The times., 1901-04-25
MANY BRAVE THE DRIZZLE
Buffalo Bills Wild West Show
Given Under Difficulties.
The Arena Wet and SOgGy--No Hitch
In the Performances - Over Five
Thousand Persons Attend - Battle
of Tientsin und Other Features.

For the benefit of a crowd of over 5,00(
people, packed under dripping tents, Buf-
falo Bits horsemen last night exhibited
themselves in their variegated costumes.
Rain made no difference, and though the
arena was covered with mud, the entire
programme was given without hitch.
The inclement weather did not seem to
have any appreciabIe effect upon the at
tendance, for nearly every available seat
had an occupant Society was quite well
represented. and several of the dehutantes
OF the season. with their escorts, who had
braved the drizzle, the crowded cars, the
bad road, and the ankle-deep mud, were
to be seen in the boxes. The army was
also represented in the person of General
Miles. who has from the first taken an
interest i'm the show Before the wagons
were unpacked yesterday morning he was
out at the grounds in his little buggy
watching intently all that was being done.
The work OF getting the grounds in
shape was a long one, because it included
the leveling Of large-sized mound which
rose in the middle of the central arena.
Last night none of this preliminary
work was evident, and as the spectators
looked out from their seats q fair and
l.
with straw, spread before them. Upon
each one of the hundred poles used in
supporting the canvas tent hung a bright
arc light. which gave sufficient bright
ness to illuminate the enclosure. These
were re-enforced by couple of search
lights at the main end OF the arena, which
were kept trained upon the principal
actors in each turn.
Bill presented was brilliant notwithstand-
ing the fact that the color of their uni
forms and their equipment was hidden
in a great measure by the night, and by
the half fog of the drizzling rain 1t lost
none of the interest which attaches to it
because of its educational value. The
Arab, the Boer, the Sikh. the United
States cavalryman, the Indian. and the
Japanese foot soldiers were all present,
and at various times during the perform
ance, in action. Each horseman in ma
tional costume, showed the characteristic
methods OF the horseman's art as prac-
ticed in his own country The American
Indian and cowboy had the centre
of the arena to themselves much more
than any other nationality of horsemen.
and the audience was content that this
aDDiaUSP
that greeted the heroes of the plains
whenever they appeared upon the scene.
Races, acrobatic feats and rife shooting
iiied up the programme, the final act be-
ing most realistic reproduction of the
assault by the allied troops upon Tien-
tsin- in which nearly the entire company
was engaged, the scene lasting about half
an hour
This years show presents two new fea-
lures, one of merely spectacular interest
a group of real Beers from the Transyaal
who take part in the general review and
parade, and the other an act which
smacks of the salt sea. This is a repro
ducuon of the work of a life-saving crew.
using the breeches buoy and the life line.
the latter from cannon over an
mprovised mast and yardarm.
Inc programme includes twenty-one
acts, beginning with the Star Spangled
Banner as an overture by the band, and
ending with the spectacular reproduction
)f the assault upon Tientsin. The second
event on the programme is the grand re-
view, which IS impressive because of the
arge number of horsemen who are gath
ared together at one time, and because of
he Yariegated colors in the garments Of
heir riders. After the parade Miss Annie
oakley comes on the scene TO astonish the
gaping multitude with her marvellous
shooting. She begins with Winging clay
pigeons flying from a trap, and concludes
with breaking eleven in succession bif-
ing the first with her rifle upside down
md using for the remaining ten i've seDa-
ate guns. the whole feat being performed
n about ten seconds
Then follow race of races, between q
,oWboy, q CoSSack, a Mexican, an Arab q
5uacho, and an Indian, and drill by vet
:rans from Battery d, Fifth Bnited States
Artillery.
An emigrant train crossing the prairie is
itfaHkpN al he of
sood deal OF gunpoWder but no lives by
he marauding Indians, who are eventual
y driven of in most hair-raising and
ealistic way by the COWBOYS and scouts
Who arrive at the proper moment Johnny
3aker, the celebrated American marks
nan, was as surprising in his way as was
diss Oakley. The climax of his act was
cached when, standing on his head he
lroke in rapid succession two clay pigeons
brown from q trap.
The life saving drill aroused general in
crest. The men were clad in sou west
RS and oil skin coats A pole with a
ard squared had been erected in the
middle of the arena and the "shipwreck-
q sailor" perched himself upon it, The
lie saving crew, with their gun, plowed
through the mud placed the gun In posi-
ion, and fired the line across the yard
rm of the mast. 1t was but the work of
moment Tor the sailor to haul out g.
leaVier rope, make ii fast on the mast,
nd to slide TO dry land and safety in the
reeches buoy sent out to him.
The cowboy fun brought out the usual !
ucking bronchos, which cavorted all over
he arena, to the great delight of the
ssembled spectators The coWbovs stuck
ravely to their saddles and not a single
Iorse came off victor. The best riding |
vas an exhibition given by the veterans
I the Sixth United States Cavalry. After !
iding in various fancy STYLES bareback |
he men began riding double and finally
he most expert standing erect rode three |
nd hVe horses at once.
The Battle of Tientsin' was truly real |
site. 1t opened with the assembling of |
he troops, the cavalry coming first and |
in spectacular maneuvres. The |
Infantry followed. and when all had been |
objected there was general review. The !
econd scene showed the stOrming of the |
orts, and the charge in which the Amer !
can troops took the lead.
As spectacle, and one that would ap-
eal especially to lovers of horsefiesh the |
SunaIO Bill Rough Riders attaius a great /
aeasure Of success. 1t probably has its |
quail nowhere on earth. in the varied |
haracter of the exhibition and the sus- |
aimed interest.
There viii be no parade today. but two |
erformances Will be given, at o'clock in /
he aftefnoon and at 8 o'clock at night.
The Indian contingent accompanying |
Iuffaio BIZ show, especially those of the /
iouX nation, were q disgruntled lot as /
hey stalked up and down the muddy |
rounds with their long bodies enveloped |
4 brilliant blankets. The cause of their |
epression was that the tepee of one of |
heir great chiefs zone Bear" which 0c |
upied a conspicuous position on the |
rounds was burned down about O'Clock |
the evening. a fire, it seems, had been |
tarted in order to warm the interior of /
he tent, and, after piling wood upon ii |
he two squaws in charge left to procure (
lore fagots. The flames soon reached the }
ides of the tepee, and in few minutes
ne whole tent was atire. The sight of the /
alneS caused no end OF excitement among /
he Indians, who tried to eXtingufsh the
IaZe, but without result As the fire
urned out q solemn crowd of Indians
Il