New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-23
COL. CODY At GARDEN
LAYS ASIDE HIS MANTLE
f)uens Wild West Show by Pre-
senting "Pawnee Bill" as
His Successor.
MANY RACES MINGLED
Busting" of Broncos, Turkey
Trotting" of Stallion and
Stage Coach Hold-Up'
Delight the Crowd.

Too old 10 ride. Colonel Cody drove into
the arena at the opening of his Wild west
Show at Madison Square Garden last
night and introduced his successor, Major
Gordon ". Lille. or "Pawnee Bill 70
the crowds that had gathered to see the
last appearance Of the famous frontiers
man.
Colonel Cody said the public had come
TO be so skeptical of farewell appearances
that it did not believe man was going
20 retire till he died, and even then some
folks would have their doubts about it.
After he had accepted wreath of flowers
sent by admirers and had presented Paw
nee Bill" who rode around the ring so
everybody might get a look at him, the
show was on.
Tho first act was what all New Workers
have seen since they were old enough TO
90 10 a Wild West show. 1t was a
Grand review" wherein the Wild West
and the Far East Join in display of
costumes and color, tribes and race types
from both sides of the globe. The bronze
( natives of two hemspheres rode side by
side, as the programme said.
Following the worthless who had been
so literally collected came Max Gruber
wonderful act" participated in by an
astounding sextet. in conjunetve mentai
{ aud physical action; the Sianese eie-
nhsnt Minnie. a Thoroughbred stallion
Excelsior; a sprightly pony, Peacock
dog and Max and Miss Gruber. Elk
celsior had rather the best of II, Tor ne
"turkey-trotted' to his own satisfaction
and TO the envy Of Minnie, who sat on
4 cask and watched him.
Peacock, the sprightly pony, rotted IN
+ and out between the elephants legs, when
he seemed TO enjoy, and finally wheedied
Minnie into carrying him out Of the arena
10 the great delight Of the spectators.
This inspiring exhibition succumbed TO
what we have all learned to look on as
the essential of Wild West show, the
Stage Coach and Pony Express" which
was escorted by all available cowboys
who whooped and shouted i'm an appro-
priate manner, and were then attacked
bv the Indians, who yelled so loudly and
Westerners mouth might have watered
at the thought Of IT.
But the real fun OF the evening was
still 10 come-the riding OF the broncos
ana the one refractory buffalo. which
like the gentleman Of Biblical fame,
, showed himself worthy of his hire. Its
name. il is said. is Murphy. AT any rate,
it was led in by the nose, taking side
swipes at it's captors with It's hind feet
10 show disapproval of the indignity.
Then the buffalo was tripped up.
saddle was clspped on and a cowboy
clapped into the saddle. But the animal
only elongated its hind quarters and It's
burdens lay on the tanbark The buffalo
took a. couple of kicks at them TO show
its beneyolence and started off down the
ring. with Colonel Cody's show in hot
pursuit. The animal was downed again,
and the saddle put on, with the same re-
suit After three attempts, however, the
buffalo was winded and gave way TO the
bronze natives OF two hemspheres. The
collapse was duly applauded by the
crowd.
The ninth Episode" as the pro-
gramme trustfully stated. was marvellous
TO zee, for 10 it the "whole Far East
contributed genuine natives in a carnival
OF Oriental diversion and in merry
melange Of Malaysian Publications" The
chief element in the melange. as any
body might have told you. We're the Cos
sacks, who rode like the madmen they
are said 10 be.
Football on horseback. "the newest
FORM Of equestrian sport" took the
crowd but so. for that matter, did the
Boy Scouts, who gave nusket and flag
drills. They finally scaled wall and dis
appeared. All in all, it was as fine a
Wild West show as the Garden has ever
seen.