Broadside for Buffalo Bill's Wild West
In 1883, with Doc Carver and Capt. A. H. Bogardus, Cody organized his touring Wild West show. As observed above, one of the
center pieces of the show was the Duel. Additionally, Custer's Last Stand, as illustrated in the
broadside reproduced above, was a featured presentation. The Last Stand starred William Levi "Buck" Taylor (1857-1924) as Custer.
In the production, the circle of soldiers under attack by the Indians gradually became smaller and
smaller. At the end when all had been killed, Cody would dramatically appear, while a
sign would be projected on a backdrop, "Too Late!"
Buck Taylor, studio photo, 1890.
Taylor was a "real" cowboy, who with his brother, Bax Taylor, had trailed cattle up from Texas where
they were born. Buck obtained employment on Col. Cody's ranch in Nebraska and was
given a part in a wild west show Cody organized at the ranch. Thus, he was given employment in
the Wild West show when it was organized. At the time cowboys were generally held in low repute, but in the show and
in a one of Prentiss Ingraham's dime novels, The Cowboy Clan; or, The Tigress of Texas. A Romance of Buck Taylor
and his Boys in Buckskin, Taylor was portrayed as a hero rescuing damsels in distress. Thus,
it has been contended that Taylor became the prototype for subsequent movie cowboys. His brother worked for
a period of time for the 71 Quarter Circle managed by John Clay. The two acquired their own ranch
on Long Creek in Fremont County. Baxter Taylor was killed in 1897 when thrown from his wagon near Rongis. Buck remained
in show business and organized his own wild west show. He diied in Pennsylvania in 1924.
With Cody's flair for showmanship, Buffalo Bill's Wild West was an immediate
success. The show included within its ranks, cowboys, Indians (including Sitting Bull in 1885), Annie
Oakley (1884 through 1901 season), the Deadwood Stage, and a menagerie of horses, bison and other animals. The show performed
throughout the world including before Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and
Kaiser Wilhelm. Indeed, Queen Victoria's first public appearance following the death of
Prince Albert, was at the show. Thus, Cody earned a fortune. Unfortunately, Cody's generosity to friends and the fact that
his business sense was less than his showmanship, resulted in increasing debt. Indeed,
Cody presaged the future when he once commented to his partner and the manager of the Wild West Show,
Nate Salsbury:
"When you die it will be said of you, 'Here lies Nate Salsbury, who made a million dollars in the show business and kept it.'
But when I die people will say, 'Here lies Bill Cody, who made a
million dollars in the show business and distributed it among friends.'"
In addition to investments in livery stables and hotels in Sheridan and Cody, Wyoming, he invested in oil companies,
irrigation companies,
a film production company, and herbal remedies ("White Beaver's Laugh Cream, the
Great Lung Healer"). By 1908, the show had merged with Pawnee Bill's show owned by Gordon
W. Lillie (1860-1942). The show was owned one-third by Cody, one-third by
Lillie, and one-third by James Bailey's widow.
Left to Right, Charles J. "Buffalo" Jones, Gordon W. "Pawnee Bill" Lillie, Wm. F. Cody.
Charles Jesse "Buffalo" Jones (1844-1919), although at one time a buffalo hunter, became famous for
preservation of the American bison. One of the founders of Garden City, Kansas, Jones was
appointed as a game warden in Yellowstone Park by Theodore Roosevelt. While serving as warden, Jones was required
to take care of a grizzly that was making a nuisance of himself by rading tourist camps and stealing food. Jones punished the
bear by roping him about one of his hind legs and suspending the bear from the limb of
a tree. He then administered corporal punishment by "caning" the miscreant ursine with a bean pole.
Jones devoted the rest of his life to preservation of animals. He was featured in Zane Grey's
Last of the Plainsmen.
Gordon W. Lillie was orignally a teacher in Oklahoma, and was employed by Cody as
an interpreter for Pawnee Indians appearing in the Wild West show. Lillie left the show to
form his own show.
Cody's debts continued to grow and Cody was forced into a series of "farewell appearances."
Cody borrowed $20,000 from Harry Heye Tammen, publisher of the Denver Post to cover the
cost of printing posters. Forewarned is forearmed. Perhaps, Cody should have been wary of
trusting someone who published a postcard bearing the motto: "Live everyday so that you can look
every man in the eye and tell him to go to _______."
When the show was performing in Denver, Tammen had the show seized by the Sheriff and sold
at a Sheriff's sale. Tammen then, holding the debt over Cody's head, forced Cody to
appear in a circus owned by Tammen. Judge W. L. Walls of Cody, Wyoming, noted that in the last two years
of his life, Cody lost between $140,000.00 and $200,000.00.
Wm. F. Cody at grave of James B. "Wild Bill"
Hickok, 1906
Although Cody was ultimately able to disengage
himself from Tammen's clutches and the circus, an increasingly arthritic Buffalo Bill was
required to continue to appear in various shows, including Miller's 101. In the
end Cody was so weak that he could no longer mount his great white horse McKinley and had to ride before
the crowds in a carriage.
Buffalo Bill, 1913
The above photo was taken in Cody on the
occasion of the visit of the visit of Albert, Prince of Monaco. Prince Albert had come to
Wyoming on the invitation of the artist A. A. Anderson (1847-1940) who owned the Pallette Ranch on the
Greybull River. The two had known each other from when Anderson was studying art in
Paris. In Paris, Anderson was the founder of the American Art Club on Boulevard Montparnasse.
Anderson was appointed by President Roosevelt as the first superintendent of the
Yellowstone Forest Reserve after Col. Anderson removed
"rustlers, convicts and desperados" from Jackson Hole. In addition to being a personal friend of
President Roosevelt, Anderson was a friend of Col. Cody. Anderson designed the main lodge building for
Pahaska, Cody's hunting lodge on the Cody Road to Yellowstone. Anderson, however, because of his
stand relating to grazing in the Forest Reserve, was not especially well liked by woolgrowers. The
Meeteetse News commented,
"Mr. Anderson can by a single stroke of his diamond-bedecked hand put out of
existence that noble animal that clothes his unclean body." The reference to "unclean body" is perhaps an
allusion to rumored activities in his two-story cabin near present-day Anderson Creek.
It has been alleged that Anderson had models who posed
au naturale. Needless to say, Anderson took
offense and sued, ultimately obtaining an apology. Nevertheless, the rumors live on in the
names of Eleanor, Betty and Vivian Creeks which supposedly bear the names of three of
the models. Supposed activities within the cabin also gave rise to the name of nearby Warhouse Creek.
Early cartographers, in a moment of politcal correctness, allegedly cleaned up the name of the
creek. Certainly, Anderson's lifestyle would not endear himself to local sheepherders. In Europe, Anderson
gadded about the Mediterranean in his steam-powered yacht. The rainbow colors of his pallette found
their way into his attire. In Venice he appeared attired in a black cape lined with crimsom satin.
A damask scarf made with gold threaded fabric and a slouch hat with tassels completed his outfit.
Writer Charles Warren Stoddard was besmitten by Anderson with Stoddard having visions of the two sailing off
together in the steam yacht. But then Stoddard was frequently besmitten by other men. His alternative life was such
that it would have brought shame to writers such as Oscar Wilde. The only thing that came of the
vision were voyages in a gondola through the canals of Venice where the two talked of literature, an invitation to dinner for Stoddard and his
companion, Francis Davis Millet, at the Danielli, and later a visit to Anderson's Paris home. The home reminded
Stoddard of the Arabian Nights.
Cover, Souvenir Program, Cody's Farewell Tour, 1910
On January 10, 1917, in debt and pennyless, Cody died at the home of
his youngest sister, May Cody Decker, in Denver. The day before his death he was
baptised as a Roman Catholic. Condolences cames from all over the world, including messages from
President Wilson and King George V and Queen Mary. None, however,
were more poignant
than that received from Pine Ridge:
Pine Ridge, SD
January 12, 1917
The Oglala Sioux Indians of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, in council assembled,
resolve that expression of deepest sympathy be extended by their committee
in behalf of all the Oglalas, to the wife, relatives, and friends of the
late William F. Cody for the loss they have suffered; that these people
who have endured may know that the Oglalas found in Buffalo Bill a warm
and lasting friend; that our hearts are sad from the heavy burden of his
passing, lightening only in the belief of our meeting before the presence
of our Wakan Tanka in the great hunting ground.
Attest:
Chief Jack Red Cloud
He was buried at public expense on Lookout Mountain in Golden. There, a grave marker was placed by his brother Elks to honor his memory.
Small bronz markers were also placed by the Masonic Order and by the Grand Army of the Republic.
Col. Cody had been intitiated into the
San Francisco Elks Lodge in 1877, but transferred his membership to Omaha Lodge No. 39 in 1897. When the Grand Lodge met
in Salt Lake City, Cody served as grand marshal for the opening parade. In 1916, Cody visited the
Elks National Home in Bedford, Virginia, and took the residents of the home to the show then playing in
Roanoke and shared a camp meal with
his brother Elks. It was not uncommon for Cody to open the show or provide refreshment to
those less fortunate. At the Chicago Columbian Exposition, when the fair declined a request by
the Chicago mayor that there be a children's day for the needy, Cody declared a "Waif's Day" at the
Wild West show and provided free train tickets, admission and ice cream to 16,000 Chicago children. Shortly after Cody's death,
his Congressional Medal of Honor was revoked, supposedly on the basis that, as
a civilian, he was ineligible. The family refused to return the medal.
Cody's name was restored to the list of Medal of Honor
recepients in 1989. The medal is on display in the William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody museuem in Cody.
Cody Grave, Golden,
Colorado, photo by Bob Betts
Near the grave, a protege of Cody, Johnny Baker, established a small museum. Baker is remembered at the
museum by a modest rock and plaque set alongside a path leading to a view of telecommunication towers and a transmitter building.
Memorial Stone for Johnny Baker, Lookout Mountain, Colorado.
Size of stone is denoted by
ballpoint pen leaning against plaque. Photo by Geoff Dobson
Cody's will indicated that it was his desire to be buried on Cedar Mountain near Cody, Wyoming.
The Denver Post, published by Tammen who still had a financial interest
in the remnants of the Wild West show, indicated that it was Cody's
oral desire to be buried on Lookout Maintain
overlooking Golden, a desire denied by Cody's friend Zane Gray. Upon his
death, Cody's body lay in state at the Colorado State House. The Wyoming Legislature adjourned all business.
On January 15, Cody's remains were
escorted by silk top-hatted officers of Denver Elks Lodge No. 17 to the Lodge building at the corner of 14th and California where
funeral services were conducted. The caisson was followed by Col. Cody's favorite horse, McKinley, escorted by members of the
National Order of Cowboy Rangers. The Cowboy Rangers wore the red bandanas
of their order. As the casket was lifted from the caisson and carried into the Lodge
building, McKinley seemed restless and attempted to break free from the Cowboy Ranger holding the
horse as if to follow the casket into the Lodge. As the great doors of the
Lodge building closed, McKinley whinnied, broke free and ran to the caisson.
Sniffing and whinnying yet again, the great white horse circled the caisson. The
Cowboy Ranger grabbed McKinley's reins. As McKinley was quietly led away, the horse turned his
head and stared at the doors of the Lodge building through which the casket of his master
had disappeared.
Across the front of the Lodge Room there was a bank of floral tributes from across the nation and from
abroad. The mass of flowers measured fifty feet across and twenty-five feet deep. Within the room, some 1300 Elks, Knights Templar, members of
the Grand Army of the Republic, and Cowboy Rangers gathered. From Wyoming there was Gov. Frank. L. Houx, Senator J. R.
Kendrick, Francis E. Warren, R. S. Van Tassel, H. P. Hinds, C. B. Irwin, Senator Patrick Sullivan, an official delegation from
the Legislature, and numerous others.
From Nebraska came delegations from Omaha Lodge, North Platte Lodge and the Knights Templar. Also in attendance was
the Supreme Boss of the Cowboy Rangers.
Members of the Grand Army of the Republic delivered their service followed by Taps. The Supreme Boss of the
Cowboy Rangers, Albert U. Mayfield, delivered his eulogy. The Lodge secretary called the name of
William F. Cody. And yet twice again the name of William F. Cody was called, but Brother Cody did not respond.
Then to the strains of an old Civl War hymn, Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground, the Hour of Eleven, as it had been for more than
900 years, was remembered; the amaranth and clinging ivy were deposited with
Cody; and the Exalted Ruler, on behalf of the remaining brothers, bade their brother "Good-by -- good-by until the
hour of eleven shall regularly return. Thou art I and I am thou, thy name shall never be
forgotten."
Scene in Denver Lodge Room, Denver Post, Jan 15, 1917, courtesy
Omaha Lodge No. 39, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
Outside, more than 3,000 waited in the bitter cold for over 2 1/2 hours until the doors of the Lodge reopened, so that they might file
past his casket in the Lodge Room. In Omaha, a
Lodge of Sorrows was conducted by Cody's home lodge. There, Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground was
again sung and the Hour of Eleven recalled.
The grave on top of Lookout Mountain was not
yet ready. Thus, Cody's body was kept at the Olinger Mortuary, at the corner of
16th and Boulder Streets, for the next six
months, being reimbalmed six times. A Masonic service was conducted upon his
interment on June 3, 1917.
Sometime later, supposedly, a veterans' organization from Cody
dispatched an expedition to recover Cody's remains and return them to Cody for proper
burial. The expedition, however, allegedly only made it as far as a saloon in Cheyenne.
As a result, however, the City of Golden, surrounded the grave with an iron fence topped with
barbs and took other security measures.
Music this page: Tenting Tonight on the Old Camp Ground
Words and Music by Walter Kittredge (1834-1905)
We're tenting tonight on the old camp ground,
Give us a song to cheer
Our weary hearts, a song of home,
And friends we love so dear.
Many are the hearts that are weary tonight,
Wishing for the war to cease;
Many are the hearts that are looking for the right
To see the dawn of peace.
Tenting tonight, tenting tonight, tenting on the old camp ground
We've been tenting tonight on the old camp ground,
Thinking of days gone by,
Of the loved ones at home that gave us the hand
And the tear that said "Goodbye!"
We are tired of war on the old camp ground,
Many are dead and gone,
Of the brave and true who've left their homes,
Others been wounded long.
We've been fighting today on the old camp ground,
Many are lying near;
Some are dead and some are dying,
Many are in tears.
Many are the heart that are weary tonight,
Wishing for the war to cease;
Many are the hearts that are looking for the right
To see the dawn of peace
Dying tonight, dying tonight, dying on the old camp ground.
Normally, in an Elks Service, the Lodge Organist plays The Vacant Chair, also a Civil War
song. Tenting Tonight was, however, Col. Cody's favorite song and was always played by the
Cowboy Band at each performance of the Wild West. Johnny Baker noted that he had often
heard Col. Cody sing the song. Thus, Ryley Cooper, a writer for The Denver Post explained:
And so the song that was sung about the campfires while the picket men rode their long
journeys on the hurricane deck of a western steed, while the Indians lurked in
the distance, while the sentinels paced their guard, will be the song that will be
sung as a goodby, a farewell to the man who loved the West.
Next page, Cody, Wyoming.
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