ArizonaRealCountry.com 43 July 2019 continued on page 44 At Standing Rock, he would soon meet the man who would determine his ultimate fate - death. Indian Agent James McLaughlin, himself married to a Sioux woman, seemed favorably disposed towards the Sioux - in his own way. He harbored an immediate dislike of Sitting Bull with the medicine man's pride and eloquence striking the Indian Agent as pure arrogance and a threat to his authority. He showed no hesitation in doing what previous U.S. military officers and government officials were so willing to do, play the tribal chieftains against Sitting Bull and undermining his authority. Short, stocky, with powerful political and religious connections McLaughlin also had one additional key asset - his Dakota wife, who herself favored playing the tribal leaders against one another (Utley, The Lance and the Shield, p. 249). But for one brief summer and early fall of 1884 Sitting Bull, himself would have what could be considered to be a sweet diversion away from the troubles and strife of reservation life, courtesy of an old enemy turned friend. In the summer of 1876, William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody was one of the army's chief scouts leading the way in the pursuit of the tribes following the Custer disaster. In fact, it was Scout Cody who grimly informed the young officers of the 5th Cavalry that Custer and his command had been wiped out. Just a few days later, with Lieutenant Charles King (soon to become a famed Western writer) and Trooper Chris Madsen (soon to be a well-known lawman in the Oklahoma territory) looking on, Cody caught up with the Cheyenne at War Bonnet Gorge, challenged their chief, the ironically named Yellow Hair (whose name would be changed after his death to Yellow Hand to avoid confusion with Custer), shot him down in a charge that initially resembled two medieval knights jostling with each other, shouting out "the first scalp for Custer!" Despite his ferociousness towards warring tribes, Cody was a lifelong admirer of the Native Indian, and more often than naught he sought their friendship and companionship. Earning his respect first and foremost were the Sioux. As he wrote in his autobiography: "Of all of the Indians I encountered in my years on the Plains, the most resourceful and intelligent, as well as the most dangerous, were the Sioux" (Carter, Robert A., Buffalo Bill Cody: The Man Behind the Legend, Castle Books, 2003, p. 279). He also instinctively knew that as much as white America may have been horrified by Indian atrocities, they were just as fascinated with Indian life and customs. As Deanne Stillman wrote in her recent book Blood Brothers: "Buffalo Bill well knew the desire for communion with Native Americans, he had led dukes and financiers on treks to meet them and he had led soldiers on missions to find and kill them and he had learned their ways. Later, when the frontier began shutting down and he took Indians across America and around the world, the spectacles were transformative, a magic act, and to further partake, people would visit the villages where the traveling Indians lived in order to touch them" (Stillman, Deann, Blood Brothers: The Story of the Strange Friendship between Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill Cody, Simon & Schuster, 2017, p. 90). He was also (at first) a shrewd businessman in knowing that the frontier would not last forever and having some prior experience in both organization (Russian Grand Duke Alexis' 1872 Buffalo hunt, working alongside a certain Colonel named Custer) and acting, Cody proceeded to organize a Wild West rodeo in North Platte, Nebraska as part of the July 4th celebration in 1882. The rodeo was a resounding success, and soon caught on, with Cody and his agent associates Major Arizona John Burke and Nate Salsbury hiring cowboys, ex-soldiers, scouts, and yes, Native Americans for a show that not only would entertain and capture the imagination of the populace of the eastern cities of America but to cities worldwide as well. Bringing aboard the notorious Sioux Chief Sitting Bull would be quite a niche. Accordingly, he sent Major Burke to secure a contract with the medicine man, and after an initial rebuff by agent McLaughlin, Burke persisted and finally the agent, seeing the economic positives for his reservation as well as getting the irksome chief out of his hair, relented. On June 6, 1885, Burke wrote out a four-month contract in the presence of the chief, the contract stating he would be the highest paid performer in the show, receiving $50 dollars a week, and would have his own entourage accompanying him. He would also have an interpreter on hand to avoid any misunderstandings. Sitting Bull was given a $125 bonus just for signing on, and since Burke knew the chief admired Annie Oakley, also promised him that he would have accessibility to see her every day while the show was on tour. As a postscript, Burke also agreed that Sitting Bull would receive all proceeds from any and all signed autographs and photographs (Carter, Buffalo Bill: The Man Behind the Legend, p. 282; Utley, The Lance and the Shield, p. 264). Sitting Bull knew very well what he might face in the world of the whites. He knew that there were still many admirers of the late Custer who would want to harm or even kill him, and those who just plain hated Indians. In fact, he had been shot at during an excursion to St. Paul, Minnesota only months before he signed the Wild West show contract. He was physically attacked by the brother of a trooper who had died with Custer when he ultimately appeared at a Wild West performance in Pittsburgh. He warded off that assailant, smashing him in the face with a sledgehammer, knocking out several of his teeth (Carter, Buffalo Bill, p. 283). He was under no illusions, but having been a warrior, having faced death, and so desirous to get away from the mundane reservation life, as well as to see the world of the whites, he quickly signed on to an agreement that was not only a favorable one for him, but one that unlike so many other promises and agreements would be kept by men who openly admired and respected him. Accordingly, he joined the tour in July and was almost immediately an instant sensation, if not a controversial one. From the get-go, audiences flocked to see him as he rode out into the arenas in full regalia and with a proud look on his face. While so many openly booed and yelled out expressions of hatred towards him whenever he came out onstage, there were many who applauded him and openly sought his autograph or photographs when the shows concluded. For his part Sitting Bull enjoyed being a major part of the Wild West show and learning much about the white American world. The great chief who once said he hated all whites began a dear friendship with Buffalo Bill Cody that would last the remaining five years of his life, he practically "adopted" the "Little Sure Shot" - Annie Oakley, and he was favorably disposed towards the friendly elements of those who attended the shows. When asked by a reporter how he liked the East and the people who came to see him, he responded: "They treat me very kindly and when I return to my people I shall tell them all about our friends among the white men, and what I have seen" (Carter, Buffalo Bill, p.283). For four months straight Sitting Bull was arguably the main attraction of Buffalo Bill's Wild West show with the notable exceptions of Cody and Annie Oakley. Throughout North America - the United States and Canada the crowds came and went, especially in Canada where, despite his almost forced removal four years earlier, he was practically worshiped by his audiences. A famous photograph - "Foes in '76. Friends in '85" was taken of the chief and the scout during their stop in Montreal, and while it is certain that Sitting Bull was certainly aware of the first and last Indian uprising in the Western provinces of Canada, more commonly known as the Riel Rebellion which had recently been suppressed, he apparently never addressed the issue. After all, he had always had an uncertain relationship with the Metis or Slota - and the Crees had been enemies of the Sioux. The tour would play out in a dozen cities, half in the United States, the other half in Canada. It remains uncertain whether he actually was able to meet with President Grover Cleveland during the show's arrival in Washington, D.C. One written account states that yes, he went to the White House in the company of Bill Cody and was able to meet and shake the President's hand (Carter, Buffalo Bill, p.283) But a more authoritative source claims that while Sitting Bull and Cody did arrive at the White House they were unable to meet with President Cleveland but did drop off a letter for the President's consideration (Utley, Lance and the Shield, p. 265). As we will note shortly, Sitting Bull finally did meet face-to-face with Cleveland in October 1888. But the time had finally come, as the show concluded its run in St. Louis on October 11, 1885, when he bade farewell and adieu to the show - and to his dear friend Cody, never to return. He said simply that it was time to return to his wigwam, to return to his people and share their trials and tribulations. Cody gave his friend two gifts before parting. One was a white sombrero, size 8, and when a relative back at Standing Rock grabbed the sombrero and put it on his head, Sitting Bull responded with anger: "My friend Long Hair gave me this hat. I value it very highly, for the hand that placed it upon my head had a friendly feeling for me" (Carter, Buffalo Bill, p.287). The other gift that Bill Cody gave to Sitting Bull was a certain gray trick horse he had become quite fond of. Sitting Bull practically "adopted" the "Little Sure Shot" - Annie Oakley. Sitting Bull, and his son, Crow Foot, would meet a very sad ending together.