Buffalo Bill's Wild West

[RichardB]

http://www.shef.ac.uk/nfa/history/shows/wildwest.php

[Biscuit Head]

We were talking about Wards End cemetry some time back. I always thought there was a red indian buried up there.....apparently died while Buffalo Bill's show was in town.

Can anybody substantiate this?

[HughW]

We were talking about Wards End cemetry some time back. I always thought there was a red indian buried up there.....apparently died while Buffalo Bill's show was in town.

Can anybody substantiate this?

[my first post ]

I was talking to a member of the Friends of Wardsend Cemetery last Saturday and he convinced me that this is a myth. Certainly one of the native American riders did die after being injured during a show in Sheffield, but his body was taken to Brompton which was the main base of the show as it toured the country, and was buried there. His name was Paul Egale Star.

The Show opened on a site at Owlerton (near the cemetery) on August 10th 1891. I don't know which day he was injured, but he died on August 24th (according to the Sheffield Local register) by which time the show had moved on to Nottingham.

The remains of this man and two other native Americas buried in Brompton were apparently exhumed and taken to the States a few years ago and re-buried on a reservation there.

Hugh

[RichardB]

HughWs first post here lol

[Guest Zilly]

As a child I was fascinated by the fact Sheffield had its own Red Indian as told me by my mother.

In 2001 I had 3 weeks touring the USA and incorporated a trip to Montana with a view to visiting the Beuchal Museum to find out more. Unfortunately, my trip meant me arriving on a Sunday and the museum was closed but, at least I got to see the Rosebud Indian Reservation where Paul Eagle Star was buried after being exhumed from Brompton cemetery.

Paul Eagle Star was injured when his horse fell from under him on 14 August 1891 - a compound dislocation of the ankle. He was taken to the Infirmary but after 8 days lockjaw set in. His leg was amputated on Saturday night 22 August. Although considered to be a successful operation Paul Eagle Star died in agony in the early hours of Monday 24 August 1891.

An inquest was held early morning Tuesday 25 August and death by accident was recorded. The body was put into a coffin and taken to Sheffield station and loaded on a train to London. A stop was made in Nottingham where the show was performing and several Indians were elected to attend the funeral in the care of Major Johnny Burke, general manager of the show.

A carriage with 4 black plumed horses met the train at St Pancras station, London and the body was taken to Brompton cemetery. It was the last internment of the day and being a common grave without a marker his final resting place was forgotten.

Staff at Sheffield Libraries in 1977 were an invaluable spur to discoveries and providing links to finding Paul’s family.

Philip James (a Sheffielder I think) felt strongly that Paul should be returned to his family so in August 1977 contact was made with the Eagle Star family (remaining grandchildren Moses Eagle Star and Lucy Eagle Star).

It took a year and a half to get the permissions and do documentation that is required for exhumation and reburial. Finally Paul’s remains were exhumed end of March 1999 from Brompton Cemetary. 108 years had passed since his death and Paul’s skeleton was virtually complete. They were prepared for a traditional reburial by the grave side in Brompton. The coffin was transported to Dakota accompanied by Philip James.

The reburial took plance on 31 May 1999 on what is now the Rosebud Reservation. There were prayers and singers. The honorary title of Chief was used as his pedigree and name were recalled.

Phillip James was honoured by the Eagle Star family by the presentation of the Star Quilt which had been wrapped around Paul’s coffin on its journey to the grave site.

Many names were called during the honouring ceremonies of those who had provided assistance to brining home Paul’s body and Sheffielders were remembered through their attachment to ‘Sheffield’s own Indian’.

(information taken from Sheffield’s Own Indian by Phillip James)

[vox]

As a child I was fascinated by the fact Sheffield had its own Red Indian as told me by my mother. ---------------

--------------------------- Many names were called during the honouring ceremonies of those who had provided assistance to brining home Paul's body and Sheffielders were remembered through their attachment to 'Sheffield's own Indian'.

(information taken from Sheffield's Own Indian by Phillip James)

Welcome to S.H. Zilly and thanks for bringing this story up to date.

We look forward to more contributions in the future.

[RichardB]

An excellent and interesting update.

Thank you.

[miked]

An excellent and interesting update.

Thank you.

Paul Eagle Star Death Certificate. Sorry I dont know who posted this on the web. Should we not have a plaque? I read somewhere the number of deaths caused some concern in this country.