CHAPTER XXIX.

STARRING.

Texas Jack and I spent several weeks in hunting in the western part of Nebraska, and at the end of our vacation we felt greatly re-invigorated and ready for another theatrical campaign.  We accordingly proceeded to New York and organized a company for the season of 1873-74.  Thinking that Wild Bill would be quite an acquisition to the troupe, we wrote to him at Springfield, Missouri, offering him a large salary if he would play with us that winter.  He was doing nothing at the time, and we thought that he would like to take a trip through the States, as he had never been East.

Wild Bill accepted our offer, and came on to New York; though he told us from the start that we could never make an actor out of him.  Although he had a fine stage appearance and was a handsome fellow, and possessed a good strong voice, yet when he went upon the stage before an audience, it was almost impossible for him to utter a word.  He insisted that we were making a set of fools of ourselves, and that we were the laughing-stock of the people.  I replied that I did not care for that, as long as they came and bought tickets to see us.

Wild Bill was continually playing tricks upon the members of the company, and it was his especial delight to torment the “supers.”  Quite frequently in our sham Indian battles he would run up to the “Indians” (the supers), and putting his pistol close to their legs, would fire at them and burn them with the powder, instead of shooting over their heads.  This would make them dance and jump, so that it was difficult to make them fall and die—­although they were paid twenty-five cents each for performing the “dying business.”  The poor “supers” often complained to me about this, and threatened not to go on the stage and be killed again if that man Wild Bill did not stop shooting and burning their legs.  I would order Wild Bill to stop his mischief; he would laugh and then promise not to do it any more.  But it would not be long before he was at his old tricks again.

My company, known as the “Buffalo Bill Combination,” did a fine business, all through the East.  Wild Bill continued his pranks, which caused us considerable annoyance, but at the same time greatly amused us.

One day at Titusville, Pennsylvania, while Burke, the business agent, was registering our names and making arrangements for our accommodation, several of us started for the billiard room; but were met by the landlord, who stopped me and said that there was a party of roughs from the lower oil region who were spreeing, and had boasted that they were staying in town to meet the Buffalo Bill gang and clean them out.  The landlord begged of me not to allow the members of the troupe to enter the billiard room, as he did not wish any fight in his house.  To please the landlord, and at his suggestion, I called the boys up into the parlor and explained to them the situation.  Wild Bill wanted to go at once and fight the whole mob, but I persuaded him to keep away from them during the day.