The Frontiersman and the Rifle Queen

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The Sharpshooter and the Showman:

May Lillie, Pawnee Bill, and Their Wild West Show

May sat in the middle of her bed in her room at her parents’ home in Philadelphia, rereading the letters Gordon had sent her. Among the correspondence scattered about were newspaper clippings of Gordon’s work with those who were committed to the opening of Oklahoma’s unassigned lands to white settlements. One of the first letters to his wife after agreeing to lead the Boomers described the scene as he arrived in Wichita on Saturday, December 22, 1888.

“As the train pulled in, I saw the platform, the street, in fact all the open space in sight literally packed with people all ‘Hurrahing’ and waving handkerchiefs and flags in the throes the greatest excitement. As the train quieted down, I could hear the strains of a brass band playing “The Conquering Hero Comes.”

“What’s going on?” I asked a gentleman standing next to me. By this time everyone was on their feet peering from the windows of the coaches.

“Why, Pawnee Bill is on the train. He is coming here to organize and lead the Boomers into Oklahoma, he replied.

“I almost sank in my tracks. Never before had I been received in such glorious manner, and here I was, dressed in a threadbare suit, worn by a season’s work, and actual holes in the crown of my big sombrero. And I to be the center of this enthusiastic reception.

“As I reached the platform of the coach, I was grabbed by leaders Marsh Murdock of the [Wichita] Eagle, George Dixon, Harry Hill, Joe Rich and a number of others. I was rushed to an open carriage with the brass band in the lead and with this crowd following. They escorted me to the Del Monico Hotel which was to be headquarters of the colonization company of which I was to be president and leader. That evening I sat at a formal banquet in the Del Monico and responded to speeches of welcome.”

Articles in newspapers The Wichita Star and Wichita Eagle elaborated on the scene that awaited Gordon as he stepped off the train in the Kansas town.

“Besides the fifty teamsters already to move upon the coveted country there are not less than 300 families in Wichita who have been quietly gathering here during the past month who will go into the territory,” the December 24, 1888, edition of the Wichita Star read. “Arkansas City and Caldwell will furnish as many more. Excitement is running high over what is termed a secret organization to invade the Territory, but the Boomers are defiant. Pawnee Bill says that he wants to be arrested and tried by the government and adds that if Congress will not pass the Springer Bill he will test the law in the proper court relative to the Oklahoma country being public lands.* It is thought now that 2,000 unarmed men from here will go into Oklahoma at an appointed time which is given out as January 10.

“The people have waited the progress of the Springer bill in congress and no one can be found who believes it will be passed. Major Lillie, alias Pawnee Bill, is known all over the west as a great scout and Indian guide and his name as the leader of the invaders is bringing in many additional men who want to join their fortunes with the colonists. When asked how many Boomers would go into the country he said that he could muster 10,000.”

May had no doubt her husband would allow himself to be arrested if the Springer bill didn’t pass. He was compelled to lead the Boomers into the Territory without a proclamation issued from the government, but she hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

To learn more about the Lillies read

The Sharpshooter and the Showman:

May Lillie, Pawnee Bill, and Their Wild West Show