A CHAMPION BUFFALO-HUNTER.
Having given up the real estate business Buffalo Bill received a
proposition from the Goddard Brothers, who had contracted to furnish
subsistence for thousands of construction employes of the Kansas
Pacific Railroad. The amount required was very large to procure
which involved hard riding; but the labor was small compared with
the danger to be incurred from the Indians, who were killing every
white man they could find in that section. Nevertheless, an offer of
$500 per month for the service made Billy unmindful of the exertion
or peril, and he went to work under contract to supply all the meat
required. During this engagement he had no end of wonderful escapes
from bands of Indians, not a few of whom he sacrificed to secure his
own safety. By actual count he also killed under his contract with the
Goddard Brothers, _four thousand two hundred and eighty buffaloes_. To
appreciate the extent of this slaughter, by approximate measurement
these buffaloes, if laid on the ground end to end, would make a line
more than five miles long; and if placed on top of each other they
would make a pile two miles high.
[Illustration: SCOUTING FOR BUFFALOES.]
By special arrangements all the heads of the largest buffaloes killed
by Bill were preserved and delivered to the Kansas Pacific Railroad
Company, by which they were turned into excellent advertisements for
the road. Many of these heads may still be seen in prominent places,
marking the center of an oval board containing the advertisement of the
road.
So well had Cody performed his part of the contract that the men
connected with the Kansas Pacific road gave him the appellation by
which he is still known throughout the world, “Buffalo Bill.”
A record of all his battles with the Indians during this period of
professional hunting would be so long that few could read it without
tiring, for there is a sameness connected with attacks and escapes
which it is difficult to recite in language always sparkling with
interest. But Buffalo Bill, being a brave man under all circumstances
when bravery is essential and cautious when that element subserved the
purpose better, was almost daily in a position of danger, and many
times escaped almost like the Hebrew children from the furnace.
So justly celebrated had Buffalo Bill now become that Kit Carson, on
his return from Washington City in the fall of 1867, stopped at Hays
City to make his acquaintance. Carson was so well pleased with Bill’s
appearance and excellent social qualifications that he remained for
several days the guest of the celebrated buffalo killer and scout. Upon
parting, the renowned Kit expressed the warmest admiration for his
host, and conveyed his consideration by inviting Bill to visit him at
Fort Lyon, Colo., where he intended making his home. But the death of
Carson the following May prevented the visit.
Like every other man who achieves distinction by superior excellence in
some particular calling, Buffalo Bill (who had now shed the familiar
title of Billy) had his would-be rivals as buffalo-killers. Among this
number was a well-known scout named Billy Comstock, who sought to
dispute the claim of champion. Comstock was quite famous among the
Western army being one of the oldest scouts and most skillful hunters.
He was murdered by Indians seven years after the event about to be
recorded, while scouting for Custer.
Buffalo Bill was somewhat startled one day upon receipt of a letter
from a well known army officer, offering to wager the sum of $500 that
Comstock could kill a greater number of buffaloes in a certain given
time, under stipulated conditions, than any other man living. This was,
of course, a challenge to Buffalo Bill, who upon mentioning the facts,
found hundreds of friends anxious to accept the wager, or who would
put up any amount that Bill’s claim to the championship could not be
successfully disputed by any person living.
The bet was promptly accepted, and the following conditions agreed
to: A large herd of buffaloes being found, the two men were to enter
the drove at 8 o’clock A.M., and employ their own tactics for killing
until 4 o’clock P.M., at the end of which time the one having killed
the largest number was to be declared winner of the wager and also the
“champion buffalo-killer of America.” To determine the result of the
hunt, a referee was to accompany each of the hunters on horseback and
keep the score.
The place selected for the trial was twenty miles east of Sheridan,
Kan., where the buffaloes were plentiful, and the country being a level
prairie rendered the hunt easy and afforded an excellent view for those
who wished to witness the exciting contest.
Comstock was well mounted on a strong, spirited horse, and carried
a 42-caliber Henry rifle. Buffalo Bill appeared on his famous horse
Old Brigham; and in this he certainly had great advantage, for
this sagacious animal knew all about his rider’s style of hunting
buffaloes, and therefore needed no reining.
The party rode out on the prairie at an early hour in the morning, and
soon discovered a herd of about one hundred buffaloes grazing on a
beautiful stretch of ground just suited for the work in hand. The two
hunters rode rapidly forward, accompanied by their referees, while the
spectators followed 100 yards in the rear. At a given signal the two
contestants dashed into the center of the herd, dividing it so that
Bill took the right half while Comstock took those on the left.
Now the sport began in magnificent style, amid the cheers of excited
spectators, who rode as near the contestants as safety and non
interference permitted. Buffalo Bill, after killing the first half
dozen stragglers in the herd, began an exhibition of his wonderful
skill and strategy; by riding at the head of the herd and pressing
the leaders hard toward the left, he soon got the drove to circling,
killing those that were disposed to break off on a direct line. In a
short time witnesses of this novel contest saw Buffalo Bill driving his
portion of the herd in a beautiful circle, and in less than half an
hour he had all those in his bunch numbering thirty-eight, lying around
within a very small compass.
Comstock, in the meantime, had done some fine work, but by attacking
the rear of his herd he had to ride directly away from the crowd of
anxious spectators. He succeeded in killing twenty-three, which,
however, lay irregularly over a space three miles in extent, and
therefore while he killed fewer than his rival, he at the same time
manifested less skill, which by contrast showed most advantageously for
Buffalo Bill.
All the party having returned to the apex of a beautiful knoll, a
large number of champagne bottles were produced, and amid volleys of
flying corks toasts were drunk to the buffalo heroes, Buffalo Bill
being especially lauded, and now a decided favorite.
But these ceremonies were suddenly interrupted by the appearance
of another small herd of buffalo cows and calves, into which the
two contestants charged precipitately. In this “round” Bill scored
eighteen, while Comstock succeeded in killing only fourteen.
The superiority of Buffalo Bill was now so plainly shown that his
backers, as well as himself, saw that he could afford to give an
exhibition of his wonderful horsemanship, while continuing the
contest, without fear of losing the stakes. Accordingly, after again
regaling themselves with champagne and other appetizing accessories,
the cavalcade of interested spectators rode northward for a distance
of three miles, where they discovered a large herd of buffaloes
quietly browsing. The party then halted, and Buffalo Bill, removing
both saddle and bridle from Old Brigham, rode off on his well-trained
horse, directing him solely by motions of his hand. Reaching the herd
by circling and coming down upon it from the windward quarter, the
two rival hunters rushed upon the surprised buffaloes and renewed the
slaughter. After killing thirteen of the animals, Buffalo Bill drove
one of the largest buffaloes in the herd toward the party, seeing which
many among the interested spectators became very much frightened,
showing as much trepidation, perhaps, as they would have manifested had
the buffalo been an enraged lion. But when the ponderous, shaggy-headed
beast came within a few yards of the party Bill shot it dead, thus
giving a grand _coup d’état_ to the day’s sport, which closed with this
magnificent exhibition of skill and daring.
The day having now been far spent, and time called, it was found
that the score stood thus: Buffalo Bill, sixty-nine; Comstock,
forty-six. The former was therefore declared winner, and entitled to
the championship as the most skillful buffalo-slayer in America, and
crowned forever with the title of “Buffalo Bill.”
In referring to the fact that he has the record of having killed far
more game than other great hunters, Buffalo Bill, who always speaks
most modestly of all his exploits, gives as a reason for his scoring
greater numbers of buffalo, bear, deer, elk, antelope, etc., that the
huntsmen of years ago were armed with muzzle-loading weapons, while it
fell to his lot to get the advantage of late inventions and be armed
with the very best of repeating rifles.
The fact that Buffalo Bill makes this statement in favor of others
shows how willing he is to give credit where credit is due.