The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-18
THREE MEN OF EARLY WICHITA.

cent. taciturn. silent, exclusive; at times
morose and GUM. William Cody IS dash
ing. diplomatic. polite, sociable "a verit-
able mixer" and blase No two men
were ever so diametrically different in
every element of character and tempera-
ment. The one has a heart which takes
in all humanity. gentle, considerate and be-
nign. The other. while always pleasant
and genial. has made life study of the
art Of being agreeable. of posing for eff
feet Both are experts in the same line.
each entitled to merit. and worthy OF the
highest esteem. There was no controversy
between the two men relative 10 their
respective merits; neither questioned the
prowess. skill nor inherent courage of the
other. Each recognized in the other those
sterling qualities Of manhood which pro-
duced a half century ago a-sturdy se
o! indomltable frontiersmen, trappers.
pathfinders across the trackless prairies.
scouts and indian fighters.
Mathewson was born in New York in
1880. and at IS years of age drifted into
the untried west, in response TO promptings
OF a rowing disposition. His first experience
was at the headwaters of the Missouri in
the employ of the Northwest Fur company.
He was in his prime, OF magnificent
physique, standing over six feet, of en-
during physical power and strength, and
commanding presence Had he had a mil
tary'training he would have made an ideal
commander of men. Among the Comanche
Indians he was known as "Sintza Siba,"
or Long Bearded Dangerous Man" For
years he was the best known Indian trad
er, mediator and scout on the plains, the
personal friend and companion of such
famous frontiersmen as St. Vrain, Kit Car
son. Bridger Maxwell and Colonel Bent.
He was in every respect the equal Of these
men. and in some respects their superior.
In 1853 he drifted to the Arkansas and
established a ranch on Walnut and Cow
creeks in the heart of the Indian country
and the buffalo ranges. Once with three
others he stood at bay for two days 400
Cheyennes, killing many of their number,
including the chief. His ranch was often
visited by Generals Sheridan and Sher-
man and many other military celebrities,
and Henry N. Stanley. who was then cor
respondent for a New York paper. He
was a government scout for two years,
and from 1865 to 1873 rescued forty-two
women and children from the Indian
tribes and returned them safe to the
states. About the time of the founding of
Wichita he and J. r. Mead were business
partners as Indian traders among the
Kiowas and Comanches lat Fort Sill. One
day there came to his ranch on Walnut
creek. near Great Bend, a teamster in a
wagon train sick. He remained three
months at the ranch and during this time
learned all his Indian lore from Mathew
son and his men. This was Cody. They
did not meet again until IS In the mean
time Cody had made good use of what he
had learned first at Mathewson's camp
and established his reputation as a scout.
His affable manners, social nature and
fine. imposing presence soon won for him
the esteem of the army officers, and he
was pushed along and made much of.
while Mathewson on the contrary avoided
them and preferred to live in quiet. Long
years before Cody appeared on the scene.