The legendary American pioneer, William Frederick Cody better known as Buffalo Bill who was at one time was a Pony Express rider, Army scout, buffalo hunter and in later life the owner of the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show which toured Europe with genuine Native American from the Sioux and Oglala tribes, cowboy sharpshooters, stage coaches, wagon trains and even a herd of buffalo! Bill rolled into Salford in early December 1887 and set up camp on the Salford Racecourse at New Barnes, later to be the site of the Number Nine Dock at Salford Docks. As can be imagined 1,00's of visitors flocked to see this show and Bill ever the showman was only to eager to please his adoring public with exhibitions of rifle shooting, mock ups of famous battles including Little Big Horn and plenty of blood curdling action guaranteed. The Wild West Show ran from 14th December until 30th April 1888 and was seen by everyone from MP's, Mayors, Magistrates, merchants, traders and the people of Salford who must have been transfixed by the spectacle unfolding before them. There were a couple of incidents on the Salford leg of the tour, firstly one of the troupe a Native American Indian, called, "Surrounded" died of a chest infection, this was seen as being a curse on the show by some, rumours of his burial have been circulating for some time, he was allegedly buried in Weaste Cemetery, which proved to be untrue, then in Brompton Cemetery in London, but no records exist to show this internment, there is speculation that that he was secretly buried on the showground by his friends, possible? The second incident is that a baby girl was born to "Goodrobe" and "Little Chief" the first ever Native American child to be born overseas, this caused much excitement not only in the camp but in the local press. The little girl was baptised in St Clement's Church in Ordsall, and was given the name, "Overseas" and the English name of Frances, Victoria, Alexander, the names were for Frances Cleveland who was the wife of the American President, Grover Cleveland, Queen Victoria and The Princess of Wales, Alexander, For me the best story involving the visit to Salford concerned a court case which involved Buffalo Bill, which I came across whilst researching for my Cross Lane book (still available in all good bookshops!) On the day before was due to leave to Salford with the show he went out drinking in several pubs and naturally decided to visit a few of the pubs on Cross Lane, I'll bet that was a sight to behold. On the 1st May 1888, he went in the Buck Hotel to have a farewell drink with the Landlord, a chap called Thomas Twist, after a few drinks a hansom cab was called to take Bill back to his lodgings in nearby Howard Street, which shattered my illusions about Bill sleeping underneath the starry, Salford skies in a tent. The cabdriver Mr Broadhurst duly arrived and Bill was waved off, however when they arrived at his address, Bill refused to pay saying that Broadhurst had taken him the long way round, that old trick then! Bill went into the house and slammed the door, Broadhurst, brave chap, banged on the door and demanded his money - wrong move - Bill came out grabbed him by the neck and punched him in the face and promptly went back in the house. Broadhurst went to the police and demanded that Bill be arrested, now this put the police in a dilemma because Salford Council had mooted the idea of naming Broadway, Buffalo Bill Way and possibly the Freedom of Salford for him, for all the charitable work he had done during his stay here. A summons was issued and Mr Twist turned up at Court in his place, whilst Buffalo Bill sent his apologies, and pleaded Guilty but under provocation and was prepared to accept whatever the Magistrate thought fit. The Stipendiary Mr Makinson fined Bill £3 plus costs which included ten shillings for Mr Broadhurst and his cab fare, which was paid at once by Mr Twist. Buffalo Bill did return to Manchester but not Salford, in 1891 and 1902, perhaps he had, had enough of our cab drivers?
