The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-03-18
E-1gE OK T42E PLAINS.
PERKS OF BUFFALO HUNTING-WITnOUT
FOOD FOR FIVE DAYS-WONDERFUL
PER5I.vE FRANCE AND ESCAPE or = BOY.

PEEILS OF BUFFALO HUNTING-WITHOUT
Fo0D FOR FIVE DAYS-wONDERFUL
PEIs5Ev vEEANCG AND ESCAPE OF = BOY.
In January last, JOHN Wilson, n lad
about 70 years of age, left his home on
Mosquito Bottom, in company with his
father and two neighbours, for the purpose
Of hunting buffalo on the Upper Arkansas.
The weather was all that conld be wished,
game was found in abundance, and the
hunters secured as much as their teams
were able to haul back so long a distance,
and CA The morning. Of the ION orePara~
lions we're made for return nome.
Not 50, however, with young Wilson,
WHO had became enamored with The Wild
scene and wild sports. To him it was a
new life, Of which he had often read, but
had now become living actor IN It's ias~
ciaaiious To the left Of the river, and
beyond lbe skirt of The timber in which
the hunters were encamped, stretched tie
uubroken plains, on which, within range
of vision. quietly grazed a small herd Of
buffalo, aui here and there scattered
groups of antelope. At sight Of this our
Young hunter became excited, aud only
cone more shot," before departing, was
insisted On. Shou!dering his gun hastily,
lie sta!tad out and was soon lost to vie~
as hs quietly picked his way along the
river bank and timber.
Nothing further was Thought of the
Young man $ whim by the father and his
compani~ns, who were cooking rations
for the return trip and peacefully smoAlng
their pipes.
Young Wilson found the distance to the
game much farther than he anticipated,
bu; Oh getting within long range shot, his
presence WAS discovered, and a general
stampede was the result. Nothing daunt
ed fully determined on he last shot and
dead buffalo. Onward he went ever
the plain. through wood end thicket, re-
garIless Of all impediments, but four legs
could wander farther than two, and he
was left far in the reaC. Time had pass
ed, unhc9dei by him night was upou
him, and for the first time, he realized
that he was alone upon the vast plain, bis
game beyond his reach, and companions,
he knew not whittier. Ills reckoning
was lost, and ho stood beWildered. To
add to his misery, enc of those fierce
winds, so common IN that section. came Up
and with it a driving, binding sleet, which
transformed him into a walking icicIe.
Gold and beoumbed. he started, as ne
supposed, for the wood along the ravine,
bat instead travelling from it--now hast
ening, now slackening his pace as the cold
affected him. Al length he came upon
ri Of 1r la
took shelter, sat down, and was soon
asleep and lost to his lonely position.
The boy not returning IN reasonable
time 10 the camp his father and compan-
ions became uneasy and set out IN search
of him. Guns were fired, Indian whoops
and yeils were INDUCED in 20 the full eX-
tent of their lungs, but no answer came
| Ia response. The same was concluded
throughout the night, and large fires were
kindled on the highest eminences in hopes
/ of attracting his attention, bat all in VAIN
/ Morning came, yet with 1t 40 boy tie
/ day elapsed In fruitiess search, followed
/ by another night OF demonstrations similar
1 to those Of the first. Thus passed two
/ nighss and one day, and with them the
! hopes Of his friends The anguish OF the
/ parent in this extremity was almost IN
bearable. To 20 back without his son he
could not, for there too was an anxious
mother fondly awaiting their return from
! the hunt.
On the third day after fully delibera-
ting on it, the party concluded to return
home, form companies of their neighbors
and make a grand search for the boy on
the plains,