Our guide on a winter Sunday below zero morning was a 3rd generation Cody-ien. He had a story to tell us about Buffalo Bill. Our guide's name was Bob. I didn't check with Janet on that name but I think it's right. Janet keeps track of details and I take the pictures.
Bob's grandfather was a resident of Cody during the last days of Buffalo Bill's life. It was after Christmas when Buffalo Bill and his wife, Laura (here again check with Janet on that name) took a train to Denver from Cody. Bill was not well and wanted professional help from the doctors in Denver. He died there in early January. Laura was short on funds because of BB's life style so when the mayor and councle members of Denver offered her $20,000 if she would leave Buffalo Bill's body in Denver, she took them up on it.
The town folk of Cody were very disappointed when they met the train with just Laura and no body of Buffalo Bill.
Before spring came to Cody a unknown cowboy from a ranch around Yellowstone died. The mortician handling the body noticed how much the dead cowboy looked like Buffalo Bill. He called a few Cody people in to take a look. Bob's grandfather was one of them. They all decided that yes, with some of Buffalo Bill's clothes he could pass as BB.
There by which, they loaded up the body and headed for Denver. When they got to the morgue in Denver, where Buffalo Bill's body was being held until the town of Denver could buy an appropriate piece of land to erect a Memorial to Buffalo Bill on. They asked the mortician if they could see the body of BB.
The morticians were friends so of course, welcome, come right on in.
Now knowing just where, in the morgue, BB's body layed they came back in the dark of night and had no problem exchanging the bodys because in those days, nothing was under lock and key.
Back to Cody went BB's body. They buried it to the top of Spirit Mountain, just west of town. (to be continued on Monday.)
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