The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1876-04-28
A Buffalo pml.

the month ~ ursoi,rt. thar nv frirni,
Roh Morton. and myself mounted ons
horses and rede nr the north tank vi
the south Platte IN pleasant hunt
Afsef hniYaloes, lnn Will understand
that tho Platte nisrr. M ~. vrainss.
makes great bend the river above
the fait running almost due north,
and turning almost due east nt the
foot. We thought wc would it'll. NJ,
the river "A lew niilns. anil then. sirik.
Inc northwest Into ilie hraai ouen
prairie, wheie W. should h. innst like.
IL T. flna Gar 1ailia. refain Us a short
cut aeress tie Isniiia e. i,r Fort
thonri, II made little difference u ~
whether va rytHtael Tonight or to.
morrow. aA We were accustomed Ia
camlinA nnt.
We rnflc np tho river until almost
noon, seeing many dstr anL wolves :.
for one could harlis liic through this
tnll grass Il mile without seeing them
.-yei, as We were not booking after
this kind III gamr. We pail no at,cn.
tion To them until nearly noon. when,
feeling somewhat tired AMI hungry.
Bob. who Ms un excellent shot killed
q ilnc buck and. ,ii-mounting. We
made most delicious meal OH the
young tender venispn.
Mounting. nftrr dinner. We struck
northwest across the hroal prairie,
where, with The exception ~ the tall
grass, there was not u ticc or shrub on
oil that vast cxpansc. except along
tho river bnnk.
II was about four o'clock In tho M.
tcrnoon, just AZ We were beginning 70
got discouraged, and We were think.
Ing OF turning our horses heads TO.
wards home. when We discovered tho
object of our search. There were two
buffaloes quietly feeding on u little
rise of the nrnlrle = the first rise wa
had discovered since leaving tho river.
We were now many miles from where
We had loft the river ~ noon, hut
hoped VIZ were not Tar from the foot
by IL direct route across the prairie,
- e..sh .,a 49, A~~asa t,n,. yar
neither of u husin. hcen ont there
before.
"lImrah. Fndi" exclaimed hob,
putting SPURS q Ills hetsc. and get
ting excited Nov for come sport,
and hmirllpes' Tongues for supper !"
md away WI wental,i reckless, break.
neck speed.
Our game was n long distance of
when iltst discovered. and hlld disnp.
peAred over the rise III the prairie, and
was ont of sight.
We agreed to separate IN soon As
we reached the top of the ridge, and
each tNko our gnnlr. and charge down
uron them, nnd capture both II posi-.
bio. A. we eame dashing up to the
top Of tho hill they discovered ns, and
Immediately took TO flight. DufInloca
can run very fast. notwithstanding
their weight they seem Ia gather mo.
mcntnm ~ they proceed. and ARE not
easily run down. We made our
choice Immediately. aud gave pur.
suit.
My horse wns tlrct hut the tall grass
tangled his feet. aud | had n long,
hard chase before came np with my
gAmc. ] paid no attention to Dob
hts game hul taken u different dlrec.
tion from mine, and VT were soon
widely separated.
After II hnrl chase, / came near
enough, thought, 10 venture a shot,
perhaps. X l did not XIII him. !
could cripple him. and thns stop
him somewhat In hls mad career. ]
brought my rifle to my shoulder quick.
ly: but as I fired, my horse stumbled
slightly, his feet having become tan.
gled In the grass. and ! missed my
aim. but struck lie beast I'm the shoul.
der instead 81 tn. heart and the ball
being large. mule Il terrible wound
from which the blood flew In i
stream.
This ma'hlenel him and turning
quickly, h. charged With u terrible
half snort, and l.al inar down upon
me. Ny horse Nls taken by surprise
and frightened and. In srringinr
partly 10 one si,le IA II 10 turn aud
denly and ily away from tho mao
creature. his fe.' ean -ht In tho tangled
grass, and - I'll. throwing mo many
feet over hia hsnl,
Thc Will I'LL mol hnit INC. and | Wal
VII ny ~ ~ tAii Nut pttutu
could rcneh my horse he was up Mnd
bounding away over tho prairie, leRv
lng mc 10 my i,ts.
] had NO time 10 think whether
fAncied the situation or not. Tor the
mad bull was upon mo almost: and
With look Of despair after my flying
horse, ! ran. knew not whittier, but
with m instinct of sclt.prcscrvAtion
All this happened III m instant.
had hoped tho Mndlened crcaturl
would pursue my horne; but not go
the buffalo knows we,l who n hid
worst enemy. Nus frei Oh inol. tol
! had run for my life niany times but
the tall grass imprdcl my prugrcss
and ] know ] could ho i out but lev
moments.
] oaw not the slightest chcrce soi
my life. Hrre 7 was upon this trnad
occAn u prairie Rot was, l know moi
whore. uor had t,m4 ~ lock: tho
gress ."ngiinr nv ica.. and tnklao
HNay III. sfeneln, nnd a wounded
bafyn'o MithiGn feN srf,i- of me, Aad
| gaining upon mo ~ e,,ry lonnd.
| Thought u III, revolver. and thai
would sell ny lilo ~ dearly as pos
able. always carried II In my bolt
and perhaps ! could throw II over ny