The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-06-30
Buckskin jack.
Sioux CITY Journal.


mating tale of border life. Our hero for
the nonce is Jack Rand, or as he is com-
monty called, Buckskin Jack, from the
fact that his dress throughout is of buck
skin. He stands six feet five inches in
his stockings, and has one of those spare
built, why frames which denote great
strength and powers Of endurance. From
boyhood he has followed hunting as an
occupation, and for several years past
has made the wilds of Northern Wiscon-
sin his home. When the Black Hills
fever became epidemic, filled with the
love of adventure peculiar to his class, he
at once came to this city and joined the
Gordon expedition. Soon after leaving
here Jack was appointed hunter and scout
for the train, and as soon as the game
country was reached he kept the several
messes well supplied with antelope, deer,
bear, etc. But it is with Bucklkin Jacks
principal adventure, and which came
near costing his life, that we have to deal
in this article, and which, if for no other
reason, is interesting as showing the
WONDERFUL ENDURANCE
of man. On the morning of the first
capture of the Gordon party. Jack started
out on a scout Of twenty or twenty-five
miles up the river, and aside from looking
out for soldiers and Indians, was TO Sc
lect camping place for the night. The
latter duty performed, he waited until
shutdown for the men and wagons to
come up, but they not coming, he concla-
ded that something was wrong, and star
ted back down the river, Reaching the
camping-place of the night previous, he
learned from the three men who had
been out hunting, and thereby escaped
capture, that the military captured the
expedition aud started for Randall. The
four men stayed there that night,
and without anything to eat. In the
morning they started in the direction the
soldiers had taken with their prisoners.
On the way they met the Collins BROTH
ers who, with three ponies, had made
their escape and were headed for the
hills, and from them learned that Cor
don and Romans had also eluded the Wig
lance of the soldiers, and were then on
their way up the Niobrara. Two of
Jacks comrades went on and gave them-
selves up, while Jack and the other
turned back, thinking they could over
take Gordon. On the tramp, they were
overtaken by Evans, who came out with
team to bring them in. The other
men weakened and decided to go into the
camp, but Jack was spunky and swore
he wouldn't, but would 60 to Gordon
Evans gave him little bite to eat, also
his boots and socks, and shaking his
hands, bid him goodbye, when the scout
was
ALONE ON THE PRAIRIE
For a moment he watched the fast re-
ceeding form of hrs friends, and then
turned his face to the western wild, struck
Gordon's trail, and hoped to sup with
him that night. Reaching the old camp,
he appeased his hunger with some cast
away bacon rinds, and going on about
ten miles laid down on the prairie and
slept, having given up hope of overtaking
Gordon that night. In the morning he
resumed his march. For six successive
days he wandered here and there, his
course being first in one direction and then
in another as indications pointed. He
struck several trails, but would lose them
, on the hard alkali soil, and what the man
endured from hunger and thirst can moi
be expressed in words. He finally got SC
that he did not crave food, and only longed
for water, and when he would reach rivel
or creek he would throw himself down
, and lap the cooling liquid like a dog. HI
was forced to throw away his gun, and
e that, he says, was the hardest thing of al
to do, and then the boots Evans had giver
} him, and finally his coat. He got so veal
that he would have to lie down every few
rods, and still his courage never deserted
r him, and his
WONDERFUL VITALITY
and indomitable will kept him alive wher,
any ordinary mortal would have persisted
Finally, on the seventh day out, when hi
0 felt that his hours were few, he saw tn
n returning wagons of the transportation
company in the distance coming down tn
9 trail, and now that he knew deliveranc
d was at hand, his strength suddenly de
serted him, and he pitched forward sense
t less. The men picked him up, and afte
e considerable exertion, restored him t.
o consciousness. His famished BODY coul