The Coolidge examiner., 1933-01-06

@mmD Although there are still living
plenty of old timers who at one time or another
killed buffalo, the majority of the professional
hunters have already followed their quarry over
the Great Divide. But the passing of this one
of their number serves to recall what has been
characterized as IAN epic chapter of American
history" but one in which Americans can take
little pride because 1t furnishes record of
wasteful, ruthless slaughter by nation of peo-
ple unparalleled In history.
AS for the record of individuals In that whole
sale killing mention of Rheas mark of "67 buff
faloes in one day" inevitably brings to mind the
feat which won for William Frederick Cody the
sobriquet by which he became world-famous-
Buffalo Bill"
In 1867 the Kansas Pacific railroad was being
built west through Kansas and the firm of God
dard Brothers. who had the contract for feeding
the army of 1,200 laborers. were looking about
for a hunter to provide the mainstay In the la
bOrers fare-buffalo meat. At first they offered
the job to the celebrated wild Bill" Hickok, but
he declined and suggested that they employ
young Bill Cody. who had already won some re-
nown as an Indian fighter and guide. The re-
suit was an agreement whereby Cody for a sal
ary OF $500 month agreed to provide the hind
quarters and humps of u buffaloes per day.
Cody worked for Goddard Brothers a little
less than Is months and In that time, accord
ing to his own count. he killed total of 42S0
buffaloes He became very popular among the
workmen. one of whom is said to have made up
the following jingle which fixed his famous nick
name upon him:
Buffalo Bill Buffalo Bill
Never missed and will
Always aims and shoots to kill
And the company pays his buffalo bill
But having had the title of Buffalo Bill" thus
conferred upon him. Cody was soon called upon
TO defend that title. Army officers stationed at
Fort Wallace, having seen the buffao-killing
feats of Billy Comstock noted guide and in
terpreter who was chief of scouts at that post
arranged a match between Comstock and Cody
for a wager of $500 side The two men were
to hunt day of eight hours beginning at
eight O'Clock in the morning and closing at four
o'clock in the afternoon and the man who should
kill the greater number of buffaoes from on
horseback in that time was to be declared the
winner.
The match took place in 1868 and was staged
east of the new town of Sheridan, Kan. Cody
In his autobiography has given the following ac-
count of the match:
"The buffaloes were quite plenty and 1t was
agreed that we should 20 into the same herd at
the same time and make a run. as we called 1t,
each one killing many possible. referee
to follow each of us on horseback when we
entered the herd and count the buffaloes killed
by each man. :.
I'VE were fortunate in the first in getting
good ground. Comstock was mounted on one of
his favorite horses while rode old Brigham. I
felt confident that had the advantage of Com
stock in two things: first, had the best buffalo
horse that ever made a track and second, was
using what was known at that time as the needle
gun. a breech-loadng Springfield rfe-calibre
50-it my favorite old Iucretia Borgia;
while Comstoek was armed with Henry rifle,
and although he could fire few shots quicker
than | could yet l was pretty certain that it
did not carry powder and lead enough to do
ecution equal to my caliber 60
AT last. the time came TO begin the match.
Comstock and dashed into herd. followed by
the referees The buffaloes separated; Comstock
took the left bunch and l the right. Ny great
forte in killing buffalOes from horseback was to
get them circling by riding ny horse at the head
OF the herd, shooting the leaders, thus crowding