Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-11-17
THE MONARCHS OF THE
PRAIRIE,

PRAIRIE,
,-picturesque Pen-nLcture Of n Buffalo
ssunt on thc Kansas Pacific Rail
road
At one o'clock the train WAS in motion,
and, rapidly moving westward, soon left
Fort Hays far behini. Every one was
on iGe lockout for the first signs Of
the buffalo, whose appearance was anxious
~ awaited. When about thirty miles west
OF Hays, the cry "Bufialoes, buffsloes W
was heard, and amid general rush for
platform and window, and the exclama-
lions taat arose from every side, great num-
hers of huge, hairy monsters we're seen gal
loPjag with unwielly movement from the
line OF the track On either side. As the
train rolled by they strung out here AID
there, many Uf them within fifty yards
distance. Great was the excitement on
the train. Madly impatient, yelli.g and
shouting the men rushed for the platform
aud bagge car, got in one auOther's way,
discharged their weapons here and there at
random. Not a few narrowly escaped
bein. victims 10 imPrudent and headiong
careles-ness. The side entrances to the
baggage car we're blocked up, and within
those unable "a obtain a shot were franti-
cllIy stamping aud tugging at those 10 front
If them Men who had never before held
Il rife in their hands discharged their
arm, not thinking Of taking aim. Some
who he'd forgotten the Instructions about
loading were Ridiculous objects Of despair,
Is ihev stood, bewiidered, after having
vajnIy tried 20 thrust ia their cartridges at
the mrzz}e. Leland, with unusual alacri-
u. claubared 10 the roof # one of the cars
aud thencs hlaz harmiessly away with
pocket revolver al ihe fleeing nerd. Seve-
ral crowded forward ia;O the tender ard
from thence kept mp steady fire. Moran
was S. en- wrangIiug about the possession Cf
butitlC-WhU, unframed, was making
good time over the plain, with His Honor,
Judge Sweeney, and Offering to bet four
dollars ami hale that it was his bullet,
not that Of the Judge, which had brought
down the game
Meantime, uany 3 gigantic monster was
seen 10 flger, while those yet untouched
galloped rapidly away. The rafting of
bullets was heard from window and plat
form, and the screams of the ladies were
drowned in the yelling and shooting Of the
men. Che train was soon Stacked up and
MANY not waiting Tor it to stop, leaped out
sad gave chase So deceptive was the dis
i.uae that the pursued did not seem tC
gaiu, and it was rot until many an one had
given out from sheer exhaustion That il was
seen TO attempt to Overtake was fruitless.
Sill The firing went or, and bullets t1eW IN
every direction. Some few took effect; the
most failed. The party were soon scattered
over the plain, needless of the admOnition
lhev had received 10 beware Of Indians,
and intent only upon the Sport. It was
ludicrCus 10 witness the excitement, and
vet the beholder and hunter shared alike
The common feeling. The burly figures Of
Atmore and Day were beheld running
nimblv for & while after the fugitive ami
mails, and then gradually faltering, until,
after having vaiulv chased for 2 mile or
more, Welding to fatigue and excess Of
ayoirdup0is, and sinking, utterly tagged,
upon the carpel-like plain, gazing mourn
fully upon the rapidly disappearing herd.
Lighter weights kept up longer chase,
aud only ceased pursuit when out Of sight
in d-prgssjous Of the seemingly level
plain.
To the ugl.award was seen q vast collec-
li0a # animals, covering several miles Of
gruan3, feeding peacefully, needless Of the
firing whose sound did not reach them.
Toward this herd several of the wounded
auimals mad, their way. They were pur
sued by others Of the party, aud one Of
them FIJI about q mile from the train, hay
ing received . well sent ball. Within a
lew moments the body was surrounded by
a score Of excited men, who with axe and
Euiie soon had the quarters, tongue, skin,
,sii and horns separated. With these they
returned, and then set out for fresh victor
,vs. The train meanwhile moved of with
"a portion OF the party in search of fresh
hasds further %. From 1.-THE summit Of
oae Of the emblnkments thrown up by the
side of the ira k the sight was a grand one.
SO clear was the atmosphere, and SO de-
ceptive the prospect from the absence OF
tree Cr break in the surface with which TO
measure the distance, that the immense
herd feeding 10 The nurthward on the slopes
of the bluff, seemed scarcely mile of,
though four. times that distance away.
Several # The par,y were anxious 10 get a
shot al the drove, but, being unable to
r7zua1a those who had already had
oagh # chasing builalOes on foot 10 ac-
company them, they were di5suaded,
when drv}y told by Curry that if they
wished to get back they should have
started early IN the morning.
To the south and east the hunters were
strewn, singly and in twos aud threes, en-
aeavoring to steal a march On the animals,
who were divided into droves Of from three
10 a dozen each, and who had ceased flee
ing when al A -afe distance. The sport waa
pursued with varying success. In some
cases TWO or three shots sUthCSd 10 bring
down. "a monster OF an animal. Bus the
buffalo never gives up until he is dead, and
many after having yum the gauntlet of 4
dozas repeating ute5, galloped miies
over the plain, and fell liirless too far dis
tanl f1r The SLAYER 10 secure has trophy
rAa legs Of some were broken with bullets
and vet they ran of at great speed, stick
,pr the muulalel stump INTO the soil wlts
every step. The game was pursued Wiji
lie utmest reck!e7snes7 and disregard @
danger, aud when the days adventure
yrYe afterwards considered, all felt thank
6lj tina; no accident had occurred. As ia
afternoon advanced the hunters began L
r-,urn L. the rendezvous at the railroad
where they awaited the return Ct the tram
II MS nearly tive o'clock when this al
reared la SIGHT. IL had proceeded On
some rigL; or IN miles, where was az
c5untrf,d another Immense drove, gram
hand Nv CD, rack. 4 number Of animal
were KILLED before hey could remove on
al range. Nar great bull, who had bee
wounded irnn tine tram, was pursued som
distance and lnaiiy brought down by VI
DAY. La the higgage-car were depOsIie
iHa suarl,T- of no less jhaa thirteen butts
Ines. IL WAS computed that 40 les tha
t.rtv had been slti0, the most Cd them FAT
.rsr "a long distance away.