The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1845-08-28
THE BUFFALO.

The follow extracts from Report of an
Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains
and to Oregon and North California, by Brevet
Captain Fremont of the United States Topograph-
ical Engineers, made in June last and just pub
lished
''In the course of the afternoon, dust rising
among the hills at particular place attracted our
attention and, riding up, we found band of
eighteen or twenty buffalo bulls engaged in des-
perate fight. Though batting and goring were
bestowed literally and without distinction, vet
their efforts were evidently directed against one
huge gaunt old bull, very lean, while his ad-
versaries were all tat and in good order. He ap-
peared very weak, and had already received some
wounds, and, while we were looking on, was sew
eral times knocked down and badly hurt, and
very few minutes would have put an end to him.
OF course we took the side of the weaker partv
and attacked the herd but they were so blind
with rage that they fought on, utterly regardless
OF our presence, although on foot and on horseback
we were firing in open view within twenty wards
OF them But this did not last long. In few
seconds we created commotion among them
One or two which were knocked over by the
balls jumped up and off into the hills and
they began to retreat slowly along broad ravine
to the river, fighting furously as they went By
the time they had reached the bottom we had
pretty well dispersed them, and the old bull hob
bled off to lie down somewhere
''The air was keen the next morning at sun
rise, the thermometer standing at 40, and it was
sufficiently cold to make coats comfortable A
few miles brought US into the midst OF the buffa-
loes, sWarIning in immense numbers over the
plains, where they had left scarcely blade of
grass standing. Mr. Pruess, who was sketchne
at little distance in the rear, had at first noted
them as large groves oftimber. In the sipht of
such mass oil life, the traveller feels strange
emotion of granduer. We had heard from dis
lance dull and confused murmuring, and, when
we came in view of their dark masses, there was
not one among us who did not feel his heart beat
quicker. 1t was the early part of the day. when
the herds are feeding, and every where they were
In motion. Here and there 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 buffa
10 make the poetry and lie of the prairie and our
! camp was full OF their eXhilaration In place of
the quiet monotony of the march, relieved only
by the cracking Of the whip, and an sarnnce done
e1Jdnt de grace . shouts and songs resoundino
from every part OF the line, and our evening
camp was always the commencement of feast
which terminated only with our departure on the
following morning. At any time of the night
might be seen pieces Of the most delicate and
choicest meat, roasting en- dppolds on sticks
around the fire, and the guard were never with
out company. With pleasant weather and no
enemy to fear, an abundance of the most excellent
Hedt, anu no scarcity OF bread or tobacco, thew
were enjoying the oasis of voyager's life
GAS we were riding slowly about this afternoon.
DULY ~ clouds of dust in the ravines among the
nils at the right, suddenly attracted cur attention
and In lew minutes column after column of butt
faoes came galloping down, making directly to
the river. By the time the leading herds had
reached the water, the prairie was darkened with
dense masses. Immediately before us when the
bands first came down into the valley, stretched
an unbroken line, the head of which was lost
among the river hills the opposite side and
still they poured down from the ridge on our
right From hill to hill, the prairie bottom was
not less than two miles wide and allowing the
animals to he ten feet apart and only ten in line
there were already eleven thousand in view
Some had occupied the whole plain. In a short
time they surrounded us on every side, extending
for several miles in the rear and forward as far
as the eye could reach leaving around US, as we
advanced, an open space Of only two or three
hundred yards.
"This movement ofthe buffalo indicated to us
the presence OF Indians on the North fork