The Life of Hon. William F. Cody Known as Buffalo Bill The Famous Hunter, Scout and Guide

y a day passed without a social visit from them. I spent a great deal of time with the Indian boys, who taught me how to shoot with the bow

fat beeves, to be killed and cooked in the various Indian styles. Mother made several large boilers full of coffee, which she gave to them, together with sugar and bread. There were about two hundred Indians in

nd ladies came over from Weston to attend the entertain

he arranged an excursion to that place. Among the party were several ladies from Weston, and father, mother and my

d one or two of the men went on to Fort Riley to view the country, and upon their return my uncle ente

ys in riding over the country with Mr. William Russell, who was engaged in the freighting business and who seemed to take a considerable interest in me.

ch afterwards I found to be of invaluable service, for it was not long before I became emp

se on his farm, as soon as the bill for the opening of the territory for settlement should pass. This bill, which was called the "

ked thither, a large number of the emigrants coming over from adjoining states. The Missourians, some of them, would come laden with bottles o

their desire that Kansas should be a slave state and did not hesitate to declare their determination

on: STAKING

staken. At one of their gatherings, when there were about one hundred of the reckless men present, my father, who happened also to be there

e question before us to-day is, shall the territory of Kansas be a free or a slave state. The question of slavery in itself is a broad one, and one which I do not care at this time and place to discuss at length. I apprehend that your motive in calling upon me is to

entlemen, I say to you now, and I say it boldly, that I propose to exert all my power in making Kansas the same kind of a state as Iowa. I believe i

sed him, and shouted, "You black abolitionist, shut up!" "Get down from that box!" "Kill him!" "Shoot him!" and so on. Father, however, maintained his position on the dry-goods box, notwithstanding the excitem

rowd. But the fellow jumped up on the box, and pulling out a huge bowie knife, stabbed father twice, who reeled and fell to the ground. The man sprang after him, an

istance, and father at once requested that he be conveyed in the carriage to his brother Elijah's house in Weston. My mother and a driver accordingly went there with him, where his woun

on: MY FATH

om his employ. The man afterwards became a noted des

up with hardly a moment's cessation. Kickapoo City, as it was called, a small town that had sprung into existence seven miles up the river from Fort Leavenworth, became the hot-bed of the pro-slavery doctrine and the headquarters of its advocates. Here was really th

on: MY FATH

ned to make his escape by a little stratagem. Hastily disguising himself in mother's bonnet and shawl, he boldly walked out of the house and proceeded towards the corn-field. The darkness proved a great protection, as th

h whenever they should catch him. I am sure if they had captured him that night, they would have killed him. They carried off nearly everything of value in the house and about the premises; then going to the pasture, they drove off all the horses; my pony Prince afterward succeeding in brea

o and three hundred strong. They were to cross the Missouri river near Doniphan, between Leavenworth and Nebraska City; their destination being Lawrence. Father determined to join them, a

attle was fought, several being killed; the victory resulted in favor of the Free State men, who passed on to Lawrence without much further opposition. My father finally

t their intention. Mother at once started me off on Prince to warn father of the coming danger. When I had gone about seven miles I suddenly came upon a party of men, who were camped at the

ion: LIFE

st," for then I knew in an instant that they were en route to Grasshopper Falls to murder my father. I at once saw the importance of my escaping and warning father in time. It was a matter of life or death to him. So I urged Prince to his utmost speed, feeling that upon him and myself depended a human life-a life

ers of the Free State men. There he met Jim Lane and several other leading ch

in organizing the first legislature of Kansas, under Governor Reeder,

ere being sent to the Ea

ather was sent as one o

ad been organized at La

s absent se

anger, we were fired upon by some unknown party; one of my companions, whose name has escaped my memory, was killed. The other man and myself put spurs to our horses and made a dash for our l

er we were dead or alive. I received a warm welcome home, and as I entered the house, mother seemed to read from the expression of my countenance that father was safe; of course the very f

eatment. Hardly a day passed without some of them inquiring "where the old man was," saying they would kill him on sight. Thus we passed the summer of 1854, remaining at our home notwithstanding the unpleasant surroundings, as mother had made up her mind n

main there as long as she lived, happen what might. Our only friends in Salt Creek valley were two families; one named Lawrence, the other Hathaway, and the peaceable Indians, who occ

eeded to Lawrence, and there spent the winter in attending the Lecompton Legislature. The remainder of the year he passed mostly at Grasshopper Falls, whe

Prince. I shall never forget the man who stole that pony. He afterwards rose from the low level of a horse thief to the high dignity of a justice of the

and his generous heart was touched by my story. "Billy, my boy," said he, "cheer up, and come

en only in my tenth year, my ideas and knowledge of the world, however, being far in advance of my age-I determined to run away from home. Mr. Russell's offer of twenty-fiv

then came into Leavenworth. I had not been home during all this time, but mother had learned from Mr. Russell where I was, and she no longer felt uneasy, as he

nting to fifty dollars. Byers gave me the sum all in half-dollar pieces. I put the bright silver coins into a sack, which I tied to

years of my life in different capacities-such as cavallard-driver, wagon-master, pony express rider and driver. I co

to come to our house and teach. My mother was well educated-more so than my father-and it used to worry her a great deal because her children could not receive better educational advantages. However, the little school at hom

ll worth relating. I came home one night on a visit from Leavenworth, being accompanied by a fellow-herder-a young man. During the night we heard a noise outside of the house, and soon the dogs began barking loudly. We looked out to ascertain the cause of the disturbance, and sa

ion husband of yours," was th

nd has not been here for a

house, and we are bound to have hi

herder, who had ridden home with me, for

certainly was one-"but the house is full of armed men," continued she, "and I'll give you just two minut

s-any that he might think of-just as if the house was full of men to whom he was giving orders. He followed h

sed that my mother really had quite a force at her command. While this litt

ends had better go away or th

nary troops, who were apparently approaching the window preparatory to firing a volley at the enemy. This little stratagem proved eminently successful. The cowardly villains began

left open on one side, we found two kegs of powder together with a fuse secreted there. It only required a lighted match to have

er there sick with fever, and confined to his bed. One day my old enem

siness here to-d

if I find him I am going to kill him. Here, you girls," said he, addressing my si

ou something to eat," said one of my sister

he took out a big knife and sharpened it on a whetstone, repe

rise. Taking a double-barreled pistol which I had recently bought, I went to the head of the stairs, cocked the weapon, and waited for the ruffian to come u

his brain became muddled with liquor, and he actually forgot what he had come there for. After he had

rned to Grasshopper Falls, whi