The William F. Cody Archive: Documenting the life and times of Buffalo Bill

PLENTY OF "WILD WEST" ENTHUSIASM.

A Group of Howling Savages Pursue a Defenseless Stage Coach

The old Deadwood stage, drawn by six spirited mules, drew up in front of the grand stand at Athletic Park last night and took on several passengers. John Higby, a companion of the renowned Hank Monk, was on the box and, escorted by two scouts, started on his journey in true Western style. Suddenly a piercing yell was heard, and a party of mounted Indians galloped from behind a canvas sheet, where they had been lying in ambush, and pursued the coach. Higby lashed his mules into a furious gallop and rushed madly over the cinder track, the coach jumping and swaying from side to side. Nearer and nearer came the Indians, yelling like mad and exchanging rapid shots with the passengers. As the coach turned the curve by the stand again the foremost Indians came up with it, pouring shot after shot into the driver, whose capacity for holding lead seemed unlimited. The spectators sat spellbound. Suddenly another body of horsemen appeared, headed by "Buffalo Bill" and charged on the yelling savages. A desperate encounter ensued which resulted in the flight of the Indians and the rescue of the coach, and the thrilling act ended in a blaze of Grecian fire from the interior of the vehicle in a realistic manner peculiar to the original genius of the West. The other features of the "Wild West" show were greeted with equal enthusiasm and proved greatly entertaining.