Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-08-06
A RACE FOR LIFE,
Or Steeple Chase on the PrairieE


The first OF June, 1919 Seven years ago
How stranger than fiction it seems that on this
seventh anniversary Of that eventful day, after
traversing all the vicisstudes of experience,
after boxing the compass of life's stormy sea,
and shaking hands with every extremity of for
tune, should be seated at last in this quiet
little sanctum the hum Of that mighty city,
which was then the goal of all our hopes a
round me the wild freedom of the illimitable
praires exchanged for the confines of dingy
office; my snorting charger discharged for
this old arm chair; the badge Of the pioneer
laid aside for more peaceful weapon, this
ssgray goose quill"
1t was on this day seven years ago. Eighty
five of Us, weary wanderers over the trackless
prairies, were day after day and month after
month toiling onward to this land Of gold,
whose lofty sierras and summer plains have
since gathered to their eternal embrace so ma
ny members of that gallant youthful band. 1t
was Sunday in the wilderness; the wagons all
'scorralled' on the banks of the Little Blue
the toil-worn mule scattered around, jOyfully
cropping the grass under the watchful vigi-
lance of the guard. Some of the party were
bathing in the clear stream, cooking,
mending clothes, washing, lounging, or smob-
ing land all enjoying to the full glorious sun
shiny day of rest and incidence, when some
evil genius possessed me with sudden desire
to be the first of the party to slay the long ex-
pected ssbuffalo'' an animal We had not yet
encountered, but which now begun to be the
constant theme of conversation and conjec-
I. +,,-
keys in the margin Of the timber, which skirt
ed the river, so that when L saddled up my
stced, and, with rife at my saddle-bow, started
out to the northward, the few who observed my
departure exchanged sly winssssats my proba-
ble disappointment, but never dPe8ned Of the
thrilling adventure that l wassso Tashly rush
ing into.
Although we knew that we were about the
confines of the Pawnee Territories. and had
indeed been warned by convoy of tEappers,
whom we had met but few days previous, re-
turning from their distant wintering ground in
the mountains, that war parties were out, yet,
confident in our numbers, and the entire ina
bility of our Impractical eyes to detect any
traces of them, we had attributed the well
meant warning Of the old mountaneers rather
to spirit of news mongering than anything
else, and rather despiscd those wild Bedouins
of the praires of whom we heard so much,
but had as yet failed to see.
Far away over the beautiful undualing and
vernal bosom of the trackless prairies 1 rode
gently along, on the qui rige for any indica-
tions of the object of my desires, but though
eagerly scanned the horizon as proceeded,
not living thing met my eyes except few
antelopes, whose wary caution and quick per
ception rendered them impossible Of approach
upon the open prairies.
Far as the vision could reach, nought but 4
monotonously undulating surface Of gently
swelling and naked hills, covered only by the
buffalo grass and flowers of every hue, extend
ed in every direction towards the fair horizon.
when the blue sky of summer kissed the dis
tant hills glowing in the fresh yerdure of the
advancing season.
Struck with the voiceless solitude of tn;
untrodden desert, lode slowly along, lazily
musing on the strange vicissitudes which Sc
suddenly translated me from college halls tc
this wild scene. and had almost imperceptbly
placed some seven or eight miles between me
camp, when, far in the distance, directly IL
front of me, discerned column Of dust
which, as 1 supposed, betokened the long de-
sired buffalo. Away went romance and reflcc
tion The ardor of the hunter took posses
sion of me, and hastily loosening my pistols
and glancing at my rifles lock, struck spur
to my steed and galloped forward, never doubt
ing that the opportunity SO ardently covete'
was now at hand.
Charging down the hill and across the inter
vening valley, rose another gently swellini
roll of the prairie, and as gained the summit
again the moving clond OF dust met my gaze
and this time considerably nearer, and, as
closely regarded it, perceived that it was ra
pidIy approaching, and l began to discern tn
flashing of bright objects cleaning out fror
is obscurity. This looked less like butfa