The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-27
BUFFALO BILL TO-DAY.
The Great Wild West Show to EN-
hibit Across the River.

Buffalo Bits great entertainment, the
Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders,
will be seen in Indianapolis three times to-
day, a parade in the morning and per-
fcrmances in the afternoon and evening at
the old show grounds on Washington street,
west of the river. The parade will start
at 10 o'clock and will be over the principal
streets. The show exhibited to enormous
crowds at Louisville yesterday.
The present season of the Wild West was
opened in Brooklyn and later in New York,
since which time it has been given through
out New England and Canada. From re-
ports that come from that section it is GER
tain that in many respects the whole pro-
gramme is an improvement over the adj
mirable display made in this city in 1896.
All the original features, including the In
dian tribes, the old stage coach, the sharp
shooting and exhibition of the bucking
horses are retained, but the department
illustrating trained horsemanship has been
enlarged and it's attractiveness greatly en-
HANGED.
Especial interest will attach to the troop
of United States cavalry, which gives daily
a remarkable object lesson in the training
Of horses. The men, who are ali genuine
soldiers, on furlough and not professional
equestrians from the circuses took in hand
at the beginning of the season, only a few
weeks ago, a herd of Western range bron-
chOs that were about as green" as any
mounts ever given to a body of cavalry
The animals had been busted" as the
cowboys say, ana that was all. That Is,
they had been "rOped" and saddled in a
corral, mounted and ridden until tired
down into quasi submission. Some of them
had been ridden but once, and then by I'M
throWable 'brOnchO busters" who, with
whips, spurs and powerful curb bits had
thrashed, roweled and ''yanked" them into
the degree of nonresistance that is sup
posed to render them fit for cowboy riding
They are all spirited and handsome ami
mails, symmetrical, high-headed, slender
limbed and pure white in color, with long
flowing names and tails, and the cavalry
men, delighted with them, set about their
education.
This was task of no mean difficulty.
Most of them were wild as hawks, and it
was necessary to teach them first that their
new owners were their masters and, sec
Ond, that their masters were their friends.
This accomplished, they were gradually
made acquainted with their new duties.
They were uncommonly intelligent as well
as handsome, and soon as they under
stood what was wanted of them, they
picked up very quickly the ordinary drill
of troop. Then began their training for
the eYolutions which form striking a
feature of the Wild West exhibition. The
whole of this training which took place at
Ambrose Park Brooklyn, during a spell of
bitterly cold and rainy weather occupied
only two weeks, and then the troop made
square Garden in N York tpdt Many people
possibility to give unbroken horses so ex-
cellent q training in short time; but
facts arc stubborn arguments, and there is
ample proof to substantiate them in this
case. The horses have much to learn, es
pecially in the way of steadiness, but no
day passes without an addition to their
That such a task could be achieved is an
attestation of. the. practicability and
thoroughness Of the instruction now given
in the United States cavalry. The cavalry
men is no longer a mere machine, called
upon only for the routine of drill and dis
cipline. He is given q physical education
taught much about horse that was previ-
ously known only to veterinarians, and is
SHOWN how to train ms mount. All TINS
instruction is given in manner that COM
bines pastime with duty, and the men take
it up with eagerness.
Colonel Summers regiment, from which
the troop now with Colonel Cody comes,
is stationed at Fort Meyer Va, near Wash
ington, and is famous not only for its per-
lection in drill, but also for the skill of
its soldiers in the exercises such as are
to be seen in the Wild West exhibition.
Few distinguished visitors to the national
capital go away without making trip to
the fort to see the cavahymen at their
work and play, and their fame is known
in military circles the world over. There,
as at West Point. all the exercises take
place on a smooth, level surface, which
everywhere affords a good footing for the
thoroughly trained horses, While at the
Wild West the caValrymen perform their
feats in the open air on grounds that are
rough, uneven, hard in some spots muddy
in others, and in places soft, grassy turf
That the men accomplish on such grounds,
with half-trained horses. feats of horse
manship never before performed here, even
by the highest salaried bareback riders in
the narrow limits Of a circus ring. seems
remarkable to all who have had the
privilege Of witnessing them.
Sergeant Thomson, who is in command
of the detail, has served ten years in the
regular army and was in the last Pine
Ridge war being commended for bravery
Corporal Weinart received a congressional
medal for gallautry at Wounded Knee. Col.
Sumner. Of the Sixth United States Cavalry
was in a box the opening night in New
York. ard complimented his men on their
debut for their success with the Western
range horses. it being the first experiment
of the kind This shows the availability in
the national emergency of the immense
herds Of these hardy animals in case OF
war.
Colonel Cody himself maintains in a re-
markable way his vigor and experiences IN
horsemanship. and as a marksman he con-
times to be q heroic feature Of the Wild
West show. as he will always remain prom
inent as n conspicuous figure in the frontier
history Of this country.