Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders. Col. W. F. Cody. (Buffalo Bill), President. Nate Salsbury. Vice-President & Manager.
of the World.
John M. Burke. General Manager.
Albert E. Sheible, Business Manager.
Jule Keen, Treasurer.
Sep 18th 96 My Dear Beck—
Your favor of the 11 th was duly recd would have answered sooner but was too busy cussing the weather— I have heard of bad luck sticking to a fellow but I have a porrous plaster [2] of it— I appreciate and approove of what you are doing. As its fashionable now for every body to be electioneers. I hope you will all keep it up— And land the county seat at our town. [3] I will write Marquette [4] at once I suppose work is stoped. I will not be able to take a contract— for I will have to pawn my shirt to pay off our creditors— I will be with you Oct 8 Nov. 8 th And will get loaded whether we win or loose.
CodyNote 1: Buffalo Bill's Wild West performed in Mankato, Minnesota, on September 18, 1896. The day's entry in the 1896 Route Diary: "Mankato, Minn. / Friday, Sept. 18. Arrived in town at 5 A. M. One-mile haul to the lot. Weather very unfavorable, cloudy and threatening all day, with high wind, and turned very cold at night. Wm. Sweeney, Leader of the Cowboy Band, went hunting this afternoon, and as Schaffer, of Schaffer and Clarke, says, "shot a rabbit with his rusty gun." This is the first hunt of the season. Pedro Esqueval received a fall this afternoon; it resulted in a sprained shoulder. / This town has a population of 12,000 and no street cars. / Business, big in the afternoon, fair at night. / Lot, Main street, C., St. P., M. & O. R. R. / Arena, 186 x 359." [back]
Note 2: "Porus plaster" is a commercial, porous, medicated plaster spread on perforated cloth and applied to the skin to relieve pain and accelerate healing. [back]
Note 3: The "town" officially became Cody, Wyoming, in August 1896. [back]
Note 4: It is not known to whom Cody will write in Marquette. [back]
