Our Daily Dead

William F. Cody born 1843 and died in 1917.

Cody, aka “Buffalo Bill” enjoyed rather remarkably robust health, in spite of smoking, starting to drink at age 14, and almost daily riding or otherwise interacting with large, sometimes horned, animals. He survived his wife Louisa “Lulu” Cody treating him with a “Tiger Balm.” She claimed it was to cause him to stop drinking, but he accused her of trying to poison him.

Cody suffered from hemorrhoids, and had episodes of “nervous exhaustion.” In spite of legendary show business career, Cody did not spend his money wisely. By December, 1916, Cody was essentially broke, and came down with a bad cold. He traveled to Glenwood Springs, Colorado to seek health from the famous mineral springs of that area.

By January 8, 1917 had returned to Denver, and was bedridden. His physician, John H. Eastman, attributed his failing health as due to a recent lunar eclipse. Cody reportedly planned his own funeral, including the menu to be served.

He died at 12.05 p.m. on January 10, 1917. His body lay in state in the Colorado capital. His funeral was the largest ever in Colorado. In exchange for $10,000, his wife agreed to have him buried on Lookout Mountain outside of Denver. The glass cover on his coffin was said to have steamed up from inside when one of his former girlfriends kissed it.

~~The ODDones for OurDailyDead.com

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