New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-25

of the Arkansas and fa"nee vi
The Little Arkansas fs the next stream AFTER
leaving the Turkey Creeks Its name wouia
.oom m inport that it was smaller trench
of The Arkansas River. This is not the case,
II being a stream not much larger than
Cot,onWood Greek, and not so considerable
"a the Pawnee Fork. Here We were dis
tsnt about A4I miles from Cottonwood Creek
and about "a in all from Council Grove. In
iourneyingfrom Little Turkey to Little Arkan-
sas Creek, an agreeable change int the otherwise
utterly monotonOus landscape, was presented
by the looming up of extensive sand hllis on or
near TO the banks OF the Arkansas River to our
leit-these at distance Of probably ~ 70 81
miles, had the appearance OF town or Guy
ard though conscious that no one but Nature
herself had ever been at work there, tne isn,
cied resemblance was decidedly agreeaoie a1d
pleasing. On this days march, no ene Lt.lo
Arkansas) we had the satisfaction OF KNOWING
that we had fairly reached the DuIalo-ransc
A few buffalo were seen by our column al
distance before reaching the crossing OF the
creek. We found party Of Mexlcans en-
canned ON the creek south of the road lour
own camp being near mile to the north OF the
roadl-the present Of some capital buffalo meat
from these Cibaleros 20 our mess, was the nrsC
we obtained. The Little Arkansas Is slightly
running in ordinary seasons, but has deep banks
and am told. is much dreaded by traders a
heavy storm of rain being sufficient almost IN
stanfjy TO swell its waters 70 an uni0rdaDie
hight. causing detention, until it has run Itself
down TO fordable depth. At this camp we
were Joined by party Of Kentucky gentlemen
with wagons and a large herd of cattle, on their
iourney 10 California. They had purchased
their stock in the State of Arkansas, and had
struck our trail not far from the Cottonwood.
Their route would, therefore, necessarily be to
Bent's fort, on the Upper Arkansas, thence
northward to the South or Frcmonts Pass, and
thence into the Salt Lake settlement, or Call
Grnia A heavy thunder storm during the
night we were encamped on the Little Arkan-
sas, gave us specimen OF what rain ana WIND
on the prairies can be. i was momentarny
afraid that my wagon, in which slept, would be
blown over. At daylight | found that all my
three horses, though carefully plcketed. had
broken loose and had been roaming at large
through the camp for the remainder OF the
night Being gentle animals they fortunately
made no efforts to 60 away beyond the limits OF
camp. Our camp here was really beautiful,
the ground to use common expression lag
prettily; the grazing was good, and we had
plenty of fire wood, add to this our tents were
pitched directly upon the margin OF the stream
In reentering angles or bends. where we could
readily establish a good line of sentinels. Two
and a half miles beyond the Little Arkansas
brought us to Owl Greek, or, as it is now some
times called, CAMS Creek, from the fact that a
trader of that name while encamped upon it,
some five or six years ago, was murdered by his
associates or employees for the money he had
with him. The whole party were, think, sub
sequently captured and executed. At IL and
20 miles beyond Little Arkansas, we crossed
Little and Biz Cow Greeks, near which streams
is now the chief summer haunts of the buffalo.
Here we began TO observe a considerable
change again in the face of the country, the
long coarse grass of the Eastern Prairies hay
ing entirely disappeared and its place supplied
by short crisp and nutritious buffalo grass, and
in the longer stretches Of level prairie. AS
VIC approached Little Cow Creek, Ike entire
surface of prairie plain and slope appeared
black with countless numbers OF the buffalo.
Our men were now in the greatest hunting ex'
citement, and ther applications forpermission to
precede the column to hunt, were frequent and
earnest. The antelope, also, were now more
numerous, and in some instances ran almost in
TO the column as it marched along Our camp
had been made upon Big Cow Creek and on
leaving our camp ground on the morning OF the
4th June, we soon came in sight OF thousands
of buffalo spread over the prairies to the left
and right of the road After reaching the Plum
buttes, (which are hillocks of sand thinly over
grown with plum bushes, or stunted plum trees,
9 miles from Big Cow Creek, several herds of
buf1alo frightened and driven by our men, who
were hunting galloped across the road, giving
us fine opportunities 10 observe their appear
ance and all their peculiar motions. had re-
peated opportunities to shoot at them at very
good distance, but WINS disposed TO spare my
riding animal and reserve her strength for the
long Journey still before us, rather than to run
the risk of being dismounted. l therefore con-
tented myself with one gallop after herd and
one pistol shot, which, ofcOurse, was unsuccess-
full, as it almost Invariably takes repeated shots
from weapons Of large calibre to bring down
one Of those huge numbering animals IL is
wonderful what excitement the chase produces
In horses. They enter warmly into the sport,
and seem to pursue these ugly gated animals
with as much relish as their riders. Instances
have been cited where hose has galloped into
q herd Of buffalo, thrown his rider by chance,
and gone of with the herd, never to be seen or
heard Of again. In company with others Of OR
party, mounted the plum-butte To the right "f
the road, which is hillOck Of sand 25 or 80 feet
above the general level Of the prairie, and from
ii 0btaineda capital view oil the prairies Tor 10
to 90 miles to the northeast and west, covered
black with immense herds of buffalo. While
upon the butte We witnessed a most exciting
chase Of buffalo bull by Mr. w After sing
ling out this animal from the herd, he pursued
him, presume, some two or three miles in
every direction, around the huttes. Every five
or ten minutes the buffalo, tired with the chase,
would stop aud face the pursuer, rs much as TO
-hof, IN fha vCnplA va at ar
in this manner for : Mr. VS. restivehorse
as eften, however, prevented his embracing
these goldenopportunities 20 discharge his pistol,
Cor as soon as the horse had become sufficiently
quoted. the bison would make up his mind that
discretion was the better part of valor,' and
again took TO bis heels. l suppose this species
Of chase had continued for hall or three-toarths
of an hour. when W gave him at last
deadly shot, which, with the exhaustion of the