The Life of Hon. William F. Cody | Page 5

Scout after
Indians--A Desperate Fight with Thirteen Indians--A Hunt with the
Earl of Dunraven--A Hunt with a Chicago Party--Milligan's
Bravery--Neville--I am Elected to the Nebraska Legislature.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
AN ACTOR.
I resolve to go upon the Stage--I resign my Seat in the
Legislature--Texas Jack--"The Scouts of the Plains"--A Crowded
House--A Happy Thought--A Brilliant Début--A Tour of the Country.

CHAPTER XXIX.
STARRING.
The Theatrical Season of 1873-74--Wild Bill and his Tricks--He
Leaves us at Rochester--He becomes a "Star"--A Bogus "Wild Bill "--A
Hunt with Thomas P. Medley, an English gentleman--A Scout on the
Powder River and in the Big Horn Country--California Joe--Theatrical
Tour of 1874 and 1875--Death of my son, Kit Carson Cody.
CHAPTER XXX.
A RETURN TO THE PLAINS.
The Sioux Campaign of 1876--I am appointed Guide and Chief of
Scouts of the Fifth Cavalry--An Engagement with eight hundred
Cheyennes--A Duel with Yellow Hand--Generals Terry and Crook
meet, and cooperate Together.
CHAPTER XXXI.
DANGEROUS WORK.
Scouting on a Steamboat--Captain Grant Marsh--A Trip down the
Yellowstone River--Acting as Dispatch Carrier--I Return East and open
my Theatrical Season with a New Play--Immense Audiences--I go into
the Cattle Business in company with Major Prank North--My Home at
North Platte.
CHAPTER XXXII.
CONCLUSION.
A Cattle "Round-up"--A Visit to My Family in our New Home--A Visit
from my Sisters--I go to Denver--Buying more Cattle--Pawnee and
Nez-Perces Indians Engaged for a Theatrical Tour--The Season of
1878-79--An experience in Washington--Home Once More.

THE LIFE OF HON. WILLIAM F. CODY
CHAPTER I.
CHILDHOOD.
My début upon the world's stage occurred on February 26th, 1845. The
scene of this first important event in my adventurous career, being in
Scott county, in the State of Iowa. My parents, Isaac and Mary Ann
Cody, who were numbered among the pioneers of Iowa, gave to me the
name of William Frederick. I was the fourth child in the family. Martha
and Julia, my sisters, and Samuel my brother, had preceded me, and the
children who came after me were Eliza, Nellie, Mary, and Charles,
born in the order named.
At the time of my birth the family resided on a farm which they called
"Napsinekee Place,"--an Indian name--and here the first six or seven
years of my childhood were spent. When I was about seven years old
my father moved the family to the little town of LeClair, located on the
bank of the Mississippi, fifteen miles above the city of Davenport.
Even at that early age my adventurous spirit led me into all sorts of
mischief and danger, and when I look back upon my childhood's days I
often wonder that I did not get drowned while swimming or sailing, or
my neck broken while I was stealing apples in the neighboring
orchards.
I well remember one day that I went sailing with two other boys; in a
few minutes we found ourselves in the middle of the Mississippi;
becoming frightened at the situation we lost our presence of mind, as
well as our oars. We at once set up a chorus of pitiful yells, when a man,
who fortunately heard us, came to our rescue with a canoe and towed
us ashore. We had stolen the boat, and our trouble did not end until we
had each received a merited whipping, which impressed the incident
vividly upon my mind. I recollect several occasions when I was nearly
eaten up by a large and savage dog, which acted as custodian of an
orchard and also of a melon patch, which I frequently visited. Once, as

I was climbing over the fence with a hatful of apples, this dog, which
had started for me, caught me by the seat of the pantaloons, and while I
clung to the top of the fence he literally tore them from my legs, but
fortunately did not touch my flesh. I got away with the apples, however,
by tumbling over to the opposite side of the fence with them.
It was at LeClair that I acquired my first experience as an equestrian.
Somehow or other I had managed to corner a horse near a fence, and
had climbed upon his back. The next moment the horse got his back up
and hoisted me into the air, I fell violently to the ground, striking upon
my side in such a way as to severely wrench and strain my arm, from
the effects of which I did not recover for some time. I abandoned the art
of horsemanship for a while, and was induced after considerable
persuasion to turn my attention to letters--my A, B, C's--which were
taught me at the village school.
My father at this time was running a stage line, between Chicago and
Davenport, no railroads then having been built west of Chicago. In
1849 he got the California fever and made up his mind to cross the