The Portland daily press., 1895-07-22
BUFFALO BILL.
Two Enormous Audiences Attend the Wild
West Show,

Portland's population received a ire
mendous accession Saturday. The rail
roads hadn't enough cars to spare to give
ali their patrons seats. On the mountain
divisions of the Maine Central the aisles
of the cars were blocked with people
standing They swarned in the streets,
they cleaned out restaurants and peanuts
stands; in fact they were ubiquitous. The
morning parade was just what Was ex-
pected A great band of Indians in their
blankets, paint and feathers, squads OF
the crack cavalry of the various nations
all in brilliant uniforms and the old
Deadwood coach, the scene of many an
encounter with the redskins
But it is the show itself that is so ex-
ceedingly attractive. Imagine, not
great canvas tent, filed with perspiring
humanity, but long rows of seats around
three sides of a great arena, the seats pro-
tected from sun and rain, but the arena
open to the heavens. For a background
there was the Back Bay with its waters
deep blue in the sunlight the bluff OF
Munjoy hill its outlines. softened by the
delicate haze, and the observatory and
Shailer school standing out in bold RELIEF.
Tier above tier in the seats were the
forces of the wonderful audience express
ing every shade of emotion. Conceive OF
5000 people at each performance, or 80,
600 in all, and you have such an audience
in point of numbers as used to swarm In
md
and cried when their favorites were
victors or vanquished.
AS for the show itself it was just what
it pretended to be, no more and no less
A great exhibition of craftsmanship by
the rough riders of the world, interspersed
with feats of skill in the use of the rifle
and the lasso, and some wonderful feats
of strength and tumbling by the Riffia
Arab. The very opening of the enter
tainment sent thrill through the specta-
tors. The various bands of Inians, each
followed by its chief, galloped wildly to
the front and saluted. followed by the
various squads of cavalry, that took their
places in the rear. Then came Col Cody,
himself, splendid specimen of physical
manhood, who sat his horse as if he was
part of it, and whose salute was re-
celved with cheers and tremendous ap-
plause Then Indians and cavalry wound
in and out in series of manoeuvres, in
which the intervening colors set off by
the sunbeams, formed most beautiful
Kaleidoscope effect.
Then followed the wonderful shooting
by little Annie Oakley and Johnnie
Baker, who allowed hardly ball to
escape their bullets, even when their
guns were fired from most absurd
positions. Col. Cody's shooting from the
saddle, at galop, was something won
derful. The riding by the Cossacks
distanced the best circus riding for.
attired in costume and heavy boots, they
stood in their saddles, mounted and dis
mounted when the horses were going full
speed. The riding of the bueking
bronchas by the cowboys was something
few would care to attempt The use of
the lasso by the Mexicans and Ganchos
was well illustrated, especially by the
Mexican who kept the loop of the lasso SO
extended he could use it like a skipping
rope But the greatest thrill went
through the audience when all the cavalry
formed in line, and came charging across
the arena at full gallop down to the very
ropes. There were lots of mock battles
with the Indians, and in them the old
Deadwood coach played part, even to
the passenger who insisted upon "belng
left at North Windham.
After the performance, Mr. Fellows,
the press agent, took members of the
press behind the scenes. Here were the
tep Of the Indians, where the various
families live and enjoy themselves in true
Indian fashion, and where little Alice, o
little Indian maiden of five years. shook
hands shyly with all the party. Col Cody
welcomed each one. He wore some
magniio cent medals, set in diamonds, the
gifts of great people the world over. He
needs them not The services he has
rendered this country by his protection of
the frontiersman and their families, and
the al d given our armies, speak louder
than the presents bestowed by foreign
potentates. Col Cody thinks that if it
had not been for the efforts made by the
late Hon. James G. Blaine and by Mr..
Reed, he would not have been able to
have got the Indians from the reserva
tions to form the Wild West Show. The
Portland Natural History Society is also
indebted Indirectly to Col. Cody for the
fine collection of Indian euriosities made
to it by Captain Henry Inman when a
resident of this city
To all who enjoy grand horsemanship
and wonderful skill with the rifle, the
show was perfect delight. To those
who care only for so-called circus,
menagerie and variety shows mingled in
one the show probably did not SO
thoroughly appeal.
NOTES.
Captain Gilbert, who keeps the EN-
ployment Agency on the corner of Con-
gress and Myrtle streets, used to be a
scout under Buffalo Bill Mr.. Cody
Saturday morning recognized him and