Letter from William F. Cody to Flood, May 22, 1896 Cody, William Frederick, 1846-1917 Johnston, Jeremy Christianson, Frank Seefeldt, 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. 2013 William F. Cody Archive University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
319 Love Library University of Nebraska–Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68588-4100 cdrh@unlnotes.unl.edu
Lincoln, Nebraska
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68588-4100
wfc.css00485

BBWW performed in St. Louis, Missouri, May 18-23, 1896. Mentioned by Cody in at least three letters to Beck during 1896 (April 28, May 29, and July 14), this is the only letter in collection which WFC writes to Flood, who is likely D. P. Flood. Flood also wrote to Beck on December 23, 1896 [See AHC Beck Family, letter scans ah10386_0051-53]. It is not clear what Flood's role may have been. Called Yugata by the Sioux, Frank Grouard (also spelled 'Gruard,' among other variants), was a 3rd Cavalry Scout at the Battle of the Rosebud. Cody, William Frederick, 1846-1917 Letter from William F. Cody to George T. Beck May 22, 1896 3 pages University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center, Buffalo Bill Letters to George T. Beck (Acc. #9972) ah031352-54

3 hand-written pages

 3 pages

Media: black ink

Texts Correspondence Buffalo Bill's Wyoming Flood, D. P. Grouard, Frank, 1850-1905 Weakly, Laura K. Added annotation Weakly, Laura K. Initial encoding Houze, Lynn Proofing Johnston, Jeremy Proofing Clark, Linda Proofing Boyce, Gary Transcription Adams, Deb Transcription Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders.of the World.

Col. W. F. Cody. (Buffalo Bill), President.

Nate Salsbury. Vice-President & Manager.

John M. Burke. General Manager.Albert E. Sheible, Business Manager.Jule Keen, Treasurer. St Louis Mo1 May 22/96 My Dear Flood2

Thanks for statements and letter. As far as they go they are allrightall right. But itsit's the outside bills that are contracted that we cantcan't hear from. But thats not your fault.

I have asked for a statement several times for the work my teams have done. You could give that— Flood— I am imformedinformed That my stock is being cruelly treated if so I blame you for that. I understand that they have been over worked all day long pulled to death without water then tied Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders.of the World.

Col. W. F. Cody. (Buffalo Bill), President.

Nate Salsbury. Vice-President & Manager.

John M. Burke. General Manager.Albert E. Sheible, Business Manager.Jule Keen, Treasurer. up all night long without water. If this is so— there is not words strong enough in any language to express my feelings— And if I find out that this is true Some one will be called down and left out for it. Any man who cruelly treats a dumb brute Is not fit to live. Frank Grouard has my stock in charge and what he says about them goes— There will be some rapid changes if If find my poor dumb brutes are being cruelly treated Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders.of the World.

Col. W. F. Cody. (Buffalo Bill), President.

Nate Salsbury. Vice-President & Manager.

John M. Burke. General Manager.Albert E. Sheible, Business Manager.Jule Keen, Treasurer. I will stand most anything else but that—

I know what you have to contend with and I might say all alone— And I often feel for you— And beleivebelieve with a half a chance And left to you all would go different—

Yours truly yours W. F. Cody Note 1: Buffalo Bill's Wild West performed in St. Louis, Missouri, May 18-23, 1896. The day's entry in the 1896 Route Diary: "St. Louis, Mo. / Friday, May 22. To-day the weather cleared up a little and gave one good day, consequently good business; every chair in the house was sold at 7.30. Col. Cody's horse fell this afternoon and caught his foot, but did him no injury. Cowboys Bill Brace and Bob Wilkinson were thrown to-night in the bucking-horse act. The Order of the Mystic Shrine came out in a body to see us to-night." Note 2: "Mr. Flood" is likely "D. P. Flood" who wrote to Beck in 1896 and is mentioned by Cody in 1896 letters to Beck. Flood may have been a foreman or livestock handler employed on the irrigation project; his exact role is not known.