Monday, June 15, 2015

BUFFALO BILL IN ROME



"Buffalo Bill" Cody.
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, May 2, 1890.

BUFFALO BILL IN ROME.

The Contest about the Bucking Horses.
(From the London Truth.)
   The Duke of Sarmoneta defied Buffalo Bill and his cowboys to ride some of his horses which were left to run wild on his estate at Cisterna, as they had been found quite untamable. Cody replied that if driven into his arena the horses should be caught, saddled, and ridden within a given number of minutes. And they were.
   But this was only the beginning of a series of challenges, which led to a good deal of ill-feeling and not pretty behavior on the side of the Italians. The Roman herdsmen and their masters and patrons were very angry at the cowboys having been able to ride horses which they had been obliged to give up as a bad job, the more so as Col. Cody had said he would give one of his buckers, with its saddle and bridle, to anyone who could sit it for five minutes and ride it away from the ground.
   At the same time an American gentleman named Creelman offered to bet anyone $100 that no one could fulfill the above conditions, and placed his stakes in the hands of Cody's manager. But there was no betting on the part of Bill himself, nor in the American camp. Col. Cody would not allow it. Then came a challenge from the Buttari (herdsmen) by the mouths of their masters. I am not now alluding to the Duke of Sarmoneta, who, as a gentleman, doubtless kept the conditions of the first challenge, whatever they were, and made an end of it.
   The Buttari, selected on several estates from among the strongest and most daring horsemen of the Campagna offered: if they were allowed to bring their own saddles and lassoes, to catch and ride Bill's horses under the same conditions as those given to the cowboys, and within a given number of minutes. Now as the herdsmen understood no English, and Bill and his boys no Italian, it is clear that the gentlemen who knew both languages must have settled the terms of the challenge with each.
   But the upshot was that when the Buttari had failed to do what they had undertaken (only one of them, after more than half an hour's trial, having managed to sit a bucker for about two minutes), and when Cody rode forward and took away a horse that they had been boggling with for three-quarters of an hour, he was hissed and hooted, and the Romans declared that they had not had fair chance, and that no limit had been stated as to time.
   Cody again rode forward and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I allowed 10 minutes?" "Fifty," was called out by some Americans, who had their watches in their hands. But the hissing and hooting went on, and not one of the Italian gentlemen interfered to explain anything or to say a word on behalf of the Americans.
   Now if we acquit either side of deliberate deception, it is clear that there was a misunderstanding. Why did no one come forward to clear it up? Then the press, which, for reasons best not inquired into, had been from the first inimical to Cody and his show, took up the ball, and disingenuously mixing up Mr. Creelman's wager with Bill's challenge, declared that Col. Cody was a buffoon, a cheat, and a swindler, and ran away without paying his debts of honor.
   I can't help having a certain feeling of indulgence toward a set of men who have afforded me so much genuine amusement as the Roman newspaper writers, but truth compels me to admit that many of their statements concerning Col. Cody were both libelous and scurrilous.

HERE AND THERE.
   The Normals beat the Syracuse University club last Friday, by a score of 13 to 8.
   Henry A. Dickinson was elected Second Lieutenant of the 45th Separate Company, last week.
   H. M. Doran has purchased Charles Mann's stock of tobacco and cigars in the Squires block.
   Time will tell, says an exchange, but he will have to hustle if he beats the average woman in disseminating the news.
   The Cortland Cyclist Club are to have a tournament May 20th. There will be bicycle races, foot races and a ball game.
   Mr. James Conway, who was badly hurt when the elevator fell in Wickwire's shop, was able to return to his work this week.
   The subject of the evening sermon in the Universalist church, next Sunday, will be, "The labor problem." Seats free. All are invited.
   The Cortland Beef Company are building an arrangement for hoisting tierces and other heavy packages from the basement of their establishment. About 250 calves are being slaughtered daily.
   The traction engine road damage bill has become a law. It provides that towns shall not be held responsible for damages by the breaking of bridges by traction engines above a weight fixed by the act.
   The regular meeting of Co. B., Loyal Temperance Legion, will be held at the W. C. T. U. rooms (over Collins' store), Friday, May 2d, at 3 P. M. Let every member be present and bring a friend.
   Henry Howes, the assignee of E. D. Jencks, sold the entire stock of goods in his store in Union Valley on the 21st ult., to a Mr. Brooks, of McGrawville, for $706. There were only two other bidders in the field, it looks as if Mr. Jenck's creditors would realize about forty cents on the dollar.—DeRuyter Gleaner.
   A dispatch says: "The noted jumping and running horse, 'Slim,' was sold at New Germantown., N. J., April 15th, to Duke Borthwick, of Cortland, for $4,250. He is but seven years old and was raised about four miles south of Ithaca on the Keats farm. Mr. Borthwick has refused an offer of $15,000 for him since his purchase, and will bring him to Cortland soon."
   Mr. H. T. Bushnell's class in the M. E. Sabbath school made him a surprise at his residence on Arthur Ave., last Wednesday evening, April 30th. The class presented Mr. Bushnell with a handsome plush Bible stand. Elegant refreshments were served, and a good social time enjoyed. The young ladies returned to their homes feeling they had been very pleasantly entertained.
   Mr. I. Dan Lester took charge of the route of mail carrier Joseph Freer yesterday. Mr. Freer has made an excellent record and the patrons on his route will be sorry to see him go, but civil service reform, as interpreted by the party in power, made it absolutely necessary that his place should be given to a Republican. Mr. Lester will undoubtedly make a good man for the place.
   A retired plumber has recently vouchsafed the following valuable information to housekeepers: "Just before retiring at night pour into the clogged waste pipe enough lye to fill the 'trap' or bent part of the pipe. Be sure that no water runs in it until the next morning. During the night the lye will convert all the offal into soft soap, and the first current of water in the morning will wash it away and clear the pipe clean as new."
   J. H. Cummings has been appointed postmaster at Preble.
   Israel Stone, a dealer in clothing in Homer, has assigned.
   The King's Daughters netted about $150 from the fair held by them last week. [Raising money for Cortland's proposed hospital--CC editor.]
   A railing is being built along the south side of the high walk fronting the Dibble property on North Main street.
   To-day being Arbor Day, interesting exercises appropriate to the day will be held in all the schools of this village.
   The old Presbyterian session building has been sold to the .Methodist society and will be moved on their lot on the corner of Homer and Maple avenues. Consideration, $400.
   Mr. Arnold, who has been conducting a grocery at 115 Elm street, has sold his stock of goods to Dunning Brothers, and the goods will be moved to their store on North Main street.
   Wednesday morning Mr. Thos. Carty, who drew $5,000 in the Louisiana Lottery drawing on the 15th of April, received the amount in full from Robert Bushby, Esq., agent of the United States Express Company in this village.
   Chas. Baker, son of the late Jerome Baker, of Homer, who has been an inmate of the County House since he was released from jail, disappeared from that institution last Monday afternoon, and his present whereabouts are unknown.
   Hon. L. J. Fitzgerald is making great alterations on the old Stillman farm. The interior of the house, also some of the barns, have been made much more modern and convenient. He is about to fill in the unsightly ravine and thus reclaim a large area of hitherto waste land.
   Mr. Wm. Esmay was in Morrisville, last week, to pay to Edom Fish, youngest son of the late Dr. J. G. Fish, the life insurance money due him from the Royal Templars. Young Fish is an inmate of the Morrisville jail under indictment for burglary or larceny. He received, after all expenses were paid, about $600.—Marathon Independent.
   Last Saturday Michael Dillon, employed in the Cortland Wagon shop, lost the tip of the index finger on his right hand while at work with a buzz saw, and on Monday the same saw took off the end of the finger next to the one injured on Saturday. Fayette Waters had the index finger on his left hand taken off at the second joint by a buzz saw in the same shop. Dr. Hughes dressed the injury. Both accidents happened by the sticks they were handling catching in the saw.

To the Public.
   On the first of May I moved my stock of wines, liquors, etc., from Port Watson street to the store No. 102 Van Bergen block, Cortland, where I shall be pleased to see all my old friends and many new ones. I have added many new brands of fine old liquors to my stock, and have also just received a large invoice of California wines. These goods were bought directly from the manufacturers in California, and I guarantee them to be strictly pure and fine in quality. I now have without doubt the finest store of the kind in Central New York.
   I extend a cordial invitation to all to give me a call. Respectfully,
   E. DODGE.
   Cortland, May 1, 1890.

State Music Teachers.
   The second annual meeting of the New York State Music Teachers' Association will be held this year at Saratoga on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 24, 25 and 26. This association was organized last year and held their first convention at Hudson, which proved very successful and afforded all who attended rare musical instruction as well as pleasure, many of the leading musicians of the state having taken an active part in the programs rendered, both vocal and instrumental, including some very valuable lectures and papers which were given.
   The object of the association is the elevation of the standard of professional work, mutual improvement by interchange of thought, wider dissemination of musical culture, the furtherance of professional fraternity and the elevation of musical taste among the general public. For so noble an object the musicians and music loving people of this locality should at once enlist themselves for their own benefit as well as the general good which the association hopes to realize. The interest was so great last year at the first meeting, that the enrollment of membership was nearly 1,000, including a number from our county, and it is expected that at this year's meeting at Saratoga the enrollment list will show a still greater interest in the grand cause.
   This association is a branch of the Music Teachers' National Association, which was organized a few years ago, and will hold their convention this year at Detroit, Mich. The association has a staff of able directors: C. W. Landon of Claverack College Conservatory, Claverack, N. Y., president; G. F. Green, Troy, N. Y., secretary and treasurer; with vice-presidents from each county in the State.
   A special invitation is extended to those interested in military, reed and band music as well as those who give their attention to the piano, organ, voice and violin, as certain benefits only can result from including all branches of the profession in the ranks of the association. Let the profession combine and present a solid phalanx before the public. Misconception will be trampled, opposition vanquished, and our common art accorded the recognition it rightfully deserves, as the fairest of its sisters.
   The reduced rates in hotels and boarding houses, and on railroads, can be enjoyed only by those that arrange in advance. The larger the number the lower the rates.
 

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