Bill Pickett by William R. Sanford

Author:William R. Sanford [Sanford, William R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4645-0994-0
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2013-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Image Credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

The Miller Brothers’ 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show grew into a huge production. This panorama, taken in 1927, pictures the show’s cast and work crew.

By September 1910, two of Bill’s replacements had been injured. Once more, the Millers sent for Bill. He told Maggie good-bye and returned to the show. Despite his starring role, he did not expect star treatment. He bunked in one of the sleeper cars and ate in the cook tent. If a cowboy could not perform, Bill often filled in for him.

Each Wild West show opened with a grand parade. Bill rode atop a wagon that carried two buffalo, Nip and Mary. Nip may have served as the model for the old buffalo nickel. The action started with trick riding and roping. Teams of riders then staged a Pony Express ride and a stagecoach robbery. American Indians danced and chanted to the rhythmic beat of drums. A Roman rider vaulted over four horses and landed on the back of a fifth.

Bill’s bulldogging was the show’s high point. The Millers billed him as “the greatest sweat and dirt cowboy that ever lived—bar none.” People came prepared to cheer, and Bill gave them their money’s worth. After his bite-’em act, the steer ropers took over. Next came square dancing on horseback and women sharpshooters. Cowboys caught a horse thief, raced a team of Russian Cossacks, and rode bucking broncos. Bill sometimes delighted the crowd by mounting one of the broncos. The show ended with a wagon-train massacre staged by Cheyenne warriors. Afterward, the audience sang “Home Sweet Home.”

In January 1910, Bill leased some land from the 101 Ranch. Because the land was close to the ranch, he could spend more time at home. Maggie took charge of the house, the garden, a cow, and a few pigs. Instead of herding cattle, Bill managed the ranch’s buffalo herd. The Millers used some of the buffalo in the show. They sold the excess as breeding stock.

The next three years slipped by quickly. Despite Maggie’s pleas, Bill refused to give up his show tours. By 1912, his salary had risen to $12 a week. He put on his risky act in twenty-two states and three Canadian provinces that year. Two near-disasters marred the tour. On the way to Milwaukee, a fire burned some of the parade wagons. Later, a train wreck smashed the calliope and killed five horses. Bill escaped injury in both mishaps.

Back at the ranch, Bill spent the winter breaking horses. By the spring of 1913, he was on the road again. The new show was bigger than ever. Bill kept his top billing, even though he no longer threw steers by biting their lips. The humane society had won its battle to outlaw the bite-’em technique.

Bill thrilled crowds almost daily until the show closed in October. Then he boarded a train for New York. It was time to take his act overseas.

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