The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-01
WILD WEST SCENES.
Buffalo Blll'S Rough Riders Give
Realistic Performances.
Drew Immense Crowds Of Spectators to
Reservoir Ave. Grounds.


annals Of this country. IL is but few
years since the prairies of the West were
peopled by the red man. the outcasts of
society, the horde of men seeking fortune
in tho mountain fastness and the
heroic guardians OF life ana property
whose daring deeds have been the theme
OF many story Of romance and adven-
ture. This fading memory Of what ac-
tually existed within the present genera
tion Is revived by Buffalo Bill and his
troupe OF wonders which gave exhibitions
OF old time frontier life on the Reservoir
avenue grounds yesterday afternoon and
evening before two great crowds of de-
lighted spectators.
The days OF heroic daring, hairbrendth
escapes dire massacre and wild rides
across the plains were revived by this
wonderfully realistic exhibition. The en-
gine shrek has taken the place of the
red mans war whoop. the shovel and
pickaxe have supplanted the scalping
knife and tomahawk. The prairie fire is
no longer a terror TO the bordes Cf wild
animals, because those freebOnters Of the
frontier have disappeared before the ad
vance OF the white man and civilization.
The times of intense romance and lonly
tragedy are no more and even the re-
membrance OF them as recalled by this
exhibition seems but as dream from the
~
Buffalo Bill. however, does something
more than merely recall things of other
days. He presents the lights and
shadows Of early American life and he has
also gathered the representatives of all
that is daring and romantic in Europe
He inassed on the Reservoir avenue
grounds the rough riders Of the world
and types of the highest military training
OF England. Germany. the United States
and other countries.
1t was an exhibition that from start TO
finish stirred the blood and made tho
heart beat faster. 1t was the sort OF
thing thot pleased everybody.
The Wild West, is, however, something
more than an entertainment; It's educa.
tional and patriotic value Is very great
IL is something which the children enjoy
as we'll rs their elders.
The program was long and comprehen-
sive. The bcholder was transported, as
IL by magic, from the plains Of America to
the deserts Of Arabia, from the German
capitol Co the steppes of Russia from the
torrid cline of Mexico and the home
of the bull fighter to the tepee of the
Indian and the roundup Of the cowboy
And all was life and movement, aud
stamping of horses and clanking Of ssbres
and wild shouts and yells.
In the grand review were introduced
Indians, Czikos, cowboys Mexicans. Cos
sacks. Gauchos, Arabs, scouts, guides and
uniformed detachmcnts Of regular soldiers
of the United States. German English and
Russian armies. The uniforms, the dress
of tho cowboys and the gayly colored
garments and war paint of tthe Indians
all blended in picture Of peculiar fascI-
nation.
From military point of view one of
the finest things on the program was the
drill by veterans of Capt Thorpe's Bat
tory ID, Fifth Regimentt, u. ;. Artillery,
81, .fal - hf,hx
ingly careless ease with which six horses
and heavy cannon were driven on the
run through space but little wider than
the width OF the aXles.
Miss Annie Oakley illustrated her dex
terity in the use of firearms, and Johnnie
Baker, the young American marksman,
attempted the most difficult shots with
success. Col. Cody's unique feats of
sharpshooting while riding at full speed.
showed that he still retained the aim
which once made him a terror to the In
dian.
The equestrian exhibitions were full OF
interest. There were races between
cowboy. Cossack. a Mexican an Arab,
a iucho, and an indian, and hurdle
races between riders mounted on West
ern broncho ponies. The horses used in
the Wild West like the riders, were found
in all parts Of the world.
Perhaps the most exciting feature of
broken ponies by COW boys AS an aid Co
digestion, riding a bucking bronco may
be recommended. 1t is unique in this
that there is nothing like IL. As an eX
ercise il combines the advantages of rid
ing on an express wagon without springs
and travelling up and down on swiftly
running elevator. 1t is an exercise In
which dignity is very much in the way.
The cowboy mounts In any way that he
can-there seems to be no special rules
for this-and he holds on to anything
Which offers The energy OF bronco is
in inverse ratio TO its size, and there
seems to be no fixed limit as to the num-
ber of revolutions per minute which IL
can accomplish. 1t may stand up or lie
down, or Just bucks, but whatever It
docs, IL does thoroughly and with exceed
ing promptness. The rider dismoupts
when the pony pauses TO draw breath
unless the pony draws breath after the
dismounting As an illustration Of the
possibilities of both the animal and the
man, il is most instructive.
Among the other features OF the show
were the cavalry evolutions, and sword and
lance drills, the riding of horses without
saddle or bride by cavalrymeD, the prairie
emigrant train crossing the plains, the
attac,. by Indians and the repulse by
Col. Cody and his cowboys; tho horse
mauship and the native sports and ath-
letic exhibitions of Rifflan Arabians tho
dancing and riding Of the Cossacks, the
pony express, showing how the mails
were carried in the old days; the wonder
ful cxpertness Of the Mexicans with the
lasso, the attack on the Deadwood mail
coach by Indians and the ensuing
fight; and tho buffalo hunt in which
fT.l. l.