 The Cavalcade of America, presented by Dupont. This evening, the Cavalcade of America brings you the story of a man who has become to be the symbol of the early days of the West, William F. Cody, Indian fighter, pony express rider, buffalo hunter and army scout, known best as Buffalo Bill. This week is an especially appropriate time to do something about the appearance of your car. Because it is being observed throughout the United States as national used car exchange week, dealers and manufacturers everywhere are presenting unusual inducements for you to drive a better automobile by offering late model reconditioned cars at extremely low prices. Here too, chemistry plays a part by enhancing the value of good used cars, for many of them are refinished and touched up with the same Dupont finishes with which they left the factory. If you're keeping your present model, you can restore that showroom beauty and recapture that original thrill of new car ownership by having it refinished at any one of the thousands of refinishing stations in the United States that use Dupont finishes. You'll find a new pleasure and satisfaction in the old bus when it blossoms out in a bright new coat of Duco, Dulux or Pyrolux finish. As an overture, Don Voorhees and the Dupont Cavalcade Orchestra will play the ever popular wagon wheel. Dupont Cavalcade moves forward. Born February 26, 1846 in Scott County, Iowa. When he was eight, the family migrated to Kansas. The boy lived the adventurous life of the west of that day. He herded cattle, hunted buffalo, rode pony express and served as a private during the Civil War. In 1865, while visiting in St. Louis, he met Louise Federici, who was later to become his wife. We find them on the deck of an old Mississippi steamer on its way up the river to the town of Leavenworth, Kansas. The boat, which is tied up for the landing to take on wood for the boiler, is about to depart. Lou Down, afraid? Afraid? What's there to be afraid of? Oh, nothing, I guess. Only now that we're married, you're coming away with me. I'm suddenly realizing what I'm asking you to sacrifice. What are you asking? Well, I'm taking you to a new life. Asking you to face hardships, dangers, maybe? Living a wild, strange country away from everyone you've ever known or cared for? I'll have you, won't I? Well, yes. Well, I knew all the rest before. Well, who are those men on the bank? Oh, that's just a bunch of men unloading the cargo. No, no, I don't mean those. I mean the men on the horseback. Waiting at us. Lou, stand behind me quick. What is it? Get back quick. Be quiet, don't move. We're flying off away from the dock now, I guess. I say, find advantage to take up a man when he can't take his gun and get down to face him. What's the matter now? Sorry now, darling. Nothing to be afraid of. I'm sorry. Poor baby. Some of Jesse James's gang, I had a little trouble with them once before. Jesse James? The robber? Yeah. Lou, I'm sorry you were fighting. I shouldn't have brought you out here at all this. Oh, it's nothing. I'll be all right in a minute. Well, I wasn't expecting it. Lou, darling, I want to ask you something. Do you want to turn back? Why? Because, darling, if it's too much for you, if you think you aren't going to be able to stand my life, I'll try to stand yours. You see, honey, it isn't just because I like the free life that I want to come out here. The world isn't big enough for everybody that's in it. They've got to spread out, and they'll come this way. You mean people will settle out here? Hundreds of them. They wagon trains start across the plains, and they're building railroads in Kansas. And they need men who know the West to clear the path. They're building this now, but someday there will be towns out here as big as St. Louis. Oh, Will. It's true, darling. In this country that I love, I'll be working for tomorrow. And I want you to help me. But if you don't want to take the risk, we'll go back. Oh, sweetheart, what do you say? Do you remember what the minister said when we were standing there, being married? He said, give me the ring, and I couldn't find it. No, no, I don't mean that. I mean, what he said about always being together. Till death us do part. Yes. I remember that. Well, I meant that, Will. I want to be with you, always. But Will Cody went back to the West he knew and loved when he was first hired as a buffalo hunter by the Kansas Pacific Railroad. Hunting bison was a dangerous job which required great skill, but the animals were needed for food. Cody became famous for his ability and daring and won the nickname of Buffalo Bill. Then Cody became government scout under General Sheridan and soon gained the rank of colonel. He was taken captive by the Comanche Chief, Satanta, and barely escaped with his life. On the evening of his rescue, we find him in the log cabin which was his home, holding his baby daughter, Arta. Buffalo Bill, Buffalo Bill, never misses and never will. Always aims and shoots to kill and the company pays his Buffalo Bill. Ridiculous, not a lie. Well, they wrote it about me and I think my daughter should hear it. Look, she liked it. Sound asleep. Sleeping just as sound as though she hadn't almost been left an awesome. Oh, Will. I'm still shaking as a part of this. When I came down from the fort to tell you to escape me, Patanta, in the Denver gym and as men rescued you and the Indians are right at your heels. Well, it's the worst here you've given me yet. To send the gin hadn't found you on the day. Right, a bit of dead scout. Riding that mule, I didn't have a chance. And that's positively the last time I go scouting on a donkey. Well... Well... Golly, I'm tired. You must be dead for sure. Go to bed now, Will. Cody! Cody! What is that? What is going? I guess it's coming down from the fort. Cody! Open the door! Let him in, Mama. Engines, Bill. Commanches and coyotes on the path again. General Hazen wants you to take word to General Sharton at Fort Hayes. Fort Hayes? Well, you can't do it. Well, you're exhausted and they're 65 miles away. Let one of the other scouts go. Well, the chief put it up to them. Nobody wants to. It's a pretty hostile country and Sharton's got to have the dispatches by morning. So, Satanta's saddened earnest, huh? Well, here, take the baby loom. Oh, well, you're worn out. You mustn't go out in this storm. He's the only man who can do it, Mrs. Cody. I'll tell you, honey. I'll go over and make General Hazen a proposition. I am pretty sleepy, but I'll go if he gives me a horse. I don't propose to be chased again today by engines while I'm riding the government mule. So will Cody road all night through the storm, carrying the dispatches. Twice he was thrown from his horse, but he persisted. And we find him early next morning. Come on, lady. Come on. Nearly there. Just a little more, and we'll get some food and some sleep. Oh! Who's there? Colonel Cody. Messages from General Hazen at Larnan. Are you going to enter Colonel Cody? I got to see General Sheridan immediately. Oh, will himself. Come in, Colonel Cody. Come in. Here, just in time for breakfast. I've brought dispatches from General Hazen. Now, get to the fireman. You must be frozen. Let's see. It's a tent, eh? Well, it's a bad business. Colonel Cody. Yes, General Sheridan? I'm in serious straits. These orders must go to Fort Dodge at once. Fort Dodge is 95 miles from here, General Sheridan. And you've been traveling all night. But I haven't a scout capable of making the trip. You know the country? You've eyes like field glasses. It's a lot to ask of you, I know. The only stop is Coon Creek. Can I get a fresh horse there? Horse? Sure. There's a troop of cavalry stationed there. Well, if you're sure of that, I'll go. Thank you, Colonel Cody. It's risky. Oh, I don't mind the risk, General. I'll just be jiggered if I'll do any more scouting on a government mule. At 10 o'clock that night, Colonel Cody arrived at Fort Dodge to learn that there had been another Indian outbreak on the Arkansas River near Fort Leonard. Again, he was the only scout who would undertake the trip back across the prairies to Fort Leonard and carry the warning. After a short sleep, he reports to commanding officer. Now, if you let me have a horse, I'll be on my way soon. Colonel Cody, we haven't a horse available. I have to give you a mule. What? I'm sorry. Then I don't make the trip. I won't ride one of those concerned things again. But Colonel Cody... I'll ride no mule. The outbreak on the Arkansas River is extremely violent. General Hazen must be notified at once. What? Well? Bring on your mule. I'll take just one more chance. And so on a government mule, Colonel Cody started back again toward Fort Leonard. The animal was hard-mouthed and stubborn, and riding him was very difficult. At the end of the first 30 miles, Cody dismounted to get a drink of water at Coombe Creek. Oh, you brute. I want to get a drink. Come on, you. I can crack the ice. I'll give you a drink, too. Oh, stand still. You blasted animal. Wait till I get you. Wait! From Coombe Creek back to Fort Leonard, the last lap was 30 miles. Cody made it on foot following the mule, which kept just ahead of him all the way. As the sun rose, Cody entered the gates of the fort, having traveled 350 miles in 54 hours. Sentry, hello. Hello there. You see that blasted mule? He came in just ahead of you, Colonel. Did he run away? Did he run away? Did he run away? We thought you were a scout. A scout. I've been playing tag with a jackass. Give General Hayes some of these dispatches, and tell him to congratulate Fort Hayes on having the toughest, meanest mule in the United States Army. I'm going to bed. Well, Cody, they've chased the command to south of the Arkansas, but there are more emergency messages for General Sheridan. You'll have to go back to Fort Hayes with him. Fort Hayes? Well, I won't need any sleep at all once I get the hang of it. All right, Regan, get me a horse. I'm sorry, Cody, but there aren't any horses. General Hayeson suggested that since it's an emergency, you might ride a gunman mule. A gun... A nu-raison! As the years passed, Colonel William Cody, Chief of Scouts, became one of the great dramatic figures of the West. He was a justice of the peace, then a state legislator. But he remained at heart, muffled old Bill the Plainsman. Finally, there came a demand that he go east to appear in a dramatized version of the days of the Old West. For the success of these appearances came the idea of the Wild West show. We find him in conversation with Mrs. Cody, little Johnny Baker, a boy of whom he was extremely fond, and Major John Burke, his devoted press agent. Maybe I have brought you out here on a wild goose chase, Major Burke. But the idea of a Wild West show got me. I can't sleep nights, we're thinking about. Well, the public certainly like you in the Western, please. Then things. Shucks running around on a two-by-four stage, pretending to shoot Chicago Indians who fell down before the gun went off. That's no way to give the folks an idea of the West. I want to give them a real show, Major. Riding, marksmanship, blasphemy. I want them to see the West as it used to be with Indians holding up the stagecoach and scout chasing them. But you can't do that on a stage, Colonel Cody. You said anything about a stage. I'm not going to use any stage. Oh, you're going to have an attempt like a circus? No, no, Johnny. Intended before the bullet holes, no time. I'm going to have it right outdoors. Canvas sidewalls, maybe. But plenty of room for the horses. A place where we can really ride. Ground up buffalo. Sounds wonderful, Bill, but sort of impossible. Nothing's impossible. I could gather together a show like that in a month. Where'd you get your Indians? Right here. No more of that back East kind. I can go out to the Pine Ridge Engine Agency today and get all I want. Chase the stagecoach, do their dances. You'd want a real stagecoach. And I can get a real one. The old Deadwood stagecoach. It was held up so many times. Full of holes to see it. I got a new one now. I could buy that old one cheap. Will it be wonderful? Good. Can I go along, Colonel Cody? Go along? Sure, Johnny. You're going to be the champion boy shot of the world. A champion? Sure. You have the makin' to the champion. Why, we got a whole show already. You and little Missy. You mean Annie Oakley, that girl? Annie Oakley may be only a girl, but she can shoot. She came to me when she was with the circus and begged me to give her a trial and she's good, Bert. She's good. She's pretty, too. The men like her for that. Yes, and the women will like her because seeing her will help them get over being scared at the sound of shooting. We'll put her on early and catch her interest. It's all a shame of her. We can get the performers. We can get the stars. We can get the engines. We can get the horses. There's just one thing more we got to get. All the whole thing to bust. What's that, Colonel? You. Me. That's right. You, Major Bert. My way of thinking, you're the best publicity man in the world. And if I can't have you for advance agents, the deal's off. Why? It's a gamble, I know it. These little shows have been different, but this, oh, I'm asking you to take a risk, Bert, and I haven't any right to do it. Colonel, I want to tell you something. First time I ever saw you, I thought you were the handsomest, straightest, finest man I'd ever seen in all my life. I still think so. When it comes to telling the world, it'll be a pleasure. There's nothing I'd like better, Colonel, than to make Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show the greatest show on earth. And so held up by Major John Burke, the most famous press agent of his day, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show was formed and grew greater and greater. It played triumphantly at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 to six million people. But Cody the showman was forced to yield once more to Cody the scout. Out in Nevada there was a sewer rising. With General Miles, Cody hurried westward. But before they arrived there had been the historic fight at Wounded Knee. General Miles immediately called the great council. I'm sorry you didn't get here sooner, Cody. The battle at Wounded Knee was a massacre. I believe you could have prevented it. Yeah, the Indians would have listened to me, I think. Well, it's too late now. Important thing is to prevent another like it. We've got to hold these Indian Braves who are prisoners as hostages so that the Indian wars are over forever. It's time for the council to call them to assembly. Hello, Connie. Hey, Opu. Hello, Connie. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Hey, Opu. Apsker, your friend wants you to listen. Apsker speaks. The Indian wants peace. Fightman wants peace. Apsker speaks the truth. Mee Horncloud speaks for shot ball. He want only peace. Our Braves are dead, our squads are dead. dead. Our chiefs are captive. Shortbowl, he says, fight no more. Now he's silent. Shortbowl is silent. And it's too late to bring back those braves who are dead. But the white man would dwell with you now in peace. To make sure there is no more war, your braves stay with us. If your promise fails, their lives are forfeit. What do they say, Orenkaard? Chiefs say they will come with you, Bahaska. Live with you. No, no, you don't understand. Not with me, not with Bahaska. Well, why not? You're the logical person to take them, Colonel Cody. Keep them with you. Take them to Europe with your wild whistle. Orenkaard, who would go with me over the waters to strange countries? How many would go, Bahaska? Kicking bear, black-heart, long-wolf, and shortbowl. Shortbowl, eh? All right, General Miles, I'll accept your offer. If you follow the path of peace, I give you my promise. I will take your braves with me, and I will be kind to them. Bring them back to you safely. Orenkaard, tell your braves these chiefs go with Bahaska as a sign that fighting between the white man and the red man is ended forever. I officially place these men in your charge, Brigadier General Cody. Brigadier General. That title still sounds funny to an old Indian fighter like me. It's a tribute to a man who symbolizes the great west of the past, Cody. You've made this day possible, this day and this pipe of peace. Don't you want to be called Brigadier General? Yes, I'm proud as a strutting peacock when you say it in front of the boys. Well, when we're alone, General. I think I'd rather you just say Buffalo Bill. William Frederick Cody died on January 10th, 1917, and was buried with honors in the resting place he himself had selected on top of Lookout Mountain near Denver, Colorado. In Cody, Wyoming, a bronze statue of him has been erected, and a museum holds his gun, his gay coats, his broad brimmed hats, and his silver-mounted bridles, preserving to America the memories and traditions of the dangerous thrilling days when the west was young. DuPont salutes this era by paying tribute to Buffalo Bill, brave leader in the cavalcade of America. Many of us remember that back in the days of Buffalo Bill, a favorite spring tonic was sulfur and molasses. Today, chemistry uses sulfur in making hundreds of products for your comfort and convenience. It goes into sprays that protect our food crops from insects. It helps give raw rubber the toughness needed for tires and countless other articles. When burned in air, sulfur dioxide is formed, and this gas is used to give cotton and leather fabrics a snowy whiteness. In compressed form, sulfur dioxide serves as a refrigerant. The principal use of this gas is in the manufacture of sulfuric acid, an important DuPont product. Sulfuric acid is often called the king of chemicals because such great qualities are consumed in making so many other articles of daily use. Sulfuric acid is what enables the storage battery of your car to supply power for the light and self-starter. It is used in refining petroleum and in making fertilizers, commercial explosives, paper, rayon, and colorful dyes. Every woman who owns an organ-de-dress can thank sulfuric acid because that is what gives organ-de fabric its permanent crispness. For years, great deposits of sulfur lay embedded deep under the earth's surface in Texas and Louisiana out of the reach of man because no one knew how to mine it. Then a chemist named Herman Frash said to himself, if we can't go to the sulfur, we'll make the sulfur come to us. And that's exactly what he did. Frash developed a method whereby a large pipe is driven into the ground with smaller pipes inside it. Hot water, steam, and compressed air are then forced into the deposit, melting the sulfur and forcing it to flow as a liquid to the surface. The sulfur then solidifies and is ready to serve many industries. Had it not been for the ingenuity of this chemist, the valuable deposits of sulfur in our Gulf states might still be lying untouched, thus forcing American industry to rely upon foreign countries for this vital substance that helps so much to realize the DuPont pledge, better things for better living through chemistry. The story of Captain Robert Gray, American navigator, whose discovery of the Columbia River gave the United States one of its strongest planes to the Oregon Territory. Those lands which now make up the three states of Oregon, Washington and Idaho, will be the subject of our broadcast when next week, at this same time, DuPont again presents the Cadillacade of America. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.