The Life of Buffalo Bill · Chapter
A Millionaire explained
After returning to Fort Hays, Cody meets William Rose and becomes a partner in founding the town of Rome.
What happens
After returning to Fort Hays, Cody meets William Rose and becomes a partner in founding the town of Rome. The town flourishes briefly until Dr. W. E. Webb, an agent of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, starts a rival town called Hays City, causing a mass exodus. Cody and Rose lose their fortune. Later, while working on a railroad contract, Cody spots buffalo and, riding his horse Brigham bareback with no bridle, kills eleven buffalo with twelve shots, impressing a group of officers led by Captain Graham. That night, Indians raid their camp and steal horses; Cody reports to the fort, and Captain Graham's company of colored troops is ordered to pursue the thieves.
Themes in this chapter
The American West as a Land of Opportunity
Cody and Rose's attempt to found a town and become millionaires illustrates the speculative boom-and-bust cycle of frontier enterprise.
Masculinity and the Frontier Hero
Cody's bareback buffalo hunt, killing eleven buffalo with twelve shots, reinforces his image as a skilled, fearless frontiersman, impressing the officers.
Violence and Survival
The Indian raid on the horses and the subsequent pursuit by the cavalry highlight the constant threat of violence and the need for survival on the frontier.
Characters to notice
- Buffalo Bill
Partners with William Rose to found the town of Rome, loses his fortune when Hays City overtakes it, then demonstrates his buffalo-hunting prowess by killing eleven buffalo with twelve shots while riding bareback.
- Mr. Rose
William Rose, a railroad contractor, partners with Cody to found Rome; after the town fails, he jokes about being 'the last rose of summer.'
- Dr. W. E. Webb
Agent of the Kansas Pacific Railroad who founds the rival town of Hays City, causing the downfall of Rome.
- Captain Graham
Captain of the Tenth Cavalry who witnesses Cody's buffalo hunt, is impressed, and later orders a pursuit of Indian horse thieves with his company of colored troops.
- Brigham Young
Cody's horse, used for buffalo hunting; Cody rides him bareback without bridle or saddle, and Brigham performs expertly, stopping to allow second shots if needed.
Key passages
“Our modern Rome, like all mushroom towns along the line of a new railroad, sprang up as if by magic, and in less than one month we had two hundred frame and log houses, three or four stores, several saloons, and one good hotel.”
Rome grew rapidly, typical of railroad boomtowns, with over two hundred buildings and various businesses within a month.
Illustrates the rapid growth and speculative nature of frontier towns.
“Three days before, we had considered ourselves millionaires; on that morning we looked around and saw that we were reduced to the ragged edge of poverty.”
In just three days, Cody and Rose went from feeling immensely wealthy to being nearly destitute.
Highlights the volatility of frontier fortunes.
“In this manner I killed the eleven buffaloes with twelve shots; and, as the last animal dropped, my horse stopped.”
Cody shot and killed eleven buffalo using only twelve bullets, and his horse halted after the last kill.
Demonstrates Cody's exceptional marksmanship and his horse's training.