“BUFFALO CHASE 101 RANCH/STANDING ELK” COLOR-TINTED REAL PHOTO BUTTON OF NATIVE AMERICAN.
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Winning Bid:
$472.00
(Includes 18% Buyer's Premium)
Bidding Ended:
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 9:00:00 PM (20 Minute Clock Begins At Tuesday, November 14, 2023 9:00:00 PM)
Item Description
1.75" issued for an amazing event held at the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch in Bliss, OK June 11, 1905. Button is from a small series (see following item for Standing Elk button), all picturing members of the Ponca Tribe (we've seen three different) and we consider them among the rarest and most fascinating buttons ever produced. The Miller Brothers, owners of the 101 Ranch, wanted the National Editorial Association (NEA) 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 1902 convention in Guthrie. The plans called for a side trip to the 101 Ranch to witness the Buffalo Chase. Pre-event publicity was rampant w/reports that 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. Roosevelt 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 Native American performers. 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 Chiricahua Apache homeland in the arid Southwest. Other events included a huge parade, Native American war dances and stickball games, target shooting, bulldogging by the famous black rodeo star Bill Pickett and a mock wagon train attack at sunset by 300-strong war party. Subsequent publicity catapulted the 101 Ranch into the forefront of entertainment spectaculars. Famous cowboys associated w/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. The buttons were made by St. Louis Button Co. whose name appears on the covered metal back w/vertical stickpin. Reverse has covered metal back w/stamp of St. Louis Button Co. We've seen only one other, that example exhibiting aging. This button is stain-free w/high gloss. Exc. Rare.
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