The Morrills and Reminiscences - C. H. Morrill

the early pioneers of the West. My first show was put on at Omaha. It was as successful as small shows generally were at that time, but was not a financial success.
"As time went on, the Indians became more daring and raids became more and more frequent. I was often called upon by settlers and by United States army officials to assist as a scout in tracking and punishing the Indians concerned in depredations. When the Civil War broke out I enlisted in a Nebraska regiment. After my discharge from the army I was elected a member of the Nebraska State Legislature. During the Indian war that resulted in the Custer massacre, I was chief of scouts under General Nelson Miles. I assisted in the capture of Sitting Bull, and in bringing at least twenty thousand Indians, of different tribes, to Fort Robinson and Fort Laramie.
"When I organized the Wild West Show, Nathan Salsbury and I were sole owners. Later we sold a one-half interest to Barnum and Bailey. It requires a large amount of money to run a show like the Wild West. At that time we employed about five hundred men and women. It required five hundred horses to haul our wagons to the show-grounds, on parade, and for the different acts. We had sleeping tents and accommodations for feeding all our employees and live stock. It took two trains of freight cars to haul the show from town to town. When we showed in a small place like York, Nebraska, it was necessary to make provision two weeks in advance for bread and

for hay. We generally contracted for three thousand loaves of bread, this being our average daily consumption. Our daily expense was something over three thousand dollars. Our income depended upon the weather and other factors generally beyond our control. All the events in a show are scheduled to come off at an exact time; the parade starts and the show opens at a certain hour, and each act starts on time. When you consider the number of people and horses that participate in the various maneuvers, you will get an idea of the responsibility that goes with a show business, which moves fifty to two hundred miles every twenty-four hours.
     "I conducted the show for many years. During that time we twice took the outfit to Europe. While in England 1 became intimately acquainted with Edward, then Prince of Wales, afterwards King of England. The diamond pennant you see on my coat was a present from him. While I was in London Queen Victoria requested me to present the show near Windsor Castle. This I was delighted to do and received many compliments from the Queen.
     "The medal I wear was voted by the United States Congress in recognition of my services in different Indian wars.
     "I have been intensely interested in the development of this section of Wyoming for several years, and have been instrumental in having constructed south of Cody an irrigation ditch of sufficient capacity to furnish water for the irrigation of thirty thousand

acres. I also hold a permit from the State of Wyoming to construct a high line ditch that will furnish water for the irrigation of seventy-five thousand acres of land on the north side of the Shoshone River, running from Rattle Snake Mountain east to the Mormon settlement at Cowley. I expect to use this water to develop gold mining claims which I hold, located in the valley east of Eagle's Nest. With the immense water power developed, we will generate electrical power to be used in manufacturing and we will very likely run an electric car line to Sunlight Mining Camp, about one hundred miles northwest of Cody."
In response to my suggestion that he had made a great deal of money, he replied, "Yes, the show has always been a big money maker. In some of our best years the total net profit has been fully one million dollars. Nathan Salsbury has saved his money while I have spent all of my share in trying to develop the West and in assisting my friends. When Nathan Salsbury dies the newspapers will say, 'He, in company with Colonel W. F. Cody, started the Wild West, which they ran successfully for many years' and that Salsbury 'leaves a fortune of two or three million dollars.' I have very different ideas from Mr. Salsbury in regard to the proper use of money. When I die I hope to be buried on Cedar Mountain, just west of and adjoining the town of Cody. On my monument I want the following inscription: 'Here lies Colonel W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill). During his life he made millions, which he endeavored to expend in making

life easier for his fellow men. He died leaving an estate consisting solely of good wishes toward all men.'
On several occasions, in company with Colonel Cody, I had the pleasure of visiting his T. E. ranch, located fifty miles southwest of the town of Cody on the south fork of the Shoshone River, and very near the south line of Yellowstone Park. The altitude at this point is six thousand to eight thousand feet. The mountains rise abruptly on both sides of the river, towering several hundred feet above the valley. To see the sky one must look nearly straight up. The river runs very swiftly and waterfalls occur every few rods. Issuewood Creek comes rushing down the mountains from the north, laughing so boisterously that the woods are filled with echoes of its merry songs. On the side of the mountain, many hundred feet above, we often saw herds of mountain sheep feeding. Both the river and Issuewood Creek abound with mountain trout. The ranch buildings are located in a beautiful grove of tall pines which never cease singing their songs of welcome to the Colonel and his many friends. The ranch consists of about one thousand acres, which have been sown to grasses of various kinds, and wild flowers abound in many varieties. There was a herd of five hundred head of fine Hereford cattle, and a herd of two thousand horses running in the valley farther down the river. I remember well when Colonel Cody phoned, to his superintendent for horses and was informed that they were all out on the range. The


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