The Irish standard., 1899-07-29
THE ADVENTURES OF BUFFALO BILL
Cowardly Indians Frightened By
A Braying Mule.
HIS MEETING WITH "YELLOW HAIR"
The Name Given By Redskins to
General Custer.

Years ago when men OF middle age
to-day were eager schoolboys with a
strong desire concealed about them to
fight Indians. Ned Buntlinc,' then
writer OF lurid mclodramatic, blood
curdling stories, made the reputation OF
William T. Cody and William Hickok,
respectively known to fame as Buffalo
Bill and "WilL Bill" Both of these
men performed notable services on the
great plains i'll the pastimc OF Staying
all the rampant buialocs and in the
more serious duties OF rendering the
wild west tame. Both in course OF time
attracted the title OF colonel by that easy
method OF progression from the grade OF
enlisted men to the eagle without other
warrant than the good wishes OF the
people, so distinctivcly American. Their
careers in this particular reminds one OF
the saying OF Max ORcll, that Gamer
ica has 6o,oooo 900 inhabitants, mostly
colonels." But they did work as valu-
able as that Of any colonel at that.
Buntlinc's yarns, the stories which
from time to time have appeared in
print, and the press notices have never
told the story of the life of either in con-
sccutive form. Hickok has long since
passed over the great divide, but Cody
is still with the show In ORDER there
fore, that the world, and America in par
ticular, might have 4 just idea Of the ca
rcer OF the famous scout, last survivor
OF the band which served under Sheri
dan in the postbcllum frontier troubles.
sister OF Buffalo Bill' has written an
authentic biography. Helen Wctmorc
Cody in Il volume called "Ihc Last ol
the Great Scouts" has given to the world
true story, simply told, OF the career OF
her daring brother.
The narrative would prove interesting
with less interesting subject. 1t is
told in simple language, which at times
rises to distinct merit. This is partic-
ularly true in the descriptive pages
wherein the author displays an intimate
knowledge OF frontier conditions with
considerable facility in portraying them.
The carly chapters cover tho birth, the
family relations, the removal from Iowa
to Kansas and the border troubles be-
fore the outbreak of the civil war. A
number OF youthful adventures are re-
corded showing the early aptitude OF the
youth for firearms and horses The
shooting OF savage panther when but
ten years OF age, to defend the lives OF
the author and still younger sister, is
ono OF these exploits.
Cody, unlike many boy OF his time
lie is still a comparatively young man.
being in his fltythird year-had the
chance to fight Indians at very early
age. As all the romance surrounding
his career is connected with scouting,
pony expressing stage driving, buffalo
hunting and Indian fighting, the early
introduction OF the latter is OF excep-
tional interest. His first scalp was won
on the Platte, where later he figured in
a desperate battle with the redskins.
The boy was bit over eleven years
when this affair took place. He had
Joined with Russell, Majors & Waddell,
cross-plains frcighters and was making
a trip with wagon train from Leaven-
worth to Fort Kcarncy, Neb. The train
was attacked, but the trained men drove
back the foe. Then the expedition took
to the creek and abandoned the outfit to
its fate. A running fight followed tor
miles. The author thus tells OF the TAX
ing OF the first scalp:
| "But half days wading, without rest
or food, gradually weighted his heels
and little by little he Jagged behind his
companions. The moon came out and
silvered tree and river, but the silent,
plodding band had no eyes for the glory
| of the landscape. Will had fallen be-
hind some twonty yards, but in a mo-
nent of fatigue was forgotten and the
blood jumped in his veins, for just ahead
of him the moonlight fell on the featf-
cred headdr4s of an Indian chief who
was pcerfng ovef the bank. The Indian
supposed the entire party was ahead and
Will made no move until the savage
bent his bow. There was
shot and the Indian rolled down the
bank into the river.
"His expiring yell was answered by
others. The reds were not far away.
Frank Mccarthy, missing Will, sta