The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-02-28
LOST ON THE PLAINS.
Perils of Buffalo IIunting-.Without
Food for Five Days-.Wonderfnl
Perseverance and Escape
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III JuuuuiJ iaott oSn" ""-SNt N~N
about 10 years Of age, left his home on
Musquito Bottom, in company with his
father and two neighbors, for the purpose
OF hunting buffalo on the Upper Arkan.
sas. The weather was all that could be
wished, game was found In abundance
and the hunters secured as much as their
teams were able to haul back so long q
distance, and on the morning Of the 10th
preparations wero made for q return
home.
Not so, however, with young Wilson,
who had become enamored with the wild
scenes and wilder sports, To him 1t was
a new life, of which he had often read, but
had now become n living actor in its tasci.
nations. To the lett Of the river, and be-
yond the skirt Of the timber in which the
hunters were encamped, stretched the
unbroken plain, on which, within range Of
vision, quietly grazed q small herd Of
buffalo, and here and there scattered
groups oil antelope, At sight Of this our
young hunter became excited, and only
Zone more shot," before departing, was In
sisted on. Shouldering his gun hastily,
he started out and was soon lost TO view
as he picked his way quietly along the
river bank and timber. fli.Eft
Nothing further was thought OF the
young nuns within by the father and his
companions, who were cooking rations
for the return trip and peacefully smoking
their pipes.
Young Wilson found the distance to
the game much farther than he antici-
pated, but on getting within long.range
shot, his presence was discovered, and a
general stampede was the result. Nothing
daunted, he continued the chase, fully de-
termined on the last shot and dead buff
falo. Onward he went, over the plain,
through wood and thicket, regardless Of
all lmpedimcnts, but four legs could
wander farther than two, and he was left
far in the rear. Time hal elapsed, un-
needed by him; night was upon him, and,
for tue first time, he realized that he was
alone, upon the vast plain, his game beyond
his reach, and companions, he knew not
whittier. His reckoning was lost, he
stood bewilderCd. To add TO his misery,
one Of those fierce winds, so common In
that section, came up, and with it driv.
ing, binding sleet, which transformed
him into walking icicle.
Cold and benumbed, he started, as he
supposed, tor the wood along the rayine
but Instead, travelled from it-now hasten
ing, now slackening his pace as the cold
affected him. AT length he came upon a
small clump Of bushes, under which he
took shelter, sat down, and was soon
asleep and lost 10 his lonely position.
The boy not returning in reasonable
time to the camp, his father and com
panions became uneasy, anil set out in
search Of him. Guns were fired, Indian
whoops and yellS to the full extent oil
their lungs, but no answer came in re-
Spouse. The same was continued through
out the night, and large fires were kin
died on tho highest eminenCes, in hopes
of attracting his attention, but all In vain,
Morning came, but yet with 1t no boy.
The day elapsedin fruitless search, follow.
cd by another night Of demonstrations
similar to those Of the first. Thus passed
two nights and one day, and with them
the hopes of his friends. The anguish o.
the parent in this extremity was almost
unbearablc. To go back without his son
he could not, for there too was an anxious
mother iondly awaiting their return from
tho hunt.
On the third day, after fully deliberatlng
on II, the party concluded to return home
form companies OF their neighbors and
make a grand search for the boy on the
plains. -arr ay.
Awakening from his sleep through feel
ing Of GOODNESS, young Wilson looked gu,
upon the drcary waste before him. The
wind still howled, but the sleet had sub
sided. His frozen clothes clankcd about
his body rs he arose and picked up thu
gun. He now fully comprehended hi'
situation, and his first thoughts were o
his friends and something TO eat. tt
choose his course, puzzled him, yet NJ
time was to be lost. He plucked from
one OF the bushes sprig, sat 1t on end
and in his boyish way resolved on goinl
In the direction It might tall. AS the 70
suit win show, 1t tell in tho opposite di
rection 10 that in which his friends were
and hc wandered farther and iarthcI
away. iG.r,t.. Tg0'
For procuring food, his gun was now
his only reliance, and as he tr1dged along
4 sharp look out was kept for game. Thu
first day out nothing In the game lint
presented itself, but on the second day
small herd Of buffalo, on which he fired
passed him. % The shot was short OF thu
mark, and they were soon away. 81
passed the third and fourth days Weak
ened by hunger and fatigue, he reverthe
less kept up good courage and hoped ilia
In he did not find his friends, he ut leas
might fail in with other hunters or In
dians, friendly or otherwise, no did no
care much which, SO long US his scalI
was sale and prospect OF u rvplenish
ment OF his vacant stomach offered.
On tho morning Of tho fifth day Ii
came 10 small stream, skirted by u icv
scattered trees. Here he gathered up SOM
brokon limbs, and pulled. out from be
meath the roots dry grass enough TO star
a fire. This he did by firing OF lis gul
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soon grew into n warming fire, by whlol
his frozen clothes were tllAwed out ant
himself warmed. BY this time no was to,
hungry and worn out to proceed InuCl
iartiief, and 10 resolved on keeping VI
Ibis fire through tho day and night, Will
50 engaged lite in the evening he wa
suddenly startled by q grlii show r. and
big, dirty Indian stood before him, with
gun on Bis back AMI the headquarters Q
an antelope. Wv ~ D UHh Q
"Bullyr replied Wilson, us lie spranJ
TO his feet and rifle, "HOw yourself!
and he gazed in astonlshmcnt at the In
trudCr. The Indian comprehcnded III
situation, prOIered him q portion Of III
4 meat, md they sat down together, roasteI
and ate ravenously Of II, TIE heat AM
food livcned him up, and he soon under
stood that d band Of friendly Indian
were encampOd q few miles below. T
] this camp tho two repaired, and Wllsol