Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-12-08
A Buffalo Hunt.

IHAvE never been an advocate of dead
headism, from the fact that all my rides
have been paid for.
Did say "Ww No, not quite all for
there was one free ride that | had, and
that, too, without any extra preparation.
In fact, might say that it was altogether
against my wishes.
| suppose the reader would like to
know about that free ride So will try
and relate it, promising to tell the truth
and to be as brief as possible.
There are plenty of bufaloes in Ne
braska. Buffalo hunting is, consequently,
frequently indulged in by the settlers n
great many are killed and as they are the
largest game known on the American con
tinent, it is rare sport. AT least, that Is
what the majority of hunters call it, For
my part. / beg leave to differ from them.
Before | had tried it, l, like Others
thought that it would be grand fun So
from thinking, was very anxious to take
my first grand hunt. | took il, and am
not keen to go again. No more buffalo
hunt for me- Ieli c5di--, no, not quite.
Small game will do for me now, or in lieu
of that, I'll dig potatoes
A party was gotten up in the fall OF
1868, to 90 out to the Buffalo Range, about
i
River, and take grand hunt. This, now,
was the long-wished for chance for ne,
and went along
We were well fixed for camping out,
with such things as salt and frying pans
for the choice morseis of steak, and barrels
! to salt our meat in; and, with iubilant
spirits, we pushed out west, cnlivening
/ the Journey with SONGS and many remark
able stories of our different hunting adj
ventures OF the latter, | am sorry to
} say, don't believe the truth was strictly
adhered to in all cases.
Well, we got to the Range safely, Sc
lected good spot and made our camp.
/ As it was late in the day, we did not try
/ to hunt, but got our camp fixed comforta-
I bly,, and cleaned and put our guns and
knives in order.
That night had a remarkable dream,
and l have since interpreted it, but at the
time, laid it to a late hearty supper and
hard bed, and in half an hour after |
thought no more about it. Thus it ran:
| was at a lonesome station on the Pacific
Railroad. The engine and tender were
standing on the track. No human being
was near. | got aboard. All steam was
yet ON as if waiting for the engineer. !
thought the steam was too high. /
took hold Of the valve 70 let some escape,
when off went the iron horse like streal,
of lightning.
/ Further, faster! hills. trees and stations
were all mingled together.
! | was dreadfully alarmed, yet, try rs
would | could not stop the fiery and un-
tanned steed; nor dared / attempt to get
of. Then it rocked and iolted so that to
keep my equilibrium, | grasped two
/ stakes. The stakes soon took the shape
A % It,H l. ha
bled an immense buffalo. Soon my i'm
aginary buffalo ran off the track. A gul-
lev was Just before; down that we pitched
and landed at the bottom complete
wreck.
awoke.
The sun was just rising above the east
eln prairie ridges when we started forth
in companies of twos to try our skill. |
and my companion took to the north for
a bushy hollow, some two miles from
camp. Arriving there we cspied large
gang of bufIalOes near the head, about
half mile distant By keeping under
cover of the brush we succeeded in getting
within gun shot of fine looking old fel.
low without his being aware Of our
presence.
Now was our chance! Taking deliber-
ate aim we both fired at once. Down he
]
He had settled down-all his feet under
him. My partner told me to pull him
over on his side, that we might bleed
him. l grasped his horns at the same
time throwing my leg over his neck. In
ar instant he was upon his feet, and,
with tremendous below, was bounding
over the prairie with the teetness OF a
race horse.
1t was all so sudden that, from the first
movement he made in rising was unable
to free myself from him without danger OF
injury. So, like toad on a tuSsoc
held on for dear life. ! had relinquished
his horns, and taken firm grip in his
long, shaggy hair. need not say that
was alarmed, for the reader can guess that
much.
On, on, we went, and soon joined q
large herd, and the believing was almost
, deafening; and the speed with which they
moved was certainly a caution to the
, greasiest of creased lightning,
The herd, being the freshest, and not
, having riders, of course took the lead
) whilst | and my Bucephalus brought "
Z the rear. Miles and miles we passed over
without any abatement Of speed, until
r began TO fear / was in for whole triT
/ across the great American plains,
But after some two hours, in which We
| must have gone twenty miles my animals
spirits became somewhat tagged, and the
! herd began to gain upon us rapidly, soon
) leaving us far in the rear. And now