Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill Two of a kind

William F. Cody "Buffalo Bill" was born in 1845.

From a child used to shooting and riding, he became a Pony Express rider in 1860, then the most dangerous occupation on the plains. After, he guided wagon trains overland. He guided the 5th Cavalry to Utah, was chief scout in the building of the Union Pacific Railroad, and eventually became Chief of Scouts for the U.S. Army.

He is most remembered as the best buffalo hunter; in a one day contest, he killed 69; in supplying meat for the building of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, he supplied 4862 in one season.

Gordon W. Lillie "Pawnee Bill" was born in 1860.

By the age of 19 he was working on the Pawnee Indian agency in Indian Territory. In 1883, he was given the chance to work as the Pawne_e interpreter with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. His work with the show was the origin of his nickname as "Pawnee Bill."

In 1888, he and his wife, May, started their own show "Pawnee Bill's Historic Wild West Show" starring May as the "Champion Girl Horseback Shot in the West".

"Buffalo Bill" Cody opened his first show on May 19, 1883 at Omaha, Nebraska. His partner that first season was a dentist and exhibition shooter, Dr. W.F. Carver. The show was called: "Rocky Mountain and Prairie Exhibition,"

He soon after teamed up with Nate Salisbury, and the show would thereafter be called "Buffalo Bill's Wild West".

Highlights of what we will see

BDrrALo siLrs

Wild West H OMGUUCDZ CC as a

A.ND •·

C'OL W, F. CODY

CONGRESS OF ROUGH RIDERS OF THE 'WORLD.

programme OVERTURE, " tar ~pangled Banner,'' Cow-BOY BAXD, "·~1. \\'EE.'EY, Leader.

I-GRAND REVIEW, introducing the ROUGH RIDERS OF THE \~oRLD. Indi~ns, Cow-boys, :Mexicans, Cossacks, Gauchos, Arabs, Scouts .. Guides, Amenc~n Negroes and detachments of fully equipped Reg_ular Soldiers of the Armies of America, England, France, Germany and R uss1a.

2 -MISS ANNIE OAKLEY, Cel'ebrated Shot, who will illustrate her dexterity in the use ~ tire-arms.

J-HORSE RACE, between a Cow-boy, a Cossack~ a )lexi~an, an Arab,. a Gaucho and an Indian, on Spanish-)Iexican, Broncho, Russian, Indian and Arabian horse~.

-PONY EXPRESS. A former Pony Post Rider will ~how how the_ letters a~d tele-4 grams of the Republic were di ·tributed acrdss the immense Contment previous to

Annie Oakley was still doing her amazing sharp shooting

the building of railways and the telegraph.

-ILLUSTRATING A PRAIRIE EMIGRANT TRAIN c;:ROSSING THE S PLAINS. It is attacked by marauding Indians, who are rn turn repulsed by

•' Buffalo Bill" and a number of Scouts and Cow-boys.

WOW!!

WOW!! ►

_ --· --·••' IIJ'-' ~.., vn o.n.K.Ctsl\L.K HORSES.

rs-BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIG. HORN. Historical picture of Custer's Last Charge. Meeting and consolidation of hostile Sioux on the Little Big Horn under Sitting Bull to give battle to the United States Army then congregating under Gen­erals Terry, Crook, Miles, Custer, Carr, Merritt, Gibbon, Forsythe, Henry, Mills, Whistler,Otis, Reno, Ben teen and others. Assembling in larger numbers than before known in Indian history, they with strategic cunning ambushed the gallant Custer and his command of 328 of the Seventh Cavalry on the 25th day of June, 1876, and remorselessly annihilated the entire command. This animated tableau represents the meeting, customs of camping, dances, etc., by the Sioux Indians, several of those present having been in the massacre; and the military are represented by members of the Seventh United States .Cavalry, several of whom participated in the battle of Wounded Knee, 1890, between this famous regiment and the same Sioux .. The horse ridden by the personator of General Custer was the favorite war horse of the late Chief, Sitting Bull.

16-SOUTH AMERICAN GAUCHOS (First appearance in the United States). Riding, throwing the bolas, etc. These primitive horsemen are of Indian and Spanish de­scent from the interior plateaus and pampas of the Argentine.

I7-COL. W. F. CODY ("Buffalo Bill,") in his unique feats of sharpshooting at full speed.

IS-BUFFALO HUNT, as it was in the Far West of North America-" Buffalo Bill" and Indians. The last of the only known Native Herd.

19-A TT ACK ON SETTLERS' CABINS and rescue by "Buffalo Bill" and a band of Cow-bovs Scouts and Frontiersmen.

20-SALUTE. CONCLUSION .

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In 1887, the show went on tour to England.

A letter back home to North Platte, Nebraska July, 1887

WM. F. CODY, - l NATE SALSBURY, I Proprietor.,

JOHN M, BURKE, General Managor.

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I£~ (J) ~6;!_) '-J~Aj+L-.

f )A,._,,, }Vj) ~ !2,{-~ r1 ?l-vJ/UAA.;eA-•

Earls Court, South West London - ''via New York - North Platte, Nebraska rate: 5 pence •

The next year, they were back home; this from St. Louis.

HON, w F. CODY, I NATE SALSBURY, Proprietors. CAPT. A. H. BOGARDUS,

,JOHN M, BURKE, General M~vager.

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Enter Pawnee Bill

In 1888, Bill and horseback sharp shooter May started their own show, "Pawnee Bill's Historic Wild West", a financial disaster.

They reorganized as a smaller show "Pawnee Bill's Historical Wild West Indian Museum and Encampment Show." That show was popular and financially successful.

Letters from Pawnee Bill

CORDON W, LILLIE (PJ'l::l&NEE B I LL)

Address: Ledger Job Ofli.ce, Philadelphia.

to his attorney in Virginia.

November 2, 1893 from Philadelphia, Pa.

January 29, 1894 from Buffalo, N .Y.

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1893 was a busy year.

-uHICAGO, UMMER

The W0st ernTrail CONQUERORS OF TWO CONTINENTS,

WILD THE

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Lo~ n.Aade ~ttdnJi~ cltr»,ets READ DESCRIPTION.

BLAKELY Pftfff'nNe COMPANY CHICAGO.

The Chicago World's Fair

The OPEN SESAME to the

WORLD'S FAIR SUBJECT . ===IS===

BUFFALO BILL'S

(COL. W. F. CODY).

WILD WEST ~ 62d and 63d Streets.

Chief Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill Enemies in 76'

Friends until his death in 91'.

[OVE.R.1

PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT AND MANAGER.

GENERAl. MANAGE

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itt's Wi(Q .... -r

~AND ~

CoNORESS OF RouoH RIDERS OF THE WORLD.

Located at 62d and 63d Streets.

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Time to hunker down for the winter of 96'.

BUFFALO BILL WILD WEST Bridgeport, Connecticut

Winterquarters - 1896

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Holiday

1 Season ,~- ~ ][essecf

,. ~Ji -~ J{o[tfoJ Season

John Cutler John Cutler

I

l BUFFALO BILL'S r WILD WEST

•

From Ontario, Canada to partner Nate Salsbury.

July 15, 1897

And for several years, back to Europe beginning in 97'. United Kingdom, Paris, Barcelona, Corsica, Sardinia, Naples, Pompeii, Rome, Venice and on and on.

Pope Leo XIII hosted " a dazzling f ete" . The "outfit" as an organization, received the pontiff blessing including "the astonished children of the prairie".

Opposite St. Marks ~ Square in Venice.

LONDON 1906 program 6 pence

But the good times came to an end. 1906 was the last show. A new monster had been born -

Silent Films ! !

Pawnee Bill and Buffalo Bill joined forces in 1908, They created the "Two Bills" show. Their show was foreclosed on in 1913.

OFFICIAL ROUTE CARD ROUTE CARD NO. 2

SELLS n.oroaams AND B UFFA LO BILL'S WILD WEST

PERMANENT ADDRESS, PERU , IND.

THIRD WEEK Miles

April 30 Peru, Ind. N.Y.C.-L.E.&W. 124 May 1 Indianapolis, Ind., L.E.&W.-Penna. 74 May 2 Dayton, Ohio Penna. 100 May 3 Columbus, Ohio Penna. ..71 May 4 Canton, Ohio Penna. 126 May S Youngstown, Ohio Penna. 116

FOURTH WEEK

May 7-8 Pittsburgh, Penna. May 9 Altoona, Penna.

Penua. 73 Penna. 112 Penna. 16J May 10 Lancaster, Penna.

May 11 Norristown, Penna. May 12 New Brunswick, N. J.

Penna. 7S Penna. 76

FIFTH WEEK

May 14 Stamford, Conn. N.Y.N.H.&H. 6S May 15 Bridgeport, Conn. N.Y.N.H.&H. 22 May 16 Waterbury, Conn. N.Y.N.H.&H. 31 May 1 '1 Springfield, Mass.

N. Y.N .H.&H.-B.&A. 66 May 18 Albany, N. Y. B.&A. 1n2 May 19 Pittsfield, Mass. B.&A. so

Total Mileage to Da~:? 1568 Milea

JAMES McCOY, Mail Agent.

Pawnee Bill and Buffalo Bill

In 1914 and 1915, The Sells brothers took in Buffalo Bill, and operated a combined show.

Buffalo Bill died in January, 1917. '' Aclios podners .... It's been a great ride !"

Sells Floto Circus operated though 1929.

~as then acquired by a fellow named Ringling!

ADDRESS 703 CRILLY BLDG. 35 S.OEARBORN ST

CHICAGO , LL.

'f'O eractll ~ -£'(. . SECOND ' V J J~ 9 . LARGEST I I AM SHOW 192) ... , . . .IN THE ~A§~ WORLD ~r

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Pawnee Bill invested in real estate and oil; smart fell er ! He signed this 1931 letter along with four of the last of the scouts and personalities of the old west.

Also signing were Air Pilots of the time.

G. W. Lilllie "Pawnee Bill" Richard Tanner "Diamond Dick" Toni Grant "Silver Tip" Parson Bob "Last Scout of Oregon Trail" Capt. L.H. North "Pawnee Indian Scout"

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~ and RETAIL AHOMA

8RYCE. PRIVE~T ..

In 1930, May and Pawnee Bill opened Pawnee Bill's Old Town near the ranch. They sold Indian and Mexican crafts, and featured annual rodeos. That enterprise burned to the ground shortly after this letter was sent. Pawnee Bill had died in 1942.

Today," Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show" ~vival is produced in Ft. Worth, Texas.

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