Thrilling Lives of Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill

Frank Winch was a biographer of Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill shortly after the turn of the century.History is merely the chronicle of great men. Their deeds remain alive forever—time and epochs flicker only a moment and are succeeded again by time and men. As we each span our brief career, it is given to some to know great men only by the history they create—others to do with, to know personally, to enjoy their confidence, to study at close range the qualities that differentiate greatness.It is just this favored opportunity of intimate observation that prompts the dual life histories of Buffalo Bill and Pawnee Bill. Buffalo Bill's fame was spreading when the gray heads of to-day were romping youngsters of yesterday, others grow old but the famous Scout seemed to revel in perpetual youth, at last, however, the inevitable is clocking off the showmanship days of Buffalo Bill, he has decreed the present season as his farewell in the saddle. He retires to enjoy the fruits of a life teeming with danger, sorrows, joys and struggles crowned with the ineffable gift of being America's most loved and Ideal Hero Horseman.In this book author Frank Winch writes:"Cody resumed his work as meat provider for the railroaders. One day, in the Spring of 1868, he started for Smoky Hill River, where reports had it that large herds of buffaloes were grazing. On reaching the place he selected a knoll from which to make a charge and was just about ready when about half a mile away he discovered a party of about thirty Indians. That he had been seen the scout knew, as the Indians started for him on a mad gallop. "My only chance is to make a run for it," he mused, and wheeling his horse, started for the railroad camp. After a few hundred yards he turned, saw them coming, and saw, too, that they were gaining on him. Eight or nine of the yelping devils had closed the gap to about three hundred yards—one Indian in particular, who rode a fine spotted, swift-footed horse, annoyed Cody by sending frequent rifle bullets in unfriendly proximity to his head."That's about enough for you," thought Cody, as one ball clipped the air near his ear. He pulled his horse up short, swung in the saddle with rifle to shoulder; the Indian was eighty yards away and coming like mad."CONTENTS.I Boyhood days of "Buffalo Bill" II Shoots First Indian III As Pony Express Rider IV A Civil War Spy V Wild Bill's Own Story VI How "Buffalo Bill" Won His Name VII Sheridan's Chief of Scouts VIII The Battle of Summit Springs IX Cody Entertains Royalty at Buffalo Hunt X Pawnee Bill's Boyhood Days XI Buffalo Bill As an Actor XII Pawnee Bill Meets Jesse James XIII Buffalo Bill's Duel with Chief Yellow Hand XIV Pawnee Bill Heads the Oklahoma Land Boomers XV Buffalo Bill Made Brigadier-General XVI Opening of the Cherokee Landstrip, Pawnee Bill in the Lead XVII How Buffalo Bill's Wild West Was Organized XVIII Pawnee Bill, the "Jekyll and Hyde of the West" XIX Buffalo Bill's Last Time on the Battlefield XX Buffalo Bill's Vast Properties XXI Pawnee Bill's Buffalo Ranch and Home XXII Buffalo Bill's Personal Farewell in the Saddle