Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-14
VERY LIKE PIONEER DAYS
North Platte Crowded with Tough Cow
boys and Indians.
RIDE THEIR HORSES INTO THE SALOONS
Irrigation Fair nnd Cody's show At
tract n miscellaneous Collection
of Characters Common to
the wild West.

NORTH PLATTE, Oct. 13-(speclal)-
North Platte never saw such a day as 1t
had yesterday in its history, and 1t is be-
leyed that many years will elapse before
there will be another like IT, 1t was the com
bination OF attractions that tended to swell
the crowds which are estimated at 10000.
Codys show was the big attraction, and
1t was there that every one went. The at
tendance at the afternoon performance was
Is. 900 and at the evening 5000. Cody made
a speech at the afternoon performance
which showed that his heart swelled with
pride at the royal welcome which his home
people gave him. The colonel was at his
best Governor Holcomb, Ex-Governor
Robert W. Furnas and Hon. Jack MacColl
were honorary guests at the opening per-
formance. The bringing of the class of peo-
pie which Buffalo Bill has with him to town
caused reproduction in North Platte OF the
scenes of the COS and '7Os. The American
and Mexican cowboys were here. as well as
the big American Indians The Indians
swarmed through town and the cowboys go'
full and rode their horses into the crowded
saloons. Colonel Cody "set 'em up to tho
town and everybody drank to his health
as a royal good fellow" The old settlers
are now telling stories and recalling
"reminiscences OF the exciting times thirty
years ago. The city was run wide open,'
much to the disgust of the present genera
tion Of citizens who are used to seeing in
North Platte a quiet refined and orderly
city. North Platte never will see such an.
other day with such experiences. The city
has quieted down great deal. as much as
possible with the large crowds which are
attending the fair and reunion.
At the fair grounds yesterday afternoon
Ex-Governor FurEas delivered an excellent
address or the irrigation fair. He paid
glowing tribute to the women for their part
in building the womens art palace. lie said
that the agricultural exhibit was as good
as any that he had ever seen at any fair
in mis- life He spoke in glowing terms OF
the development of the sem-arid regions of
the west.
FINE FISH EXHIBIT.
The fish exhibit in charge OF Robert Ober-
fielder of the fish commission and Superin-
tendent OF Hatcheries o. Brien Is attracting
as large crowds as any other ono thing ON
the fair grounds. 1t was a long distance
to bring the fish, the car being on the way
forty-eight hours. Numerous questions ATE
asked about the big whale which was on
exhibition at the State fair and which
could not be brought here because the
animal decided to quit this life. There are
about fifty varieties of the finny tribe eX-
hibited the largest one being a ten-pound
an illustration Of the political campaign,
there being a large gold fish and sixteen
small ones OF the silver hue. There Is
also on exhibition the historic mermaid"
which has done service at state fairs for
number OF years This time 1t Is labeled
Mermaid caught In the orchard Of w. l..
Park" and many are the questions, asking
II 1t Is really true.
The poultry exhibit is a very creditable
one. o. V. Morrison of North Platte shows
Itch Tnlf NslNt hags
been closely bred and developed for forty
five years. The hens weigh from seven to
nine pounds and the cocks from nine to
thirteen pounds. Martin Gress shows a
Ioudan rooster, Frank Mckinley" which
took first prize at the Ohio State fair this
fall Oscar Back of Council Bluffs has
some fine White Wyandotte chickens here.
Among the other displays are l.. W. Ham
ilton OF Kearney Barred Plymouth Rocks;
Henry Gibbons of Kearrey, Golden Wyan-
dottes: T.. Clwright of North Platte. Brown
Leghorns; NJ. X. Barnum of North Platte,
White Wyandotte, and a. ID. Buckworth,
Barred Plymouth Rocks and Black Leg
horns.
There were 1900 old soldiers on the re-
union ground when the encampment was
Commander James s. Robbins. The camp
is named Camp Lou H. Church. There were
no special attractions at The reunion grounds
today. except the campfres this evening.
Fifteen hundred people assembled at the
campfire in the big tent on. the reunion
grounds tonight and listened to rouslng and
thrilling speeches from National Com
mander-in- Chief Clarkson, Adjutant General
Burmeister and A. Traynor o, General c ark
sons staff General Thayer Tom Majors,
Captain Payne and II. c. Russell. The ap-
plause came forth from the veterans in no
uncertain sound as General Clarkson ap-
pealed to his comrades to stand by their col
ors for protection to their homes and an hon
est dollar for their pensions. Neither Bry-
ans nor McKinley's names. nor the repub-
lican nor democratic parties names, were
mentioned but there was no mistaking the
position of the speakers.