The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-07-16
DAYS LONG N PAST
ARISE BEFORE CODY
From Mondays caiiy!


Buffalo Bill" dearly loved hero OF
childhood. when young America lit
orally deyoured stories OF his adven-
lures as regular articles OF diet, and
whose fame spread to the eastern
continent where royalty was proud to
honor him. the Buffalo Bill" of the
early American plains, whose fear
less riding and bravery caused many
a thrill. and has become a matter OF
history to be pondered by interested
generations OF the future, the real,
genuine Colonel w. +. Cody. Is a guest
in the city today, coming here in hts
own private car. the Cody" in com
pany with the Sells -Floto circus
which has pitched its tents in the city,
and gave performances here this aft
ernoon, to be repeated this evening.
He has been known as colonel for
many years, but IL is colonel no long
er, II you please. but Judge Advocate
General w. F. Cody, w. n. c.. IL you
wish the full and complete title be-
slowed upon him April g.. 1915. by
John d. Kendrick. governor Of Wy
oming. the document being signed by
the governor. Frank Houx, secretary
of state. and G.. NJ. Sliney, adjutant
general OF the state. and framed and
hung on the wall of Mr.. Cody's pri-
vate car. together with a picture OF
the presentation Of the honor.
Interview With Cody.
Shortly after the parade this morn
ing a Free Press reporter obtained an
interview with General Cody in his
nrsy,tn mr. a,I althntuh fapnfliar
with the pictured features of this
famous man the distinguished per-
sonality of the real Buffalo Bill, with
his courtly old time manners which
would grace any court. and keen,
kindly eyes, seems to make the i'm =
aginary hero of the old time stories
a sudden and startling reality, as
though the commanding figure had
suddenly stepped forth from the pages
of a book. Even the children on the
street had recognized Buffalo BIZ
and received many a kindly wave
from his hand i'm answer to their in
sistent salutes.
General Cody babe his guest be
seated. and faced the questioning of
the reporter with as gallant an III =
nee as he had faced the bullets
of his enemies in by-gcne days.
"a welshman tried to convince me
Yesterday that the real Buffalo BIZ
had died i'm England. the result of an
aeroplane accident began the visit
or at once i'm the hope OF stirring up
something. as the busy city editor had
allowed but about half an hour for
this interview. 4 little glinty fash
from the generals eyes rewarded this
effort.
Man Tried to Assume Name.
There was a man, an American,
who assumed my name of Cody. and
represented himself as Buffalo Bill In
England. year ago." said the general
THAT title sounds too good to be
lightly omitted. He was an i'm
postor. and died an impostor. being
known as such to the members of the
nobility. who were friends of mine in
England. and denounced as such. He
became quite an inventor OF aero
planes. and had he retained his own
name he would have made II famous.
II would have been much better and
more honorable had he done so, but
he died an impostor. ! knew Of him
al the time. many years ago, but !
have forgotten his real name" As
the real Buffalo Bill gazed reflective
ly ahead of him the reporter noticed
with appreciation the very handsome
stick pin of dull gold with the letters
"E. VII" surmounted with a crown
and worked out in small diamonds.
which ornamented his tie. and ven
tured a remark upon the bit of jew
elry.
That pin was given to me by kind
Edward VII. the late king of Eng
land" sad Buffalo Bill as easily as
though he were saying. Il would like
eggs for breakfast" and lingering It
with a strong and shapely hand upon
which Uttered an immense ring of
heavy gold, with a large oval blue set,
and another kingly monogram was
worked out In diamonds, I'm blue and
white.
And the ring?" breathed the re-
porter.
"Oh. that was given to me by King
Leopold. who had died since then.
Blue and white were the colors of his
country. My cuff buttons" he con =
tinued with a little twinkle i'm his
eyes. as he displayed two handsome
gold buffalo heads in miniature. stud
ded with diamonds, which clasped his
cuffs. were made by Tiffany to the
order of Duke Alexis of Russia, who
was in America in 1872 and who
hunted for big game with me upon
the plains. There was a stick pin to
match. but | gave that to my daugh-
ter, and ear the pin given me by
King Edward, as value 1t more
highly. My watch" pulling the jew
clled piece from his pocket, lis also
an ornament which I prize highly. the
monogram of King Victor Emmanuel
OF Rome. who is now fighting I'm the
war. which he took from his watch
fob and presented to me and which
now ornaments the back of my
watch" The regal looking monogram,
with its symbol of royalty, was also
studded with diamonds.
They Were Great Days.
Those must have been great days
when you made the trip TO England
with your show" observed the re-
porter.
II have been four times across the
Atlantic" owned the general. I dis
banded my W show some years ago.
and have been with this show for two
years. My first trip 10 England was
I'm 1887. the time of Queen Victoria's
jubilee, when she celebrated the ff-
tieth year of her reign. when ] took
INV ourn choU tho Amaripau ~aypnSi-