Evening star., 1898-05-09

An Attractive Parade and an Excel
lent Performance.

lent performance.
Buffalo Bill, with his Wild West show and
his Congress of Rough Riders, has always
had strong following in Washington, and
the crowds which turned out to see his
parade this morning showed that his popu-
larity has not lost since his last visit to
the capital city. There is nothing like a
Buffalo Bill parade. 1t is picturesque,
brilliant, martial show in itself, and gives
an adequate suggestion Of the originality,
scope and purpose of the real show to fol-
low. One Of its great features Is its cosmo-
politan aspect, with its riders from almost
every known country Of Importance, it's In
dams In full war paint and costume, and
the hundred and one other attractive de-
tails that go to make up the attractive pic
ture. The parade this morning passed over
the principal thoroughfares of the city and
was greeted at every point by admiring
hundreds, who did not fail to recognize and
give hearty welcome to the originator of the
enterprise, Col. Cody. The cowboy band,
of thirty-six pieces, mounted on splendid
horses was followed by the Indians, each
one in gaudy paint and decked out with
flaming feathers and robes, the picturesque
Bedouins, Cossacks, those splendid horse
men, whose skill and daring has excited
the wonder of the old world; detachments
from the crack military bodies of Europe,
bodies of troops from Central and South
America, and lastly detachment from our
own United States army, with a battery of
artillery, magnificent looking lot of fell
lows that completely eclipsed the other fea-
lures of the parade, at least in the patriotic
eyes of those who viewed the scene. The
herd of buffalo, the wild steers and danger
Gus trick horses were not in the parade, of
course, for it would not be exactly safe
to allow wild western buffalo. even If he
were one of the last specimens of his race,
loose on Pennsylvania avenue with so many
of Washington's citizens in close proximity.
One incident that occurred along the line
n m eYcite1 much and
thusiasm. AS the brave little band of CA
bans one OF their number riding with the
reins wound around the stump of his left
arm, carrying the flag for which they have
fought so long and so bravely, passed the
Hotel Raleigh, in which the Cuban lega-
uon Is located 1t was greeted with a great
cheer. Nearly all of the members of the
legation in town occupied prominent places
of vantage and every one of them saluted
the flag as 1t passed by, raising his hat
The riders responded and the flag was dip
ped. Indeed, the flag and the little band,
preceded by the troop of U. 8. regulars. ex-
cited very general comment and enthus-
iasm all along the line.
The matinee performance this afternoon
brought out one Of the largest crowds in
the history of such shows in this city. The
show is essentially the same that Col. Cody
has been presenting for some years
past, except that its scope has been
broadened from year to year. One
of the new features this season is the
addition of the band of Cuban veterans to
the show, 1.-The real thing" who make
charges and counter charges on the mimic
battlefield in a most realistic manner.
Next to the Cubans, and vieing with them
in popular attention, was the detachment
of United States troops that put up q drill
which could not possibly be surpassed by
any soldiers in the world. The wild west
flavor was impaired by the exhibition of
the Indian mode Of fighting, the cowboys,
the historic stage coach and the thrilling
buffalo hunt that ended the show. OF
course, there were exhibitions of shooting
and the like, and the immense audience
of horsemanship and skill with the rifle and
pistol in manner that could leave no
doubt of its sincerity. The performances
will be repeated tonight at o'clock. to-
morrow afternoon at 2 and tomorrow night
again at 8. the last performance in this
city.