The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-02-12
Hardships and Privations of Buffalo
Hunters.

NEAR WICHITA. Feb. 9TH, 1874.
The 9TH day of January, 1874, my
self. in company with five companions
started for the plains in search of
game. The first night out we pitched
our tent on the north fork of the Mn
nescah. After good nights sleep We
awokc at an early hour, and after
breakfast our tent was soon struck and
on the wagon and soon was under way
with light hearts, plenty of grub and
bound we knew not where. Nothing
tramspired that day worthy of note
aud struck camp the following night
nj what is known as Reads ranch. We
found that worthy in the midst OF his
numerous insects scratchaing and
writing in terrible way. SO seeing
the situation of affairs we did not con
slider il safe TO stop too close so we
took refuge At a safe distance where
we put in the night without moiesta-
ton. On the following morning at an
early hour we were moving on 10 The
Southwest where we had expected TO
find the buffalo. At last night over
took rs once more and we struck camp
Oh Elm creek. The morning following
was cold dismal one, il showed and
blowed AZ a terrible rate and we were
obliged to pass the day there, SO we
amused ourselves a best we could and
fiuallv the day passed of and the night
approached at last, and that night was
terrible one. ono long 10 be remember
ed by many poor creature upon the
plains with scant food and clothing.
At last day dawned and with rather
less ofspirit than usual we arose and
found the wind blowing steady and the
storm somewhat abatcd. We immedi-
ately prepared for start and was soon
under way, we reached Medicine Lodge
river in due time and camped for the
night, still no buffalo worthy of note
had been discovered The morning
following was fine, and we pulled out
FOR Mule creek. On arriving there and
seeing no buffalo we concluded TO take
one team and light wagon and drive
out Southwest in search of them. We
drove all day and still saw none, we
camped that night upon little stream
near the Cimeron, the following morn
ing we thought to take ramblc around
in search Of game which we failed TO
discover after which we bent our steps
towards camp. on striking the creek
little below camp and following mp to-
ward camp until within a hundred
yards of camp when a sad scene met
cur eyes! There was the ruins of
camp. plundered by the Indians, the
wagon burned TO ashes, shirts, boots
aud shoes. hat. vest etc. were upon the
ground. blood was visable in many
places the ground was strewn with
needle-gun caps showing that there
had been desperate resistance made
by the hunters. We searched for the
bodies or some clue TO their names but
did not succeed in finding any. After
examineing the ruins and seeing nu-
merous things that did not speak well !
for our safety we headed for our old /
camp on mule creek where we arrived 1
that night then commenced the search /.
~ of grub for we had been ont longer I
than we had expected, aud as one of /
our party expressed himself saving
that it was mighty hard to live on PAN
cake straight and we were all Of the !
same opinion but could not help the 1
cause. The next morning we started !
for home. and after mach trouble and 1
hard driving and bad weather we reach I
ed the Minnesota which afforded very /
bad crossing, in crossing We broke ii /