Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-09-07
4 Hunter In Extreme Peril.
d. Y. II

The most interesting hunters story have
ever heard was told me by our host Mr.. Per-
cival, who has followed the forest chase from
his youth. In 1907, he was on trapping ex-
pcditon, with two com oanions, on the Washita.
when they left him 10 kill buffalo, bear, and the
larger game, and he remained to trap The
streams for beaver. lie had not met with very
good success, and had been without meat for a.
bout twenty -four hours when, turnipg small
bend OF the river. he espied noble looking old
male buffalo lying down on the beach. Having
secured his canoe, he crept softly through
cane brake which lay between the animal and
himself and fired. The shot was an Indifferent
one, and only wounded the animal in the side,
but 1t reused him, and having crossed TIE river
he soon laid down. This was about noon, when
the animal, having again grazed, was resting
himself in cool place. e.-pcrcval now crossed
the river in his canoe, and got into the woods,
which were there very open and somewhat bro.
ken by little patches of prarie land, very fire.
quent occurrence in these parts OF Arkansas,
where forest and prairie often seem to be con-
tending for the mastery. But the bull, being
suspicious, rose b3re the hunter came near
enough TO E:ih, and took the green woods.
Percival was an experienced hunter he had
killed several hundred buialoes, and knew their
tempers in every sort of situation. He knew
that the animal when in large herds was east
y mastered and was well aware that when a.
| lone he was sometimes doggcd, and even dan
gerous; he, therefore, followed his prey eau
tiously for about mile, knowing that he would
| lie down again ere long. The buffalo now stop.
ped, and Percival got within fifty yards nfhim,
watching an opportunity to strike him mortal
| ly; but the beast, seeing his enemy 80 near,
/ wheeled completely rouud, put his huge shag
| gy head close to the ground before his fore feet
as Is their custom when they attack each other,
and rapidly advanced upon the hunter, who in.
stanty fired, and put his ball through The bulls
nose but seeing the temper he was in, and
! knowing what serious antagonist he was
when on the offensive, he, also, Immediately
| turned and fled
IN running down short hin come briars
| threw him down, and he dropped his gun.
| There was tree not far from him OF about
| eighteen inches diameter, and every thing see
med 10 depend upon his reaching it but, as he
/ rose TO make n push for it, the buffalo struck
him on the feshy part Of the hip with his born,
and slightly wounded him. Before, however,
the beast could wheel round upon him again,
| he gained the tree, upon which all the chance
he had Of preserving his life rested. A very
! few feet from this tree grew a saplnr about
! four or five inches IN diameter, a most fortunate
circumstance for the hunter, as it contributed
| materially to save his life The buffalo now
doggedy followed up his purpose ofdcsiroy.
/ ing his adversary. aud system of attack
and defence commenced that, perhaps, is with.
out a parallel. The buffalo went round and
| round the tree pursuing the man, jumping at
| HIM IN the peculiar manner of that animal, eyc-
/ ry time he thought there was a chance ofhtting
him; whilst Percival graspng the tree with
| his arms, flung himself round it with greater
rapidlty than the animal was able to follow
! him. In tins manner the buffalo hnrrassed
! HIM more than four hours, until his hands be-
came 80 sore with rubbing against the rough
| bark OF the oak tree, and his limbs so iatigued,
/ that he began 10 dlshearten.
In going round the tree the buffalo would
sometimes pass between it and the sapliug bat
the distance between them was so narrow, that
| 1t nconvenienced him, especially when he
wanted to make his jumps he, therefore, fire.
! qucnrly went round the sapllng instead of go.
lng inside of it. The time thus consumed was
/ precious to PeIclval--it enabled him to breathe,
and TO consider how he should defend himself
After so many hours fruitless labor the bull
seemed 10 have lost his pristine vigor, and be-
came slower in his motions. lie would now
make his short start, preparatory To his jump
| only at intervals, and, even then, he Jumped
doubtingly, as if he saw that Percival would
avoid his blow b. swinging to the other side
! II was evident he was bafFled, and was cons-
dering what he should do. Still continuing IN
! his course round the tree, but in this slow man