“BUFFALO CHASE 101 RANCH CHIEF WHITE EAGLE” HISTORIC 1905 EVENT BUTTON.
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Winning Bid:
$447.81
(Includes 18% Buyer's Premium)
Bidding Ended:
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 9:00:00 PM (20 Minute Clock Begins At Tuesday, November 15, 2022 9:00:00 PM)
Item Description
This button is from a small series, all picturing Indians of the Ponca Tribe (we've seen three different) and we consider them among the rarest and most fascinating buttons ever produced. This button was used for a historic event in Oklahoma and western history on June 11, 1905. The Miller Brothers, owners of the 101 Ranch, wanted the National Editorial Association to hold its annual convention in Oklahoma to gain publicity for their own enterprises. They traveled to the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 and were successful in lobbying the NEA who scheduled their convention for the next year in Guthrie. The plans called for a side trip to the 101 Ranch to witness the Buffalo Chase. Pre-event publicity was rampant with reports 100 bison would be killed for dinner. Dan Beard, a naturalist who in 1910 helped found the Boy Scouts, was outraged and asked President Roosevelt to send armed troops to prevent the slaughter. TR had the territory's governor send militia so the Millers received free crowd control for what turned out to be 65,000 spectators coming by trains, wagons and horseback, partly to see Geronimo (under soldier guard from Ft. Sill) shoot "his last buffalo." A grandstand a quarter mile long was constructed and a great show put on by Miller's cowboys and Indians. Geronimo, from the front seat of a Locomobile used a Winchester rifle to kill one bison for the editor's dinner. Actually, this was Geronimo's first buffalo kill, not his last, as no buffalo ever roamed his original homeland in the arid Southwest. Other events included a huge parade, Indian war dances and stickball games, target shooting, bulldogging by the famous black rodeo star Bill Pickett and a wagon train mock attack at sunset by 300 Indians. Subsequent publicity catapulted the 101 Ranch into the forefront of entertainment spectaculars. Famous cowboys with the group at one time or another include Tom Mix, Will Rogers, Buck Jones and Ken Maynard. While this button is undated, the "Buffalo" inscription clearly relates to this June 11, 1905 event. Souvenir programs were sold at the event and there was plenty of time in advance to order buttons to be made. Button is made by St. Louis Button Co. whose name appears on the covered metal back with vertical stickpin. Pictured is "Chief White Eagle," a close ally of the Miller Brothers and a Chief of the Ponca Tribe for over 50 years. He toured with the Wild West Show for many years and died in 1914. The button is a beautiful 1.75" sepia real photo without dot pattern. We've seen just one other (offered in 2010 and realizing $860) which had only red color tinting. This example has both red and light blue. NM. Rare.
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