The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-11-09

was drinking took good look at the man
1t was Wild Bill. He shot quick glance at
me. But | had grown since he last saw mo
and In my disguise he did not recognize me.
| waited till he had finished his meal and
followed him to the road AS he prepared to
mount his horse / stepped close and said in
a low tone, Bill, don't you remember meY /
thought | saw a CLEAN of recognition In his
eyes, but he said simply. No, | don't I'm
Billy Cody said. Well WE'LL returned Wild
Bill. are you little Billy CodyT
Then he gave me a dressing down. You
haven't any business in this part of the coun.
try, he said You ought to be in the Union
army How do you know I'm not? | asked
You in the Union army?' he said. Maybe |
am answered. What are you doing in those
clothes. Them? he asked. suspect I'm doing
the same as you,' replied. Bill smiled Get
on your horse he said. And we rode together
back into the Union lines. For the remainder
of the war did much scouting together in
Missouri and the southwest
when joined General Sheridan as chef
of scouts In the campaign against the Indians Z
of the northwest in 1868 found Wild Bill with
the command ! went to General Sheridan
and General said, Wild Bill is the best
scout. the best shot and the bravest man in
the western country. He is seven or eight
years older than | and have always looked
upon him as my superior in everything that
goes to the making OF a plansman. don't
like to give orders to such a man. | would
rather serve under him. Make him chief of
scouts.
"'Well, WON'T said General Sheridan. You
are chief OF scouts of the United States army.
When you get ready to give Wild Bill an or.
der. give it.
81 went to Wild Bill and told him how felt
about the situation and what the general had
said"
"'why, that's all right, Billy Wild Bill said.
Pm a soldier and I'll take orders from anyone
who has the right to give me orders. I'd just
as lief work under you as anybody | know.
I'll obey you as my ranking officer as readily
as I'D obey the commanding general OF the
United States army
And he did, He did fine work under me
through that stirring campaign. He held in
check that turbulent spirit that brooked dicta-
ton from no one and obeyed my orders like
the soldier that he was
IL first entered the show business in 1872"
Buffalo Bill continued General Sheridan had
been ordered to Chicago to take command or
the Department of the Lakes and went with
him as inspector of horses. Ned Buntline.
whom had known out west, had written
drama of the border named Scouts of the
Plains He offered me $500 week to take
the leading role. hesitated to ask General
laugh at me and perhaps refuse | finally got
Col Mike Sheridan his brother. to prefer my
request. It was granted readily.
THE drama was produced in Nixon's ampi-
theater which used to stand near the site of
the modern Hotel sherman. On the opening
night when was to make my bow before the
foctights for the first time the immense the
alter was packed to the walls General Sheri-
dan ant all the officers OF the post occupied
~tl ~~f-~ - f,,IiA panifn
was worse scared as l stepped out OF the
wings and faced that great audience than
ever was in an Indian fight with bullets and
arrows singing about my ears But ! carried
It off as brayeiy as could. What didn't
know abou. acting made up for by strutting
about the stage. storming out my tines and
firing my navy revolvers after every other sem
tence There was an amazing amount OF gum
powder burned in that play After It was all
over | imagined had scored triumph. Next
day the Chicago papers said the play was
bad it was good. But we packed the theater
nightly and the reserve police had to be called
out to quiet the crowds that fought at the doors
for admission.
'T1e management offered me $1,000 week
to go to St. Louis. where our success was re-
peated
Il decided at the opening of the next season
that 1t would be a money-making scheme to
have Wild Bill as a member Of our troupe
He was then in Hays City. where he had killed
several people, and | wrote him telling him
of the money he could make by appearing On
the stage You won't have to do much acting.
told him You will only have TO shoot and
pose around. He wrote back that he would
accept my proposition wrote him he would
have to agree to stop fighting and killing
while he was with the show He sent me an
agreement to that effect by return mail Then
sent him money to come to New York, where
the show was to open In this last letter
gave him instructions as to what he must do
when he reached the city.
1T am stopping at the Brevoort hotel
wrote him. and you will land in New York at
the Fortysecond street depot To avoid get
ting lost in the big city take cab at the
depot and you will be driven to the hotel in