Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-12-07
A Buffalo Hunt.

HAVE never been an advocate of dead
headism, from the fact that all my rides
have been paid for.
dbl say "aHm 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 l will try
and relate it, promising to, tell the truth
and to be'as brief as possible:
. There are plenty of buffaloes in Ne
braska. Buffalo hunting is, consequently,
frequently indulged in by the settlers. A
great many are killed and as they are the
largest game known on the American con
tinent, Il is rare sport. At least, that is
what the majority of hunters call it. For
my part, beg leave to differ from them.
Before l had tried it, 1, like others,
thought that it would be grand fun so,
from thinking, was very anxious to take
my first, grand hunt. i took it, and am
not keen to go again: No more buffalo
hunt for me. teni cid, no, not quite.
of that, I'll dig potatoes.
A party was gotten up in the fall of
1868, to go out to the Buffalo Range, about
one hundred miles west of the Missouri
River, and take grand hunt, This, now,
was the long-wished for chance for me,
and went along
We were well fixed for camping out,
with such things as salt and frying pans
for the choice morsels of steak, and barrels
to salt our meat in and, with iubilant
spirits, we pushed out west, enlivening
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
leeted 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-
bly,, and cleaned and put our guns and
knives in order.
That night | had a remarkable dream,
and have since interpreted it, but at the
time, l 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 Igot aboard. All steam was
yet on as if waiting for the engineer. j
thought the steam was too high.
took hold Of the valve to let some escape,
when off went the iron horse like streak
of lightning.
Further, faster! hills, trees and stations
were all mingled together.
| was dreadfully alarmed, yet, try as !
would, could not stop the fiery and I'M
tanned steed; nor dared | attempt to get
off. Then it rocked and jolted SO that, to
keep my equilibrium, l grasped two
stakes. The stakes soon took the shape
of buffalo horns, and the engine resenl-
bled an immense buffalo. Soon my i'm
aginary buffalo ran off the track. A gul-
ley was just before; down that we pitched
and landed at the bottom complete
wreck.
awoke. ,.s.
The sun was just rising above the east
ern 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 espied large
gang of buffaloes near the head, about
half a 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 oul
presence.
Now was our chance! Taking deliber
ate aim we both fired at once. Down he
dropped, and up we ran to cut his throat.
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. I grasped his horns at the same
time throwing my leg over his neck. In
an instant he was upon his feet, and
| with a tremendous below, was bounding
over the prairie with the feetness of q
race horse.
| 1t was all so sudden that, from the frs
movement he made in rising, Twas unable
to free myself from him without danger Of
| injury. So, like toad on tussoc,
held on for dear life. | had relinouishe(
his horns, and taken firm grip in hi
long, shaggy hair. need not say that
was alarmed, for the reader can guess tha
much. taIEl p
! On, on, we went, and soon Joined
large herd, and the believing was almos
deafening; and the speed with which the,
moved was certainly caution to tn
greasiest of creased lightning s=
The herd being the freshest, and no
having riders, of course took the lead
whilst and my .Bucephalus brought VI
the rear. Miles and mites we passed over
without any abatement of speed until
began to fear / was in for whole tril
across the great American plains.
I But-after some two hours, in which w
must have gone twenty miles, my animal
spirits became somewhat tagged, and th
herd began to gain upon us rapidly, sool
leaving US far. in the rear. And now