Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1866-01-24
RUGalo Hunt.


private letter frem Doct. j. ii. Vivian,
which our readers will find to pay read
ing
l think | told you in my last, that we
had the honor to entertain at our table
their high mightinesses, the chieltains OF
various tribes of almost uupronounceable
names
At that time it was agreed that BEARS
Rib, chief of the FuL-pa pas was
about 10 proceed with a party of hunters
to hunt buffalo, or in Indian parlance, ito
make meat, it was decided, that
with his consent, party OF officers should
accompany him, 10 sec and participate in
a Buffalo hunt, "a Indian
On Friday the indians Of the hunting
party were ferried across the river, and in
the evening the party from the fort
crossed and biyouacked some in the open
air and some in 81 wigwam, to be ready
to start by day light on Saturday morn
ing.
The party of officers consisted of Col.
Clark, Capt's Spoonor and Dering, two
lieutenants and myself, accompanied by a
cook, six soldiers, and government
wagon with six mules and an adequate
supply of provisions.
As this jaunt was intend partly as an ef-
fort at pacifca ton, to earn the confidence
of the Indians, considerable quantity
of provisions were taken to distribute to
thom These consisted Of bread, "hard
tack sugar, coffee and bacon. The In
dams are passionately fond of sugar and
coffee which latter they call ''pajudah
sapa" or black medicine
The cavalcade which started the follow
ing morning, was curious one, and
would have attracted some attention in
Wisconsin 1t consisted of about thirty
Indians, undec the lead ership OF Bears
Rib, of our interpreter and our delegation
from the fort Each Indian was mounted
on what they call common poney, or oc-
casionally a mule and was accompanied
by his running horse" led by lariat,
and generally by at least one other pack
pOney, some having two or three There
was one sqaw along, and one Indian boy
Col. Clark and myself were mounted on
our own horses; the other officers were
on some rats of ponies, belonging to the
government, and which seem to be kept
here solely to consume rations, and to eat
twice their value every year These sorry
Jyr p,
TO the hunting ground, and were totally
unfit to cake any part in the hunt
The Indian running horses, are genor~
ally good animals, not usually ponies but
what are known as "American" horses
These they do not mount until they are
close to a buffalo, and consequently they
90 into the chase quite fresh Our Indi~
ans were fine looking set Of men; some
Of these were = war with US nor three
months ago, though their leader (Bear's
RIB has always been the friend Of the
whites
As to their appearance, | would like to
describe them but DO not think l can con
vey any adequate idea, Of their wild and
'outer appearance.
Bears Rib, is an athletic young man,
said to be only 70 years old, but looks at
least % stands six feet high, face Of q
bright red colour nose pure Raman, eagle
eyed, cheek bones not very high, Il re
/ markably handsome Indian. 4 counten~
ance indicative Of intelligence and good
nature. but as well Of firm willard de-
| termination. lie wore on his head a high
crowned cavalry hat decorated in front
/ with the IryeaH Of [. .S-of an infantry
/ oGecT, on one side with the cavalry
crossed sahres, and On the other with the
infantry bugIe; his upper garment was a
/ dress coat, (miIitlry) worn without shirt.
and his neither extremities were encascd
4 in cloth lecgincs, ornamontod with a large
number Of little round brass buttons
over all he wore a gray blanket Ia
h;s cars he wore car-rings with
I pendante of courio shells, and mother Of
/ pearl, hanging to his shoulders He
/ looked sick, a. in fact he was he having
/ suffered for some time from cough and
/ a hoarscness, for which am now treating
I him. The rest Of the Indians not attired
so sumptuousiy, they being wrapped in
! their buffalo robe or blanket some few
wore flannel shirts, besides their legginEs
/ others had nothing but leggings and "a buE
lalo robe, more had hats or caps, some
wore 4 piece of Gotten cloth to confne
the hair but most Of them let their hair
stream in the wind All were armed
with bow and arrows, except one only
who rejoiced in the possession Of a Colts
4 Revolver
Our squad of officers were armed with
/ reyolyers and repeating rifles or carbines
We travelled some twenty miles the first
4 day, nearly due east and encamrcd on
4 Reayer creek for the night The second
/ day we expected to meet buffalo. 1t vas
/ a clustering stormy day and unpleasant
4 travelling Our course was still due east
1 We had expected this day to see buffalo.
but we traye led al day without any sign
/ Of them and our Indians were a little dis
couraged, but a they were furnished with
rations by the Colonel, they got along