By KAREN KASPER

Ishpeming Historical

Society and the Cliffs

Shaft Mine Museum

ISHPEMING — “Mr. Fuller, representing the Buffalo Bill Wild West show, was in Ishpeming this week looking over the grounds at Union Park with a view to bringing the big show here this summer. He could not decide this point before going to the copper country, the Soo and other important upper peninsula points. He was well pleased with the advantages offered at Union Park, the place being large enough for his purposes.

“He said the cost of bringing Buffalo Bill’s show here would be very large, but that they would come if they could play even. He said Mr. Cody has been in nearly every portion of the United States with his entertainment and had a wish to come here before going out of business, he having a pride in letting the people see the show as well as himself.” (Iron Ore, April 19, 1902)

The confirmation that the Wild West show would indeed come to Ishpeming came with an ad in the Iron Ore, only days after the circus was in town. The summer of 1902 would be banner year for shows, with two huge extravaganzas coming to Ishpeming. The show was scheduled for the 17th of July and would be in Ishpeming for one day only.

Wild West shows were popular in the early 1900s and offered a different type of entertainment than the usual circus. Instead of elephants and acrobats, the ad promised Russian Cossacks, Bedouin Arabs, American Cowboys, Indians and more along with a parade around town the morning of the entertainment.

“During the present season of 1902 the entire Wild West organization will visit the Pacific Coast. To do this Col. Cody and his Rough Riders of the World must pass over the wide territory on which were enacted the many historic scenes daily represented in the canvas-curtained arena provided for the comfort of the thousands who daily attend these exhibitions.” (Iron Ore, July 5, 1902)

“Prices of admission, reserved seats etc., to Buffalo Bill’s Exhibition will be the same all over the Peninsula. That is $1.00 ($35 today) admission, reserved seats 50 cents extra. Children under 9 years 25 cents, children under 9 years to reserve seats 25 cents. Any other statement is either accidental or malicious.

This organization of 600 men and 500 horses is the most expensive one before the public and in visiting this section travel (to get here and out again) nearly nine hundred miles in seven days. It is its first visit, everything novel, educating and entertaining and it is highly probable that Col. Cody will never be here again, or at least not for several years as after a tour to the Pacific coast the outfit goes to Europe and returning will very possibly commence the beginning of the end as time limit, age and the history it represents will soon be relegated to the ordinary showman.” (Iron Ore, July 12, 1902) Buffalo Bill was 60 years old and how many more years he would be able to travel was unknown.

Like the Ringling Bros. circus that preceded it, the weeks leading up to the show brought articles in the Iron Ore filled with ever increasing hyperbole.

“Folks who ought to know say that Buffalo Bill’s Wild West gives the most remarkably realistic entertainment ever offered to the public. It ought to, for there is not, among all its hundreds of performers, one who has been hired to imitate somebody doing something. All are real. The Indians, cowboys, scouts, buffalo hunters, vaqueros, gauchos, American cavalry and artillery, Cossacks, Arabs and European ‘rough riders,’ the Cuban veterans, Atlantic Coast Life Savers, even the Western girls who execute a ‘Virginia Reel’ on horseback, all have been really in private life just the sort of persons they purport to be in public and if a realistic show cannot be got up on that basis it is not easy to imagine what better formulation might be required.” (Iron Ore, July 12, 1902)

Like the circus, however, the Wild West show had its share of followers who were up to no good.

“A party of fakirs is said to be following Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, which is here today. These men have no connection whatever with the show and only make the towns where Colonel Cody exhibits to take advantage of the large crowds which the Rough Riders draw.

An attempt was made Tuesday by one of these ‘grafters’ to bribe the city officials who have authority to grant licenses to amusement games. In the afternoon a smooth-looking individual entered the office of Marshal A. Fandrem and after exchanging a few pleasant remarks began to talk of his business. He claimed to be conducting a legitimate trade and asked for a license. Mr. Fandrem, however, was wary and determined to look further into the proposition. He attempted to put the man off for a time, whereupon the stranger cooly offered the marshal $500 in cash if he would use his influence to license a gambling game which he managed. What is more, he was ready to put up the money forthwith and showed the ‘color’ of his metal.

Today no licenses have been granted to any outside parties, and only local parties have been allowed to secure any privileges. This is upon the advice of the head detective agency. A special force of policemen will be on duty all day and it is thought that if any games are worked, they will all be the most secret kind of ‘confidence’ deals. Every effort will be made to keep all gambling out and Marshal Fandrem assures the people that they will be protected against fakirs of every kind.” (Mining Journal, July 17, 1902)

“Buffalo Bill was here in all his glory yesterday. With his cowboys and soldiers, the old Indian fighter gave his exhibition before one of the largest crowds that has ever assembled in this city.

The small boy was in his glory too. He was able to get a glimpse of his ideal hero, the cowboy, and to see bucking broncos. He saw the wild red man too and, with him, the great array of soldiers of every land, the old stagecoach, the horses and Buffalo Bill himself.

When time came for the parade, all the people in the city, together with the hundreds of visitors from neighboring towns, were on hand to see the cavalcade. Buffalo Bill headed the line in a carriage and behind him came his followers, all mounted. There were troops of gaudily painted Indians, jingling with sleigh bells, and bearing wampum strings and blankets, companies of American, English, German, Russian and Mexican cavalrymen in gorgeous trappings, and resplendent uniforms, an old stagecoach drawn by a mule team, several brass bands, a fife and drum corps, a herd of buffalo and other striking features.” (Mining Journal, July 18, 1902)

“Buffalo Bill, heroized by the small boy and admired by grown-up people, arrived in the city Thursday morning with his wild west aggregation. The canvas was spread at Union Park in short order, and everything was soon in readiness for the first performance. The street parade took place at exactly the time advertised and was witnessed by thousands of people, the streets along the line of march being thronged with humanity. There were many visitors in the city, large delegations coming down from up-the-road towns. Crystal Falls, Iron River, Negaunee and Marquette were also represented in the crowd.” (Iron Ore, July 19, 1902)

After their performances, the show packed up and proceeded to their next stop.