The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-12-08
VOLUME II.
A FREE RIDE.
Nebraska Story OF Buffalo Hunting.

| NtOA aSAA VI DuudAO
| l have never been an advocate OF
deadheadism, from the fact that all my
rides have been paid for.
Did l say "GHp No, not quite all
for there was one free ride that / had,
and that, too, without anv extra pre-
paration. In fact, / might say that it
was altogether against my wishes.
| i 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 arc plenty Of buffaloes in Ne
frequently INDUCED in by the settlers.
A great many are killed and as they
are the largest game known on the
American continent, it is rare sport.
At least, that is what the majority of
hunters call 1t. For my part beg
leave to differ from them.
Before had tried it, /, like all others,
thought that it would be grand fun /; so,
from thinking, L was very anxious to
make my first grand hunt. / took it,
and am not keen to go again. No more
buffalo hunt for me. VeRi Ctdi7, NO,
not quite. Small game will do for me
now, or in lieu of that 1 will dig po-
tatoes.
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
to cook the choice morsels of steak, and
barrels to salt our meat in; and with
jubilant spirits, we pushed out west,
enlivening the journey with songs and
many remarkable stories of our differ
ent hunting adventures. 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 a good spot and made our camp.
AS it was late in the day, we did not
try to hunt, but got our camp fixed
comfortably, 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 had laid 1t to a late hearty
supper and hard bed, and in Lalf All
hour after thought no more about it.
Thus it ran: was at a lonesome sta
ton on the Pacific railroad. The en-
CINE and tender were standing on the
track. No human being was near. 1
got aboard. All steam was yet on, as
if waiting for the engineer. 1 thought
the steam was too high. took hold of
the valve to let some escape, when of
went the iron horse like q streak of
lightning.
Further, faster; hills, trees and sta
tons were all mingled together.
Twas dreadfully alarmed, vet, try as
would, could not stop the fiery and
untamed steed nor dared attempt to
aT a ~
that, to keep my equilibrium, ! grasped
two stakes. The stakes soon took the
shape of buffalo horns, and the engine
resembled an immense buffalo. Soon
my imaginary buffalo ran Off the track.
A gulley was just before down that
we pitched, and landed at the bottom q
complete wreck.
Iawoke.
The sun was just rising above the
eastern praire ridges when we started
forth in companies of twos to try our
skill. My companion and l took to the
north for n bushy hollow, some two
miles from camp. Arriving there, we
espied a large herd of buffaloes near
keeping under cover of the brush we
succeeded in getting within gun shot of
q fine looking old fellow without his
being aware of our presence.
Now was our chancel Taking de-
liberate aim, we both fred at once.
Down he dropped, and up we ran to
cut his throat.
He had settled down-all his feet I'M
der 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 an instant he was upon his
feet, and, with Tremendous below,
was bounding over the prairie with the
heetness 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 a toad on a
tussoc, l held on for dear life. had
relinquished his horns, and taken a firm
grip in his long shaggy hair. 1 need
not say that l was alarmed, for the
leader can guess that much.
| On, on, we went, and soon joined q
large herd, and the believing was al
most deafening; and the speed with
which they moved was certainly eau.
ton to the greasiest of creased light
ming.
The herd being fresher, and not hav'
ing riders, of course took the lead
whilst and my bucephalus brought VI
the rear. Miles and miles we passed
over. without any abatement of speed
until / began to fear l was in for &
whole trip across the great American
plains.
But, after some two hours, in which
we must have gone twenty miles, my
animals spirits became somewat tagged
and the herd began to gain upon us rap
idly, soon leaving us far in the rear
And now 1 was in hope that he would
fall insensible. But vain hope! AL
at once deep cannon appeared before
us. To the brink we went. Down ht
plunged, whilst l, making sudden
leap, landed head first in a mass o
rock and brush, more dead than alive
After recovering, l left my nearl!
worn out beast, and started on the bacl
track. / met my comrades comm,
after me. We got back to camp as soon q
possible, fearing, from signs, an attacl
by the Indians. We left for HON
without getting buffalo. Idon't hun
any more.