through one OF the lower rooms Colonel
Cody met Fred May, who was with
Colonel L. Victor Baughman, of Mary
land.
"Cody greeted May familiarity, and
asked him how everything was going
May replied in a friendly tone, and
Cody put out his hand and the two men
were apparently good friends. After
exchanging a few commonplace re
marks, May reminded Cody that he had
taken unfair advantage of him in New
York several years ago, and had never
a~pologized, The circumstances of the
long-ago contention, which was over s
bottle of wine, was recalled, and Col
onel Cody said he never took an unfair
advantage of any man, and added tina
if he owed May an apology he would
apologize. Then Colonel Cody ant
his friends proceeded up stairs to take
the luncheon that had been prepared
for them.
SIT was quite late when they came
down stairs, and when they reached
the lower hallway they met May ant
Baughman again. May stepped up t.
Cody, and said, in a tone that was les:
friendly than he had used previously
See here, Bill, you owe me an apology!
81 a%pologized to you some time ago
Fred, replied Cody.
1.-THE apology you offered sale
May, is not sufficient. You took al
Unfair advantage of me, and you art
trying to do the same thing again. ]
won't have it,
"'I am not going around with apollo
gies now replied Cody, his western
spirit warming up.
"'Well, demand an apology, in
sisted May, assuming Threatening atti-
tude, and at the same time drawing his
fist up in a striking position. Before
he knew what had happened, Cody led
out his right hand and lloored May
Baughman rushed to Mays rescue, and
the little Marylander was knocked III
against the wall.
"The friends of both parties rushed
in TO separate them, and May, who bad
gained his feet, made a break for Cody.
Again Cody hit May in the face, and at
the same moment he called to some
one to grab Baughman, who was max
ing an effort to draw q revolver from
his hip pocket. May was hustled out OF
the house, and Colonel Cody went to
his apartments up stairs.
IAN effort was made to suppress the
facts, but it is due to Colonel Cody that
the above statement should be made
Major Barber says the attack upon
Colonel Cody was unprovoked,
and this view of the case is substanti-
ated by John Chamberlain and Others
who were present. All hands con-
denim May, and declare that his con-
duct was not warranted by anything
that Cody said or did. Under the Cir
cumstances, May has but little sympa-
thy, and that night he was nursing a
bruised face and Buffalo Bill is the hero
of the hour at the hotel.