"John Henry Mitchell Stories

The following stories are presented from Dottie Keegan from her Research
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"Jim" Mitchell & Buffalo Bill Cody
John Henigar "Jim" Mitchell was a good friend of W. F. Cody also known as Buffalo Bill. He was a scout with him and was a performer in his "Wild West" show along with other notable names such as Annie Oakley (also known as Phoebe Ann Moses), Lillian Smith, Buck Taylor, Nate Salsbury, Jack Johnson, Gabriel Dumont (an outlaw from Canada), Young Chief (a Pawnee Indian), Sitting Bull (a Sioux Indian), Carter Coultier, John M. Burke (also known as Arizona John), American Horse (a Sioux Indian), Big Foot (a Sioux Indian Chief), Calamity Jane (also known as Martha Jane Cannary), Geronimo (an Apache Indian), Wild Bill Hickock, Gordon W. Lillie (also know as Pawnee Bill), Standing Bull (a Pawnee Indian), Long Wolf (a Sioux Indian), Tall Bull (a Cheyenne Indian), White Eagle (a Pawnee Indian Chief), and others. His likeness appears in pictures and posters of that era, and pictures of him can be seen at various times displayed in the Buffalo Bill museum at Lookout Mountain, Colorado where William Frederick Cody is buried. A Clague of him with some of the above mentioned people can be seen on page 117 of the book "Buffalo Bill and His Wild West, a Pictorial Biography," by Joseph G. Rosa and Robyn May, published 1989 by the University Press of Kansas. That book can be purchased at the Lookout Mountain museum in Golden, Colorado just outside of Denver.
Another book that recorded various facts about Jim is a book written by Don Russell, titled "The Lives and Legends of Buffalo Bill". It states on page 320 when describing the 1886 program that it was not all shooting and goes on to relate that an English spectator described Jim Mitchell's riding of a black mare named "Dynamite" in this manner: "It was necessary for four men to hold her and she had to be blindfolded before he could get on her, and then letting out a scream like a woman in pain, she made a headlong dash and plunged with all her force into a fence, turning completely over head first and apparently falling upon the rider....Poor Jim was dragged out, bleeding and maimed, and led away. What was the astonishment of the multitude, when the other refractory animals had their sport, to see Dynamite again lead out, and the cowboy, limping and pale, come forward to make another attempt to ride her....for fifteen minutes the fight went on between man and beast....The cowboy, got upon her back by some superhuman skill, and then he was master." (Cody, Story of the Wild West, page. 716, quoting the London Era newspaper).
The English newspaper "The Liverpool Mercury of July 7 welcomed "a piece of the Wild West bodily into our midst...It is not a show in the ordinary acceptance of the term, because the actors are each and all real characters-men who have figured not on the stage, but in real life....The exhibition, moreover, is not merely entertaining, but most instructive." John Y. Nelson, Jim Mitchell [John Henigar "Jim" Mitchell], and Antonio Esquival were among the stars noted, along with Annie Oakley, Johnny Baker, and C. L. Daly, pistol marksman. (page 372 of "Lives and Legends of Buffalo Bill" by Don Russell)
Vincenzo (often Vincent) Orapeza, was a top roper of all time and teacher of Will Rogers. Antonio Esquival headed the vaqueros and Jim Mitchell, the cowboys. John Y. Nelson was still on hand with his Sioux family. John Shangrau was in charge of the Military Hostages. Indians included Kicking Bear, Young-Man-Afraid-of-His-Horse, and Jack Red Cloud, son of the famous Red Cloud. (Page 377 "Lives and Legends of Buffalo Bill", by Don Russell).
The fighting scenes were interspersed with feats of skill, and no one complained of being board. "Mustang Jack performed the startling feat of clearing a horse sixteen hands high, having previously covered thirteen feet with a standing leap." The buffalo hunt was "immensely realistic." Novel to Londoners were the bucking horses. Some escaped while being saddled and had to be pursued and lassoed (no chutes were used in those days).
Antonio Esquival was praised as top rider, but honorable mention went to Buck Taylor, Jim Kidd (who had recently married Lillian Smith), Dick Johnson, Jim Mitchell, and Tom Webb. (Page 332 of "Lives and Legends of Buffalo Bill", by Don Russell.)

"Jim" Mitchell and the Pony Express

John Henigar "Jim" Mitchell was also a rider for the "Pony Express," officially known as the Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express. This is where he could have first made contact with William Frederick Cody, as some believe that Cody rode the "Pony" between Red Buttes and Three Crossings of the Sweetwater in Wyoming the years of 1860-61. Some experts have differing opinions on the matter, and feel that there is no proof that Cody rode the Pony Express at all. There is, however, no complete list in existence today that names all those who have ridden. In addition to riding, it was not unusual for the riders to also have other responsibilities with the Company, as there were somewhere in the vicinity of 190 stations on the "Pony" route, from Swing and Relay Stations to Home Stations. These would need to be manned with attendants and other workers and Jim surely contributed his professional skills because he was also a blacksmith by trade, a trade that would be very valuable to a company such as the Pony Express. An advertisement for riders once read....requirements: "Must be young; not over thirty; light---not over one hundred thirty pounds; dependable---no swearing, carousing and fighting." The fact that these young men were brave, willing to take a reasonable risk, and knew horses was taken for granted because those who were failures would not last long. Upon entering the service of the Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express they were obligated to take this oath of fidelity which states as follows:

"I,....................................., do hereby swear, before the Great and Living God, that during my engagement, and while I am an employee of Russell, Majors and Waddell, I will under no circumstances, use profane language; that I will drink no intoxicating liquors; that I will not quarrel or fight with any other employee of the firm, and that in every respect, I will conduct myself honestly, be faithful to my duties, and so direct all my acts as to win the confidence of my employers. So help me God."

Drilled into their minds was to think first about the mail, second about their mounts, and last about their own skins. Age and weight could be stretched a little if they knew the man was extra good, otherwise, he could be used at the station in another capacity. Top dollar was paid for the horses as they ranged from Kentucky race blood to wild Mustangs to Broncos, as every time the fate of the mail and the riders could well depend on the ability to outrun hostile Indians and outlaws. The day of the first ride was April 3, 1860 the last November 1861. Each letter was written on the thinnest of paper and the sender was charged $5.00 for each 1/2 ounce in weight plus ten cents postage. "Pony Riders" were paid from $100.00 to $125.00 per month.

John Henigar "Jim" Mitchell and Billie Bullock

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James Albert Mitchell - "California or Bust"

Last updated on June 18, 2002
Published and © Copyrighted, August 29, 2000
by Betty Naff Mitchell - Editor & Web Mistress