Letter from William F. Cody to George T. Beck, March 26, 189[6]Cody, William Frederick, 1846-1917Johnston, JeremyChristianson, FrankSeefeldt, Douglas, 1964-Supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, a program of the Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources.2013William F. Cody ArchiveUniversity of Nebraska-LincolnCenter for Digital Research in the Humanities319 Love LibraryUniversity of Nebraska–LincolnLincoln, NE 68588-4100cdrh@unlnotes.unl.eduLincoln, NebraskaUniversity of Nebraska-LincolnLincoln, NE 68588-4100wfc.css00467Letterhead is imprinted with the year 1895, but because of mention of April 25 in Philadelphia, the letter year is 1896 (BBWW performed in Philadelphia April 18-25, 1896). Bonner also dates this 1896. The schedule Cody lists is BBWW route schedule (other WFC letters corroborate this fact). WFC mentions 'the President;' Grover Cleveland was in office during 1896. "Burke" is likely John M. Burke. WFC refers to the play "Black America," which recounted in music the daily life of the Southern slaves. Cody, Nate Salsbury, and Lew Parker, a veteran of minstrel shows, were the management behind the show, employing three hundred Negroes and transporting them in railroad cars. After a few weeks Salsbury saw the play a failure but Cody pushed for continuing and by the fall of 1895 "Black America" was failing to catch the attention of the public. It is unclear why WFC continued to pour money into the play in March 1896, however, as the show clearly ended in late 1895. Bronson Rumsey II was one of the founding members of the town of Cody, Wyoming, and one of the directors in the Shoshone Irrigation Company that Cody put together to provide water to the Big Horn Basin. Rumsey's father (Bronson Case Rumsey) was a very wealthy businessman who owned a leather and tannery business in Buffalo, New York. Elwood Mead (1858-1936), State engineer of Wyoming and key in drafting water laws for Wyoming and Colorado from 1888 to 1899, was head of the Bureau of Reclamation from 1924 until his death in 1936. The "red bluffs" and Sulphur Creek to which WFC refers are locations south of Cody.Cody, William Frederick, 1846-1917Letter from William F. Cody to George T. BeckMarch 26, 189[6]3 pagesUniversity of Wyoming, American Heritage Center, Buffalo Bill Letters to George T. Beck (Acc. #9972)ah031264-66
3 hand-written pages
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Media: black ink
TextsCorrespondenceBuffalo Bill's WyomingBlack AmericaBeck, George Washington Thornton, 1856-1943Salsbury, Nathan, 1846-1902Rumsey, Bronson, II, 1854-1946Mead, Elwood, 1858-1936Weakly, Laura K. Added annotationWeakly, Laura K. Initial encodingHouze, Lynn ProofingJohnston, Jeremy ProofingClark, Linda ProofingBoyce, Gary TranscriptionAdams, Deb TranscriptionCol. W. F. Cody, (Buffalo Bill) President.Nate Salsbury, Vice Prest & Manager.John M. Burke, General Manager.Albert E. Sheible, Business Manager.Jule Keen, Treasurer.Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World.The Largest Arenic Exhibition known in History.Season of 1895.Staff of Jas. A. Bailey, Director of Tour.J. T. McCaddon, Superintendent.W. H. Gardner, Gen'l Agent.M. Coyle, R.R. and Excursion Manager.George O. Starr, Press Agent.C. R. Hutchinson, Treasurer.New York Office, No. 106 W. 37th St.Mar 26 18951My Dear Beck
Went to Cheyenne2 and fixed up a water bond3 which I hope will prooveprove allright. Am sweating blood trying to get President4 to sign contract. have every assurance he will do it this week. State contract is ready soon as President signs. I have Burke in Washington And have sent fifty telegrams there— I appreciate the fact but I dontdon't presume annother member of this Co does that there is several things that have to be rushed. Have you spoken to Rumsey how short we are for funds— is his Brother5 coming in? Or are you checking out and giveinggiving no one any warning until checks go to protest? I have no idea what your expenses are this month. Why dontdon't you ask some one to write me? Some one from that end should keep the
Col. W. F. Cody, (Buffalo Bill) President.Nate Salsbury, Vice Prest & Manager.John M. Burke, General Manager.Albert E. Sheible, Business Manager.Jule Keen, Treasurer.Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World.The Largest Arenic Exhibition known in History.Season of 1895.Staff of Jas. A. Bailey, Director of Tour.J. T. McCaddon, Superintendent.W. H. Gardner, Gen'l Agent.M. Coyle, R.R. and Excursion Manager.George O. Starr, Press Agent.C. R. Hutchinson, Treasurer.New York Office, No. 106 W. 37th St.________ 1895
different members of the Co. posted of whatswhat's being done— then when we call on them for money there would not be such a howl of where the money has gone— George— you see I nor no one can form an idea how long itsit's going to take to get through or arroundaround those red bluffs6 where you take the water out of sulphur creek7— or the cost— So I cantcan't arrange for any more settlers as I dontdon't know if there can be water put on it this year.
Mead will be up in a few days to help you out— Then if a man could be found who would write.
Yours— CodyOmaha- 30th-31-1stChicago 2-3d 4thWashington 5New. York 6-7-8-9-After that Philadelphia till Apr 258Col. W. F. Cody, (Buffalo Bill) President.Nate Salsbury, Vice Prest & Manager.John M. Burke, General Manager.Albert E. Sheible, Business Manager.Jule Keen, Treasurer.Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World.The Largest Arenic Exhibition known in History.Season of 1895.Staff of Jas. A. Bailey, Director of Tour.J. T. McCaddon, Superintendent.W. H. Gardner, Gen'l Agent.M. Coyle, R.R. and Excursion Manager.George O. Starr, Press Agent.C. R. Hutchinson, Treasurer.New York Office, No. 106 W. 37th St.________ 1895
PS. George. I wrote you to Sheridan that if I had the ready cash I would send you 3000 at once—I am putting every dollar I make with this show into Black America9 As Salsbury is still dangerously sick. cantcan't sign a check so I have to put up. But as soon as I can I will help you out—
Yours—BillNote 1: Letterhead is imprinted with "1895;" Cody does not inscribe the date, but Routes List and letter context determine the year as 1896.Note 2: The Wyoming government body overseeing the Carey Act was the State Land Board in Cheyenne.Note 3: "Water bond" likely refers to Cody seeking to secure water rights from the State of Wyoming to sell to the German migrant families who intended to settle in the Big Horn Basin.Note 4: "President" is likely President Grover Cleveland, whom Cody was hoping would soon sign over the lands for reclamation and settlement in the Big Horn Basin under the Carey Act of 1894.Note 5: Bronson Rumsey's brother was Laurence Dana Rumsey, Sr., 1849-1917.Note 6: Red Bluffs is a hill formation to the south and west of Cody, Wyoming, whose red color stands out among the mountainous formations.Note 7: "Sulphur creek" is a natural streambed located west of Cody, Wyoming, flowing north toward the Shoshone River along the base of Cedar Mountain.Note 8: The schedule Cody lists is his itinerary for late March to April 25: Buffalo Bill's Wild West opened the 1896 season in Philadelphia April 18-25, 1896.Note 9: "Black America" was the traveling show staged by Nathan Salsbury in 1895 as a representation of Southern life; the troupe numbered 300 people and was the largest African American show ever put on a stage.