Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1873-01-30
Helena, Montana, Thursday, January 80, 1873.


and crawled on the ground like snake.
Rosencranz mad killed one in Georgia that
had wings on the side of its head and lived
in the water. Those that Joe Davis had
killed were blood-rcd in color and as large as
an elephant. Dick Nicholson were striped,
rnged and streaked, and burrowed in hills
like ants Gillette had never seen one, but
had discharged gate-keeper on his toll road
for permitting herd to go through free.
The other members of the party had each an
ideal buffalo of his own, and everybody
thought that everybody else was an assinine
Jim Mills The discussion becoming rather
rerious, an adjournment to bed was effected
by the gentlemanly host remarking that the
acater was all gone.
In the morning we were up bright and
early, ready for the chase. Considerable
difficulty was experienced in getting the
horses in fix, and a great deal more in placing
the riders Rosencranz mounted wrong end
to, and insisted that he was right, but the
horses head was on wrong. Each man was
provided with an extra horse laden with
ammunition. Things looked very blue for
the buffalo family, assure you. We had
a ride of ten miles before us to the feeding
ground of the herd, which were reported in
great numbers. AS every one was anxious
to get to work, we started off on brisk
gallop. My horse not being in good shape
for run was left in the rear before we had
got one-half the distance that separated us
from our victims. followed along as fast
as the condition of my horse would permit.
In a few minutes l was startled by hearing
terrific rattle of musketry. 1t sounded as
if brigade of men were in action, armed
with neelde''guns. Making detour to the
right to get around hill that prevented me
from seeing the firing party, l met Joe Wool
man riding rapidly homeward. To my in
quiry as to the cause of his return, he re-
piled, "The boys have made a HI of a
blunder and are firing into herd of cattle.
am going to Helena" and away lie went.
Pressing forward, soon obtained view of
the slaughter. Joe was wrong. 1t was a
herd of buffalo that the boys were firing at,
and glorious sight it was. At least nil-
lion of the shaggy brutes were before me in
full retreat for Fort Browning, with our fel-
lows gallantly in pursuit. stood a silent
spectator of the scene until the last horseman
was out of sight, when returned to the
ranch and ordered two six-mule teams to be
in readiness to bring in the tongues of the
slaughtered thousands. Towards evening
the hunters came struggling in for refresh
mcnts. They had driven the herd over into
Dakota. Each man had been very success
full with his individual mouth). The total
number slain was one thousand and four-so
they reported. Davidson had murdered 13O.
Kinna came in shortly afterward and re-
ported 1876 as the number on his string. The
former then remembered seven that he had
killed in two shots, but had forgotten to
count, so that placed him ahead. ....
AS it was too late to think of securing all
the meat that evening, the next day was s.et
apart for gathering and bringing it in. No
one being able to ride horseback, standing
seats were placed in the mule wagons to &C.
commodate the entire party. In talking to
the boys, learned that not one of them de-
sired to 60 any further than where the first
victim fell, and as each one had marked the
place at the time, we knew there would be
no difficulty in finding it. Soon we hove in
sight of the carcass of an antiquated buffalo
bull, when each man yelled, "That's my
meat" Twas astonished that they should all
claim this buffalo. Each man positively
averred that he had killed him. There could
not be any mistake about the identity of the
bull, for each man had put a private mark
on him, and close examination revealed
the fact that ne was covered with private
marks. There was a mistake somewhere.
How the dispute would have ended it i i'm
possible to say, possibly in bloodshed, had it
not been for the arrival of an old hunter,
who, ina very few short, tense sentences, in
formed the boys that if they took that meat
he would have them arrested for stealing,
for he himself had killed tAe bull three days
before! At this the boys wAlted, and desired
to return, saying, eff vi have this much
trouble with our first kill, What will we have
with our second?" Silently the party re-
turned to camp; not ole of them had
word to say. There was evidently great
fraud somewhere, but who had perpetrated
it2 That was the QUESTION. Tomorrow
we return. o.!I ~ nutsa a pi 81 IRTSON.
fa .s..>..4 i...-.1 All. = -1,,sl4si 1
TnE Boston 7Tonscrp4 impartially certi-
fes that the connection q Mcssrs. Boutwell,