The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-31
aNATE. SALISBURY WAS 81.
Had Varied Career as Comedian and
Manager.


Nate Salisbury, principal owner of
Buffalo Bills'' Wild West show, who
died at his home in Long Branch on
Wednesday night from stomach trouble,
from which he had long suffered, had
long been prominently identified with
the town, and two years ago spent $780,
900 in erecting upon thes sandy waste
near North Long Branch the group OF
handsome cottage known as the Reser-
vation- He was president OF the Long
Branch Property Holders association.
Mr.. Salisbury was born at Rockport,
ILL.,, 81 years ago, and was, therefore,
about 16 years years old at the outbreak
of the Civil war. He offered his services
to Colonel Turner of the Fifteenth Hill
nois, however, and was accepted. He
always said that. so far as he knew, he
the youngest soldier in the field
from the western sections of the coun-
try. His personality soon made him
known outside of the regiment, and his
songs and dancing, which afterWard
brought him a fortune. relieved the
WEAKNESS and tedium Of many long
march or irksome camp.
He soon was wounded and mustered
out of the service. but reinlisted as soon
as he was able to, and fought through
out the war, being III several otner regl-
ments. Among these commands was the
famous Eighty-ninth regiment of I'LL
nois, which was known as the Railroad
regiment of the west. He was at
Chickamauga and many other hot
lOuSHL DdllleSs anu went lLlTOuS1 Tie
Texas campaign with the Fifty-ninth
regiment. His colonel heard him sing
one day, and is said to have remarked
to another officer: IF 1 had a regiment
of 1000 men like Salisbury, 1 could lick
5000 confederates.'
The war over, Salisbury left the army
with 500 900, which he had accumulated
from his brother soldiers because of his
ability to play draw poker He settled
in Illinois, where he led a rather expen-
Sive life. He started course in a bust
ness college, studying finance and bank
ing, but that came to a sudden end when
he found his money all spent at the end
of eighteen months He had never been
on the stage, but he applied to a man.
ager at Grand Rapids. Mich, for a place
in his company, and was hired at $12 a
week, his employer telling him that he
would be lucky if he ever collected that.
He made his debut as CoIorgog in a
play called "Pocahontas." That required
him to be on the stage only eight. min
utes, and the play ran for only one
night.
Salisbury. however. had had his first
| taste of theatrical life, and kept at it,
becoming a member of itinerant COM
panies He endured much hardship at
that time, but finally obtained en-
gaeement as comedian at the Boston
museum, where he remained for four
years, ether members of the company at
that time being James O'Neill, William
H. Crane, Nellie McHsnry and William
J. Florence, all of whom were subsc-
quently to become stars. He saved his
money, and proposed to John Webster
that they start a stock company of their
own. Webster had little or no capital,
but Salisbury carried his interest in tho
enterprise, which was a success from the
start. 1t was known as the Salisbury
Troubadours, and Travelled all Europe as
we'll as the United States.
Mr. Salisbury was still aat the head of
the Troubadours when he met Colonel
Cody. and the Wild West show project
was launched. Mr.. Salisbury soon began
to invest in other attractions, which, for
the most part. turned out to be entirely
successful.-New York Mail and Express.