Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-06-05


ExpedftIOn-His Exhibition Of Won
derfuI Enduranee-Seven Days With
cut Food.
Sioux City journal.
There is now in the city, stopping al the
house Of Fred Evans, as genuine a speci-
men of the American frontiersman as ever
formed the central figure about which the
dime novelist weaves his most fascinating
tale Of border life. Our hero for the nonce
is Jack Rand, or as he is commonly called,
Buckskin Jack, from the fact that his
dress throughout is of buckskin.
He stands six feet five inches in his
STOCKINGS, and has one of those spare
built, why frames which denotes great
strength and powers Of endurance. From
boyhOod be has followed hunting as an Oc-
cupation, aud for several years past has
made the wilds of Northern Wisconsin his
home. When the Black Hills fever became
epidemic, filed 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 be kept
the several messes we'll supplied with ante
lope, deer, bear, etc. But it is with Buck
skin Jacks principal adventure, and which
came near costing him his life, that we have
10 deal in this article, and which, if for no
other reason, is interesting as showing the
WONDERFUL ENDURANCE
of the man. On the morning Of the frs.
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 select
a 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 concluded that some
thing was wrong, and started back down
the river. Reaching the camping place of
the night previous he learned, from
three men who had been out hunting,
and thereby escaped capture, that the
military had captured the expedition and
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 gone with their
prisoners. On the way they met the
Collins brothers 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 vigi-
lance of the soldiers, and were then On
their way up the NiObrara. Two Of Jacks
comrades went on and gave themselves up,
while Jack and the other turned back,
thinking they could oveTtake Gordon. On
the tramp, they were OYertaken by Evans,
who came out with a team to bring them
in. The other man weakened and de-
Cided to go into the camp, but Jack was
spunky and swOre he wouldn't, but would
go to Gordon. Evans gave him a little
bite 10 eat, also his boots and socks, and
shaking his hands babe him good bye, when
the scout was
ALONE ON TIE PRAIRIE.
For moment he watched the fast re
ceding forms of his friends, and then turn
ed his face toward the western wild, struck
GordOn's trail, and hoped to sup with him
that night. Reaching the old camp he ap-
p5ased his hunger with some castaNay ba-
con rinds, and going on about ten miles
laid down on the prairie and slept, having
given up hope Of oYertaking Gordon that
night. In the morning be resumed his
march. For six successive days he wan
dered 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 al
kali soil, and what the man endured from
hunger and thirst cannot be expressed in
words. He finally got so he did not crave
food, and only lOnged for water, and when
he would reach river or creek he would
throw himself down and lap the cooling
liquid like a deg. He vas forced to throw
away bis gun, and that, he says, was the
hardest thing Of all to do, and then the
boots Evans had given him, and finally his !
coat. He got so weak that be would have
to lie down every few rods, aud still his /
courage never deserted him, and his
WONDERFUL VITALITY
and indomitable will Kept him alive where |
any ordinary mortal would have persisted. |
Finally, on the seventh day out, when he
felt that his hours were few, he saw the re- !
turning wagons Of the transportation COM
pany in the distance coming down the trail, |
and nov that he knew deliverance was at !
hand, his strength suddenly deserted him,
and he pitched forward senseless. The /
men picked him up, and after considerable /
eXeTuOn, restored him to consciousness. /
HIS famisEed body could not at first stand I
anything more than nOurishing soups, but /
under the careful attention Of Fred. Evans
he was soon out Of danger, and accom-
panied the wagons II this city. Here he
will stay until he RECEIVERS his accustomed |
vigor, when be declares his intention of
again striking out for the Black Hills.