Omaha daily bee., 1917-01-14
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ny Victor Rosewntei

GDUFFALO BILL" carried the name and
- fame of Nebraska, if not to the ends OF
the earth, at least to all the great capitals OF
Europe, to say nothing of every nook and corner
Of this country. Without question, he had more
plaudits, faced larged and more audiences and
met more world potentates and distinguished men
and women than any other man who ever went
forth from this state, not excepting Bill Bryan
this because Buffalo Bill' was a continuous
performer and kept at it almost without inter-
ruption for thirty years. Colonel Cody's popu-
larity and success sprang from the application
OF new idea for public entertainment, that OF
portrayng life on the frontier, with the original
actors going through the picturesque perform
ances for the benefit of people who had only
read Of life on the plains in story books and who
could never have chance to see it in reality.
But the Cody idea never lost sight of the educa-
tional factor, of instruction as well as amuse-
ment, and have not the slightest doubt that his
Wild West show exerted powerful influence Tor
drawing attention to the resources OF the west
and stimulating western immigration and invest
ments.
It is matter Of history that the Buffalo Bill"
show started out from Omaha. ] remember at.
tending the first performance, which was held
out on the old fair grounds on Sherman avenue.
have Witnessed the Buffalo Bill" show many
times since then, have marked its elaboration and
perfection and introduction of new features, but
its typical acts were all there at the start. There
were cowboys and Indians in gala attire, carrying
on the contests of craftsmanship and rope throw
ing, war dances and horse and foot races; the
pony express was depicted and the headliner con-
sisted Of the old stage coach (the real thing) at
tackled by dusky savages and rescued at the
psychological moment by the advent Of the brave
cowboys dispensing the assailants. remember
particularly Colonel Cody himself extending in
vitations to friends among the audience to make
up the party for the stage coach ride and recall
that one of the number was John A. Creighton,
who, after some persuading consented to take
the ominous risk to accommodate his old pal
Buffalo Bill' has been here with his show time
and again since then but never met with greater
acclaim, except possibly during his 1893 engage
ment, when he was accorded the honor of spe-
cial Cody day" at our exposition and headed his
procession of cowboys, Indians and riders OF all
nations fraternizing afterwards with the popula-
tion OF the Indian congress then encamped on
the exposition grounds.
From this wonderful Indian congress, the
OF our exposition belongs to my father, came the
inspiration for the striking picture, THE Conquest
of the West" painted bv Irving R. Bacon, which
ELECTED approval and admiration during the time
it was on exhibition in the court of the Bee build
ing presenting, as it did, an allegory OF the ad-
artist who was making special study Of western
subjects through my fathers intercession got in
touch with Colonel Cody, who gave him several
sittings on the canvas. The central hgure on
horseback leading the column Of prairie schoon-
ers that is driving back the Indians and the buff
falo is none other than Buffalo Bill" himself.
A reproduction of this painting is the frontispiec'
of the official history of the Mississippi
exposition and the picture itself was afterwards
purchased by Colonel Cody for wall piece in
his new hotel at Cody, where, | take it, it now
hangs, for that is where we shipped it.
The last time had any extended conversation
with Colonel Cody was something over a year
ago in Washington, when happened to meet
him and General Miles in quick succession in
the hotel lobby Informing General Miles that
Cody was also there, | was instrumental, At his
request, in bringing them together, whereupon
they spent an enjoyable half hour together chat
ting about mutual acquaintances and old times
Colonel Cody's biography tells us that he was
a member Of the Nebraska Legislature in 1872.
Out OF curiosity tried to find the record of his
Legislative service, but have been unable to do so.
A special session Of the 1871 Legislature was
called IN 1872 which sat a few days, but no jour
nal is accessible and the Blue Book list of Ne
braska lawmakers does not Include his name.
The journal of the next session, that of 1873,
contains report of an election contest indicating
that Cody was candidate for the house but that
he was beaten by forty-two votes and never quail
fled or attempted to serve, although some one
else filed notice of contest for him. What his
claim to have been member of the legislature
rests on outside of this contest is not evident.
Unless there is something else he has no right
to recognition as a lawmaker to heighten the
glory he has won in other fields. Presumably,
however, the appointment by the sitting legisla-
ture OF special committees to attend the funeral
proceeds on the theory that Colonel Cody was
once member of that august body,