The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-01-11
''BUFFltU BILL PASSES
Noted Soldier, Hunter and
Scout, Colonel Cody,
Dies in Denver.
CONTINUED From Page one.)

\NVstsssssSs AouI xu6C ouCsI
exposure in March. 1867.
At this, time Russell, Majors and
were employed by the govern
ment in carrying stores across the
plains. Young Cody, being compelled
to earn his own livelihood, hired out |
to them and in their employ was COM
PEELED to visit every military fort and
post west OF the Missouri river. He
became q great favorite among the |
plainsmen and soldiers and acquired |
an intimate knowledge Of everything |
pertaining to the wild and hazardous |
lite of the plainsmen. During that
time young Cody had his first ex. |
perience of Indian fighting.
This kind of life he led until JunA,
1861, when he received news Of h1o |
mothers serious illness. She had been |
keeping a wayside inn, ''The Valley |
Grove House." in Salt creek valley.
Young Cody fastened to his mothers
home and arrived in time to comfort
her during the last days of her life.
AS the civil war had then begun
and young Cody had some record as
a plainsman. he was employed as In
dian scout, and served in that capac-
ity to the close of the war. with
the, Seventh Kansas cavalry. Cody had
become a dead shot with the rifle, and
after the war, when he was employed
as hunter by Shoemaker. Miller & Co.
constructors Of the Kansas Pacific
railroad, he showed tho most remark
able skill and dexterity in killing buff
faloes. He entered into a contract
with Shoemaker. Miller & Co., for a
monthly compensation of $500. to sup
ply their force of laborers with buff
falo meat, and in Is months he killed
1880 buffaloes. This achievement
earned him the name of buffalo Bill.'
which became famous throughout the
country.
In the spring of 1868 Cody entered
tho army again and was appointed by
General Sheridan chief of scouts for
the department of the Missouri and
the Platte. He was scout and guide
for the Fifth cavalry against the Sioux
and Cheyennes. He then served with
the Canadian river expedition in 1868
60, and continued to act as scout I'M
til 1872, making his headquarters at
Fort MCPHERSON Neb. 1t was at this
time he was elected representative
from the Twenty sixth district of Ne
hraska to the state legislature. After
the expiration OF his term of office
Cody was offered the position Of
guide for the Russian Grand Duke
Alexis and his party, who were going
out on the plains on hunting expe-
! dition. He accepted the honorable Of
fer and piloted the entire party
through their excursions. bringing
them safely back without accident and
loaded down with game. Cody was
richly rewarded and received a val
liable scarf pin as personal gift from
the grand duke.
! In 1876 the Sioux war broke out ard
Cody. who had just then first started
in the Wild West show business, dis
banded his company, joined the Fifth
| aluu tpoh phiI III VIC
against the hostile Indians In the bat
| tie Of Indian Creek he distinguished
himself by killing, in a desperate hand
to-hand fight, yellow Hand, Chey-
enne chief.
Cody had been initiated into the art
of stagecraft by Ned Buntlinc. the
well-known author, and after the war
was ended again turned to the show
business. He collected a large COM
pany of Indians, cowboys, scouts,
trappers, buffaloes, horses, etc, and
produced his Wild West show first in
Omaha, Neb., on May II, 1888. More
than 5000 persons witnessed the per-
Torrance. After that he Travelled
through the United States, improving
his show and adding new features to
lit. In 1887 he went to Europe and
won great success in London and many
of the larger cities on the continent
After another extensive tour through
the United States he again visited Flu
rope with his company. He accumu
lated a large fortune. which he invest
ed in western irrigation lands and
other real estate in the west.