Off To See The Wild West Show Part 1, Chapter 8 (2/5) By Frank Beill 1886: Hull, Yorkshire

(1/5), (2/5), (3/5), (4/5), (5/5). Part 1 Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Part 2 Prologue, Chapter 1, 2, 3.

Nothing ever interfered with George's appetite. My inability to do more than nibble at a meat and potato pie was his gain. He tried to cheer me up but he was fighting a losing battle. Anyone else would have left me to my misery but he refused to give up. However, he needed reinforcements and, once again, we found ourselves sitting on the kitchen doorstep. Sal joined us and I was squeezed between the Smith twins. Their arms twined around my shoulders as though from a two-headed octopus.

'There's no consoling him, Sal.' A dispirited George was exhausted from his efforts. 'But there's got to be some't we can do!' Sal was always more positive than her brother. 'Maybe we could buy tickets.' 'What with?' I muttered, speaking for the first time in our dinner break. 'Costs a shilling to get in!' George pointed at the advertisement. 'Might as well be hundred pounds!'

'Look there.' Now Sal's finger pointed at the page. George looked at the place where he thought his sister's finger was pointing. 'What? Important Notice - Wanted Fifty Rullies.' He was reading out the words of an advertisement sitting beside the one for the show. 'No underneath, ninny!' I looked and saw what she was indicating. I read out the headline 'Buffalo Bill's Show - Wanted Fifty Lads To Sell Programmes.'

'That's it!' Sal said. 'Knew there had to be an answer. Get yerselves down there. Bet they let them lads in to see the show for free.' 'What? Twag off?' George was astounded by what his law-abiding sister appeared to be suggesting. 'I feel hungry.' My face broke into a smile for the first time since morning assembly.

Friday, the fourth of May 1888. The day of the grand arrival in Hull of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. It was a day to see and - more importantly - to be seen. The policy of the Hull Sailors' Children's Orphanage was that its children should appear at as many public gatherings as possible; all dressed smartly in our Sunday best. The home depended entirely on the generosity of public donations. Being seen - well dressed and well behaved - in public was intended as a display to tell the well-to-do of Hull their money was being well spent.

It was early breakfast for everyone before a four-mile march through the town centre and onto the Alexandra Dock railway station to get into a prominent position. This was where the local worthies would greet the showmen from their special trains before commencing a grand parade through Hull's streets. We orphanage children would be on view just as much as Colonel William Cody's entourage.

'Look at them bai'ns.' People in the streets remarked and smiled at us trooping in double file along the pavement, all dressed in smart uniforms. The girls were in long dark blue coats over matching dresses that stretched down to their ankles. Their hair was tucked tidily into tam o'shanter bonnets of the same colour. The orphanage wanted the good opinion of everyone in the town but more than this it needed their money. The teachers placed themselves at strategic points along our ranks to make sure everyone kept up the pace in good order and no one slipped away. The Master was in the lead, bowler hatted and carrying a rolled umbrella. A red faced Jolly Rodgers strutted at the tail end with his chest stuck out like a cockerel presiding over his flock of hens.

Continued... Next Page

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