New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-06-18
STATION l., PRAIRIE DOG CREEK,


Va have made - mile, since We started about
this morning, and our present eDcampment 10 on
creek running 70 The REPUBLICAN,, 80 that We have
bid a final sdieu H. Solomon's Fork and oil other
sH,uents Of the Smoky Hill branch Of the Kansas
We Travelled on the diside between th's snd The
northern branch Of the KsDsss for some mites 10
day, and finally cane over 10 the waters Of the Re
publican, which river We are ~ strike some ~
miles further o. We are now just half way from
Leayepyorth To Denver, and our coach has been
veek making tbs distance, 30 that with equal good
fortune We nay expect TO reach the Land OF God
in another xeek. Tie coaches We met here TO-
sisht have been just week on the way, having
Ojke us) lost day, but not like ~, b. high water:
their bother was with wild Indisns-Arapahoes
nsiny-whow they report 10 be IN great numbers
on our route-not hostile 10 us, but intent on beg
gipg or stealing and stopping the wagons peremp-
torily til their demands src coupled with. They
are at var with the Pawnees, and most OF their
men are now on the war p.th their women and
children are lsrgey camped around the Express
Company Stations, living az they best may. The
PswDees believe, are mainly or entirely south OF
our road. The Arapahoes boast of triumphs and
will be reclprOcated. Indian wars with each other
are in our day cruel aud cowardly plundeIing
forsys fitted to excite only disgust.
Az we left Station IA this morning and rose from
the creek bottom TO the high prairie, great herd
Of Buffalo were seen in and around our road, who
began to run first north, then south, many standing
As # confused and undecided which course tO take,
Iar la fbau all ata pnut hUa we
we're 10 near them that our driver stopped his
mules 10 let the Buffalo pass without doing US any
harm. Our sportsman's Sharp was not loaded at
the time; il afterward was, and fired into herd
at fair distance, but did not see anything drop
After this they were seen in greater or less num-
bers on the ridges and high prairie, mainly south
Of U.S. but they either kept respectful distance or
soon toook one. We have not seen one for the last
twenty-l five miles; but they are now several miles
further this way than they we're a few days since,
and az every foot Of the way thus far and Il hear
further il carpeted with Buffalo grass not here
eaten down, and as Buffalo paths and other evden-
ees that this is their fayorite feeding ground are
everywhere present, presume they will be here IN
the course of week. But enough OF them. And
let me here profer my Acknowledgements to suodry
other quadrupcds with whom have recently
formed passing acquaintance.
The Prairie Wolf was the first Of these gertry To
pay HIS respects to u.s. lie is sneaklDg, cowardly
little wretch, of Il dull or dirty white color, much
resembling a small short bodied dog set up On
pretty long legs l believe his only feat emitting
him 10 rank as beast Of prey consists in some
times, when hard pressed by hunger, digging out
prairie. dog and making meal Of him. His usual
provender is the carcass-no matter how Putrd-
Of any dead buffalo, mule or OK that be may find
exposed on the prairies. lie is paltry creature.
But the Gray Wolf-who is also dcnlzen of the
prairics-Q think We have seen at least dozen of
the species to-day lie scoundrel of much more
imposing caGber. lie delights to Turk around the
outtknts of herd Of Buffalo, Keeping out of sight
and un.uspeced in the rayines and creek timber
~ far as possible; aud To the unlacky calf that
strays (Which he seldom does) outside OF the exe-
rior line Of defense formed by the bulls IL very
large and hungry, the Gray Wolf will sometimes
manage TO cut a COW of from the herd, and inter-
posing between her and her companions, dctaln
drive her further away, until She is beyond the
hope of rescue, when her doom is sealed. His
hveliest hope, hosever is that of finding buffalo
whom some hunter has wounded, so that he cannot
keep up with the herd especially should it be stam-
ped,d Let him once get such u one by himself,
and few snaps at her ham-s'rlngs taking
excellent care 10 keep out of the way OF his
horns insures that the victim viii have ceased IL be
buffalo, and become mere wolf-meat before
another morning.
Ii ia impossible for stranger Ia the praires to
realize the i0pudence u! these pra,nc-la~yers OF
some twenty Of them that have seen within the
last two days / think not six have really ruu from
us One we saw just before us two hours ago,
kept on his way across the prairie, st"pp'og occs-
sioaaly to take agood look at us but Dot ourrying
himself in the least on account, though for some
minutes within good rife range. Once to-day, our
division superintendent sent ball after one who
was making very deliberate time away from US,
biting him in a quarter where the compliment
should have expedited his motiou; but it did not
seem TO have that effect 1t is very common for
these wolves 10 follow at night man travelling the
road on mule, not making any belhserent Demon
STATIONS, but waiting for whatever may turn up
Sometimes, the Express wagoos hsve been followed
in this way, but think that uousual Bot THIS
creature is up to any thing wherein there is chance
for game.
The PRAIRIE Dog is the funny fellow Of these
parts--frsky himself and source of merriment
TO others He dens on any dry, grassy ground
usually on the dryest part Of the high prsirie-and
his hole is superfcially very large ant bill, with
fha necessary or6rc in It's eantar IN th;s ant