Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-11-12
The Buffalo.

The following extracts are from, the
report OF an Exploring Expedition %
the Rocky Mountains, and 10 Oregon
and North California, by Brevet Car.
tain Fremont, of the United StatessTo.
biographical Engineers, made In June
last, and Just published. -,
In the course Of the afternoon, dust
rising among the hills al PARTICULAR
place. attracted our attention; and rid.
ing up, we found d band Of IL or 90
T Buffalo bulls engaged in desperate
fight. Though butting and gorginp
were bestowed literally and without
any distinction, yet their efforts were
evidently directed against one--a huge
gaunt old bull. very lean, while his adl
versaries were all fat and in good Or
der. He appeared very weak, and
had already received some wounds.
and, while we were looking on, was
several times knocked down and badly
hurt, and very few minutes mora
would have put ain end to him. or
course we took the side of the weak.
er party, and attacked the herd. t1t
they were so blind with rage that thew
fought On, utterly regardless of our
presence, although on foot and on horse.
back we were firing in open view
within twenty yards Of them. But this
did not last long: In a few seconds wa
created commolion among them. One
or two. which were knocked over by
the balls jumped up and ran off into the
hills' and they began to retreat slowly
along a broad ravine to the river.
fighting furiously as they went. Bv tho
time they had reached the bottom we
had pretty well dispersed them, and
the old bull hobbIed off 10 lie down.
somewhere.
The air was keen the next morn.
ing at sunrise, the thermometer stand.
ing at Al deg, and was sufficiently cold
10 make coats comfortable. 4 few
miles brought us into the midst of the
butialoes, swarming in immense num-
bers over the plains, where they had
left scarcely blade of grass siai,dlngs
Mr.. Pruess, who was sketchlng at d
short distance in the rear, had at first
noted them as large groves of timber.
In the sight ofsuch a mass of life, the
traveller feels strange emotion of
grandeur. We had heard from a dis.
tance strange murmuring, and when
we came in view OF their dark masses.
there was no one among US that did not
feel his heart beat quicker. II was in
The early part of the day, when the
herds are feeding, and every where
they were in motion. Here and there
Il huge old bull was rolling in the grass.
and clouds Of dust rose in the air from
various parts Of the bands, each the
scene Of some obstinate fight. Indians
and buffalo make the poetry and life
of the prairie, and our camp was full
Of their exhi'eration. In place Of the
quiet monotony of the march, relieved
only by the cracking of the whip and
an 'auane donci enfent de graceP shouts
and songs resounding from every part
of the line, and our evening camp was
always the commencement Of feast,
which terminated only with our de.
parlure on the following morning. Any
time Of the night might be seen pieces
OF the most delicate and choicest Of
meat roasting en- appolas on sticks a.
round the fire, and the guard wers
never without company. With pleas
ant weather and no enemy to fear, an
abundance of the most excellent meat,
and no scarcity OF bread or tobacco.
they were enjoying the oasis ofa voy-
geuf's life.
'As we were,ridlng about slowly this
afternoon, (July 4th.J clouds Of dust in
the ravines among the hills to the right
suddenly attracted our attention, and in
a few minutes column after column
came galloping down, making directly
for the river. By the lime the leading
herds had reached the water, the prai-
rie was darkened with the dense mass
es. Immediately before US when the
bands first came down into the valley,
stretched an unbroken line, the head Of
which was lost among the hills on the
opposite side; and still they poured
down from the ridge on our right
From hill to hill. the prairie bottom
was certainly not less than two miles
wide; and only ten feet apart. and only
Ten in line, there were already elev-
IN thousand in view. Some had occu-
bed the whole plain. 10 a short time
hey surrounded, on every side, exten.
led for several miles in the rear, and
as far as the eye could reach;
eaving around US, as we advanced. an
pen space OF only two or three hun y
red yards. b 9s4.is '.iiis ar.s s-a'e.5i
This movement of the buffalo indi- Y
ated to US the presenceof Indians on =
he North fork."e93aI fao'ts sfHuoa5f 4
go ---+.------------Aa-s------ - s3l7ee- e.4
~ Mipd your own business.