Buffalo Bill’s 4,280-Kill Railroad Hunting Contract
In 1867, a 21-year-old named William Cody got a sweet deal – $500 a month to hunt buffalo for hungry railroad workers. The Kansas Pacific needed meat for 1,200 men laying tracks west from Fort Hays.
Cody set up shop first in Rome, then moved to Hays City with his trusty rifle “Lucretia Borgia.”
He had a smart system: ride to the front of a herd, drop the leaders, then pick off the rest as they circled in confusion. Over 18 months, he killed a staggering 4,280 buffalo.
After beating rival hunter William Comstock in an epic contest, the name “Buffalo Bill” stuck for good. The historic Fort Hays still stands today, where this legend began.
Tracks Pushed West As Hungry Workers Needed Meat
The Kansas Pacific Railway began building from Kansas City in 1863. By 1867, tracks reached Salina with over 1,200 hungry workers laying rails toward Colorado.
The company faced a big problem: feeding all these men in the middle of nowhere. William F. Cody got permission to leave his Army scout job to tackle this challenge.
Fort Hays moved to a new spot that year after flooding, putting it right where the railroad planned to cross western Kansas.
Young Bill Cody Grabbed a $500 Monthly Paycheck
At just 21, Bill Cody walked away from his struggling hotel business when the Kansas Pacific offered him a good deal in spring 1867. The contract paid $500 monthly to bring 12 buffalo each day to feed the track crews.
Shoemaker & Miller handled payments while Cody did the hunting. He bought a Springfield .
50 caliber rifle for the job and named it “Lucretia Borgia” after an Italian noblewoman known for killing people. The gun became his go-to tool for buffalo hunting.
Rome Popped Up Overnight Near Big Creek
Cody teamed up with William Rose to build a town called Rome in June 1867. They picked a spot near Big Creek crossing to supply the 1,200 railroad workers.
The town grew very fast. Perry Hotel opened, and Bloomfield Moses & Co. set up a general store. Rome grew to over 2,000 people by late July.
When Dr. William Webb tried to join as a partner in their town deal, Cody and Rose said no.
Buffalo Hunting Became a Science on the Plains
Cody created a smart hunting method that let him kill more buffalo with less work. He always came at herds from the right front, shooting the lead animals first.
This made the rest of the herd circle around instead of running away.
His horse Brigham knew exactly what to do, moving Cody close enough to touch each buffalo before shooting it.
The Springfield .50-70 rifle was stronger than lighter guns, dropping buffalo with one shot.
Railroad Bosses Picked Sides in a Town Rivalry
Dr. Webb got back at Cody for being kept out of Rome.
He started a competing town called Hays City through his Big Creek Land Company. The Kansas Pacific Railroad backed Hays City, refusing to build a station at Rome.
Cody and Rose tried giving away free lots to keep people in Rome, but businesses left anyway. Even the Perry Hotel moved to Hays City and changed its name to Gibbs House.
The railroad reached Hays on October 14, 1867.
Cholera Killed Rome Faster Than It Grew
A deadly cholera outbreak hit Rome in late summer 1867. People ran for their lives, leaving the town almost overnight.
Cody, Rose, and the few folks still around moved to Hays City to stay safe.
Rome got the nickname “The Walled City” because of its raised railroad tracks and the deep ravine along Big Creek. Within a year, nothing remained of the once-busy settlement.
The town that grew up in weeks went away just as quickly.
Hays City Became Home Base for Buffalo Hunting
After Rome fell apart, Cody moved his hunting work to Hays City. The town served as the end of the railroad line and the main supply hub for western Kansas.
Cody kept bringing his daily buffalo quota, still riding Brigham and shooting with Lucretia Borgia. He got so good at hunting that he once killed 48 buffalo in just 30 minutes.
During this time, Wild Bill Hickok worked as Special Marshal in Hays City.
Two Men Named Bill Fought Over One Famous Nickname
By spring 1868, the railroad reached Old Monument Station, and a fight broke out. Soldiers at Fort Wallace backed their scout Bill Comstock as the real “Buffalo Bill.”
Cody wanted to keep his nickname. The men set up an 8-hour shooting contest with $500 at stake to settle who should have the title.
They picked a spot 20 miles east of Sheridan. A special train brought viewers from St. Louis, with champagne for the event.
Showdown on the Prairie Settled the Score
Cody and Comstock charged into a buffalo herd at the same time but used different tricks. Cody circled to the left and shot the leaders, while Comstock fired from behind the herd.
After the first run, Cody led with 38 kills to Comstock’s 23. The second round added 18 more for Cody and 14 for Comstock, making the score 56-37.
For the final run, Cody showed off by riding Brigham without a saddle or bridle.
The Real Buffalo Bill Won By a Mile
The contest ended with Cody killing 69 buffalo compared to Comstock’s 46. This win gave Cody the right to call himself “Buffalo Bill.”
Cody thanked his horse Brigham and his . 50-70 Springfield rifle, which worked better than Comstock’s .
44 Henry repeater for buffalo hunting. Comstock never got a chance for a rematch.
Cheyenne warriors killed him later that same year.
The End of an Era for Man and Beast
The railroad reached Sheridan in May 1868, ending the need for Cody’s hunting contract. In just 18 months, he had killed an estimated 4,280 buffalo to feed the railroad crews.
General Philip Sheridan soon hired Cody as Chief of Scouts for the 5th Cavalry Regiment. Before returning to Army duties, Cody reluctantly sold his faithful horse Brigham.
He kept his beloved Lucretia Borgia rifle throughout his later career.
The barrel eventually found its way to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West museum, where visitors can see this piece of American frontier history today.
Visiting Fort Hays, Kansas
Fort Hays Historic Site at 1472 U. S. 183 Alternate preserves the frontier fort where Buffalo Bill Cody hunted buffalo to feed railroad workers.
You can visit Wednesday through Saturday 9am-5pm and Sunday 1-5pm for free.
The site is four miles south of Hays off I-70 exit 157. They offer special tours about Native Americans and buffalo hunting.
Groups of 10 or more need two weeks advance notice.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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