Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1933-01-05


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 4an epic chapter OF American
history" but one In which Americans can take
little pride because 1t furnishes a record OF
wasteful, ruthless slaughter By nation OF peo-
pie. 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
sobrquet 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 1000 laborers, were looking about
for hunter to provide the mainstay In the Ia
borers fare-buffalo meat At first they offered
the Job to the celebrated wild Billr Hickok, but
4 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 sal
airy OF $500 month agreed to provide the hind
quarters and humps of II buffaloes per day.
Cody worked for Goddard Brothers little
less than Is months and In that time accord
Ing to his own count, he killed total OF 4,28O
buffaloesA He became very popular among the
workmen one OF whom lis said to have made mp
the following Jingle which fixed his famous nick
name upon him:
Buffalo Bill Buffalo Bill,
Never missed and will; y
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
kh,&+ nfFr ofa Tnf
Fort Wallace, having. seen the buralo-killing
feats of Billy Comstock. noted guide and In
terpreter who was chief OF scouts at that post,
arranged match between Comstock and Cody
for a wager Of $500 side. The two men were
to hunt one 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 bufraloes 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 &C
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 4 run, as we called 1t,
each one killing as many as possible referee
was to follow each of rs on horseback when we
by each man.
1--WE were fortunate In the first run In getting
good ground. Comstock was mounted on one OF
his farorite horses while rode old Brigham
felt confident that I had the advantage OF Com
stock In two things: first, had the best bu1alo
horse that ever made a track; and second WAS
using what was known at that time as the needle
gun, a breech-loadng Springfield rIfIe-cabre
] J0-.s was my favorte old Lucretia Borgia' |;
while comstock was armed with Henry rife,
and although he could fire few shots quicker
than / could, yet I was pretty certain that 1t
did not carry powder and lead enough to do ex-
ecntion equal 10 my caliber 90
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 the. right My great
forte In killing bnffaloes from horseback Was to
get them circllng by riding my horse at the head
OF the nerd, shooting the leaders, thus crording