The Portland daily press., 1872-01-25
THE PR ESS.
THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. 25 1879.
Alexis as a Hunter of the Buffalo.
THE GRAND DUKE DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF

The following is an animated account of
the buffalo hunt near Kit Carson, Colorado,
in which Alexis, Gen. Sheridan and other
notables participated:
Experienced scouts who were in advance
had intercepted the party within half an hour
after leaving the cars and reported the pres
ence of small buffalo herd in the immediate
vicinity. At this time the mounted hunters
and those in ambulances We're widely separat-
ed, and it was decided to wait until the latter
came up before precipitating the attack. A
junction of forces having been formed, Gen.
Sheridan suggested that only Alexis and Gen.
Custer should join in the hunt at this time,
but that after the Duke had brought down
his game the onslaught was to be universal.
All agreed to this proposition, and the Rus
sian naval lieutenant and the dashing and
daring American army officer started. The
approach to the herd was very favorable.
The animals were grazing laziy in sort of a
valley, and the cautious huntsmen were al
most upon them before they were discovered.
OF course the natural instinct of the beast to
run upon the approach of humanity was in
dulged in, but the Duke and Gen. Custer put
spurs to their animals, and followed in hot
pursuit. The horses were accustomed to the
chase and seemed inspired with as much en-
thusiasm as their riders. They fairly flew
through the air, and at length it was trans
parent that both the Duke and the expert
enced General had lost all control of the ami
mails. 81 can't hold my horse" said Alexis,
as the excited animal galloped across the
plains. "Nor /" responded Custer, at the
top of his voice, 'but they are going in the
right direction and we had'better stick to the
saddles and let them run until they are tired
of it,"
The race lasted for mile or more, when
the herd of buffa IS as well as the horses be-
gan to give up. The Duke gazed with admir-
alton upon huge and sprightly bull which
mingled in the herd, and, as soon as he came
within range, he opened fire with his revol-
yer, and followed it up with the skill and rap
idity of veteran huntsman.
Gen. Sheridan, who had intended to re-
main in the rear as a spectator, could not re-
sst the temptations of the exciting sport, and
he at once headed his horse for the ducal par
ty aud soon became an interested participat-
or 1t was now that the real, lively sport
commenced. The trio, far away from the ju-
risdiction of the tender-hearted Bergh, poured
a shower of bullets into the ranks and flanks
of the noble and inoffensive buffalo. The ex-
periences were becoming unusually exciting
for even such veteran spOrtsmen as Sheridan
and Custer. Unlike the sluggard animals of
the Nebraska plains, these were disposed to
make a desperate effort for escape. They
were fleet-foOted, and dashed across the level
territory at a speed worthy of an express To-
cOmOtive.
The Duke, full of enthusiasm and excite
ment, put spurs to his steed and followed on,
with Custer and Sheridan close behind. The
Duke all the while kept his eye the mammoth
bull which he had first fixed upon, and when
he came within range a second time he gave
him the contents of half dozen barrels. This
rxnI <xxlx o. 4rl1- II IL
notappear to be injured in the slightest but he
evidently cherished an i'll feeling toward the
distinguished Russian. He looked him full in
the face paved the earth for a moment and
then made furious charge for his Imperial
Highness.
Alexis now had an opportunity to distin-
guish himself, and he improved it. His SUI
perior horsemanship was for once in his life
very useful, and barely saved him from fate
which an amateur of ordinary skill would
have been likely to have suffered The
wounded buffalo, finding that he could not
harm his antagonist, resumed his hasty re-
treat, and was as closely pursued by the Rus
sian sport. He put the spurs to his horse
most vigorously, and when he had come
again within range drew his revolver, but in
the midst of haste and excitement it slipped
from his grasp and fell to the ground. No
time was to be lost to recover the weapon,
and General Sheridan, having witnessed the
accident, rode up alongside the Duke and pass
ed him his, and it was then but a moment be-
fore the ponderous masculine member of the
buffalo creation was brought down. Almost
his first shot pierced the heart of the animal
and, with an imploring look, he yielded up the
ghost.
Those who had witnessed the whole excit-
ing scene were now wild with excitement and
enthusiasm, and gave vent to their feelings
with loud and repeated cheers. The Duke
himself was especially delighted with his tri-
umph, and INDUCED in many an exclamation
of joy. The head of the slaughtered animal
was decapitated and will be preserved and
taken to Russia as one of the trophies of the
Colorado plains.
During the successful pursuit and fight of
the Duke with the particular beast which he
had selected the other members of the party
charged upon the balance of the herd and
succeeded in Staying dozen or more. While
surveying the scene of blood and triumph one
of the guides rode up and reported large
herd of buffalo some two miles distant, and a
forward movement was at once made. On
the way a'couple of largebulls were found iso-
lated from the others, and the Duke and
General Custer went for one of them and the
balance ofthe party for the other.
The Imperial blood was now well up and
after brief and lively gallop Alexis was
within pistol shot of the fated animal, and
with few well directed shots, he was soon
despatched. Further along the large herd
reported was overtaken. The unsuspectine
brutes were grazing quietly under hill, and
the eminence was so favorable as to allow the
party to get almost upon them without dis.
cOvery or alarm. The Duke and General
Custer took the lead, and were followed close
ly by the rest. As soon as the leaders char
ged the herd scattered, but the huntsmen fol-
lowed in hot pursuit, and the chase became at
once lively and exciting beyond description.
The horse of the Dukes orderly stumbled
into one of the numerous burrows of the
prairie dogs, and both the animal and the
rider were thrown. 1t was first thought that
the orderly was killed, but upon examination
it was found that he was only rendered mo-
mentarily insensible and the chase was quick
ly resumed. For over two miles the Duke
and the General pursued the flying herd. As
soon as the Duke reached the rear of the
drove he sent fatal bullet through the first
buffalo that was within range of his pistol
and moment or two later despatched an
other that came in his way. The fleeing
herd was fresh and the horses exhausted, and
as it appeared useless to continue the pursuit,
the party rested and lunched for an hour, and
then prepared to return to the Kit Carson sta
tiOn. On the way single buffalo was OBJ
seIfcu anu tuc WuoiC parry "Che III itiiii' AAc
saw that he was being overtaken and turned
at once upon his pursuers, very singnlarly Sc
lecting the Grand Duke as the special object
of his revenge. He eyed him with an anger
and determination somewhat serious to be-
hold, and finally turned upon Alexis and
charged with fierceness that showed he was
battling for dear life. The Grand Duke and
his experienced horse were equal to the EN-
ergency, and although they lodged the infu-
rated animal every time, the escapes were suf-
fficiently narrow for even ''Buffalo BflP' to
boast of. Finally Gen. Custer came to the res
cue and, by diverting the attention of the ami
NAL, the Duke got a dozen or more broadside
shots into his carcass, and then dismounted and
finished his treacherous life with rife. 1t
was now getting late in the day. The party
had their fill of buffalo sports, and the jour
ney in the direction of the town was again
resumed and pursued to the end without in
terruption. Numerous herds were seen along
the road, but none of them were molested.
Mr. CNysc Suueaf