The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-07-24


teur shot put ball through the heart of
one and he Immediately bit the dust; six
balls were lodged in each of the Others be-
fore they kneed the sod.
Buffalo hunting, though most delight
fL. and exciting sport, is usually consider
ed somewhat dangerous exercise. 4
wounded bull is most fierce enemy; he
fights desperately; in an instant he will
whirl around and charge upon his pursu-
ers, whose safety depends alone upon the
fieetness of their flight; for could the
buffalo get one plunge into them with his
horns, he would toss both horse and rider
high into the air. This is not an unfre-
quent occurrence. The power of a ball
in raising and tearing an object upon his
horns, almost surpaSses credence. In
fighting one, the hunter is compelled to
change most precipitately from the offen-
sive to the defensive. The rider spurs
his horse as close upon the wounded ami
NAL as possible, in order to get light at
him, while the latter leaps forward at the
top of his giant speed till he perceives
the horseman close upon him, then whirl-
ing, charges in his turn, the hunter at the
same time passing from the attack to the
retreat. Thus the fight continues, until
the buffalo escapes or is brought to the
ground.
A buffalo bull is most unpleasant OBJ
ject to eyes unused to behold him his
huge body, monstrous neck, savage eyes
and shaggy skin are so peculiarly objec-
tionable to the eyeballs of amateurs, that
they generally "turn tail to and make
the best time they can." 1t requires
strong, fleet horses to hunt buffalo, and
then the chief difficulty is in getting the
horse "on to the buffalo," or rather close
up to his side. A ball, in order to be
effective, must be driven in close behind
the shoulder, so as to enter the lungs OF
heart of the animal, and in order to dc
that, proximity to his side is desirable.
Horses have but little objection to going
close up behind buffalo, but they strong
ly object to be ridden along side of him,
because that brings them in close proxim-
ity to his head, and when that is turned
upon them, they know their only safety
lies in their ability to make tracks quick
ly in an opposite direction. So it can be
very easily understood why that on ap.
preaching near that head, they always at
tempt to make tracks fieetly from it. Il
is said, however, that horses can be
trained to stand the glare of the bull:
eyes and the proximity of his hideou;
head. A good hunter will ride neal
enough to buffalo to make his shots effec-
tual, but not near enough to render il
difficult to avoid the attack of the animal
At this season of the year it is not unu,
sual to find herds containing severa
thousand bufaloes without there being
any COWS among them; the latter are
with their young. Cow meat is generally
fatter and more tender than bull meat
and their skins make the finest robes, SC
they are always sought and killed in pre-.
ference to bulls. There is one dish helt
as legitimate by buffalo hunters, which
hold illegitimate even to name, but shoulC
any reader find himselfin buffalo regior
and be invited to eat mountain oysters,
would advise him very quietly to de
cline.
After filling wagon with buffalo meat
we returned to Kearney. The command
at that post is kept constantly supplied
with fresh meat by the killing of buffaloes
Buffalo meat is considered better thar
beef. Antelope is held to be superior t.
either, being much sweeter and more ten
der; but it is very difficult to kill ante
lope, since they are fieeter than hound ol
hare.