The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-01-10
COL: WIN. F.CODY
DIED TODAY
Buffalo Bill" Noted Hunter, Soldier,
Scout and Snowman Passes to
Great Beyond.
(By Associated Press)

Denver, Jan. 1O-Col. William F..
Cody Buffalo Bill) died here today.
He had been in comatose state since
this morning.
Col. William F. Cody, Buffalo Bill
hunter, soldier, scout and Snowman
was for many years known to nearly
every man, woman, boy and girl in
America through his wild west show
with which he toured this country and
Europe. He was picturesque type
Of the pioneer frontiersman and lived
to see large cities built where he once
hunted the buffalo and fought Indians.
Col. William F. Cody was born in
Scott County, Ia, February 26, 1846.
His ancestral stock was Spanish, Eng
lish and Irish. His parents moved
west and took up a claim near Lea
ensworth, Kan, then frontier Indian
post, when Cody was five years old.
At ten years Of age he found himself
the head of the family, owing to the
death of his father, who was killed in
an encounter, growing out of dis
pute over the negro slave question.
Young Codys first employment was
courier between the freight wagon
trains operated between the Missouri
river and the Rocky Mountains. In
turn he became wagon master, trap
per, hunter, pony express rider and
stage coach driver, all giving var
led experience in school, the gradua-
tion from which deft the scholar an
adept in every possible line of frontier
activity.
In exciting experience in the Union
army as soldier and subsequently, as
confidant and scout of his comman-
ders in the desultory and guerilla war
fare of the southwest, left him at it's
finish well known as an all-around
frontiersman, competent to advice, to
guide and to lead. These qualities
soon brought him to the attention of
such distinguished commanders as
Gen. W. T. Sherman, Lieut. Gen. Phil
Sheridan and Generals Crook, Custer,
Merritt, Carr, Royal, Miles, Dodge and
others and secured his appointment as
chief of scouts in the United States
army during its numerous Indian cam I
paigns in the west.
His career in this line identified him
with the great fighting epoch between
the red man and the white man waged
by Gen. Sheridan after the Civil War
that temporarily ended in 1876, but
was effectively finished in the Ghost
Dance war in the decisive battle of
Wounded Knee in ls9O-9l campaign
with the Northern Sioux.
During the construction of the Union
Pacific railroad young Cody attached
himself to camp of United States |
troops protecting the laborers and won
his sobriquet of Buffalo Bill" by TEX
ing contract to supply the entire
force with fresh buffalo meat for i
certain period, killing nnder one con-
tract 4,2S0 buffaloes. On one occas.
sion he killed the noted Cheyenne Chief
Yellow Hand in the presence ofIndians
and troops.
He became known to juvenile America
in he stories of western adventure
written by f. z. c. Judson who wrote
under the nom de plume of Ned Burt
line.
With the advance of civilization,
finding his occupation on the western
plains gone, he went Oh the stage
where he remained several years play
ing leading parts in dramas depicting
life on the frontier. Later in associa-
tion with Nate Salisbury, he organized
his wild west show with which he
toured this country for many years and
on one occasion visited thu principal
cities Of Europe. where he was warmly
received and entertained by royalty.
He was elected to the Nebraska
legislature In 1872.
Colonel Cody, in 1866, was married to
Miaa Tnuisa Eredarici.
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