Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-01-13

ABuEFALI0 isUxr.

NJ MDEh L,
ABuEFAL0 isUNr.
It was calm, beautiful morning in tho
Month Of Oct' >bcr., that NY friend, B.j5
Morton, and myself mounted ot1r E6rsas
and rode up the north bank nf the South
Platte on a pleasant hunt Nttc, buffa'Ocs.
You will understand that the Platte River
at st. Vra,n's, makes great bend-thc
river above the fort running almost due
north, and turning almost due east ut the
foot. We thought we would ride up the
river few miles, and then, striking
northwest into the broad open prairie,
where We should be NEST likely to find
our game, return by short cut across the
prairie to the tori; though it made little
diff. renee 10 us whether We returned TO-
night or Om"rrOw, as we were accus-
toned TO camping out.
W. rode up the river until almost noon,
seeing many deer and wolves-fr one
could hardly ride through tins tall grass
Il mile without seeing til. m--yc,, as we
were not looking after this kind Of game,
We paid no attention to them until nearly
noon, when, feeling somewhat tired and
hungry, Bob, who was TN excellent shot,
killed fine buck; and, dismornting, We
made most delicious meal on the
young tender vcnison.
Mounting. after dinner, we struck
northwest across the broad prairie, where,
with the exception Of tire tan grass, there
was not a tree or shrub on all the vast cx-
panse, except along the river bank.
1t was about four O'Clock in the after
noon, just as We were beginning to get
discouraged, and We were thinking of
turning our horses heads towards home,
when we discovered the object of our
search. There were two buffalocs quiet
ly feeding on little rise of the prairie
the first rise we had discovered since leav
ing the river. We were now many miles
from where We had left the river at noon,
but hoped we were not far from the fort
by direct route across the prairie,
though we did not know how far, neither
of us having been out there before.
'.Hurrah, Fredv' exclaimed Bob, put
ting spurs to his horse, and getting excl
ted. Now for some sport, and buftalOes'
tongues for supper;" and away We went
at reckless, breakneck speed.
Our game was long distance off when
first discovered, and disappeared over the
rise in the prairie, and was out Of sight.
We agreed To separate as soon as we
reached the top of the ridge, and each
take our game, and charge down upon
them, an | capture both if possible. As
We came dashing up to the top of the hill
they discovered us, and Immediately
took to flight Butfaloes can run very
fast; Notwithstanding their weight; they
seemed to gather momentum us they pro-
ceeded, and are not easily run down. We
made o,.r choice Immediately, and gave
pursuit.
My horse was feet hut the tall grass
tangled his tcct. and l had long, hard
chase before came up with my game. l
paid DO attention to B,b; his game had
| taken different direction from mine and
We were soon widely separated.
! After a hard chase, came near enough
| l thought TO venture a shot,-perhaps, il
l did not kill him, could cripple him.
and thus stop him somewhat in his mad
career. brought my rifle to my shoul
der quickly; but as fired my horse
stumbled sli ghtly, his feet having become
tangled in the grass, and missed my aim
but struck the beast in the shoulder in
stead of the heart; and the ball being
large, made Il terrible wound, from which,
the blood flew in Il stream.
This maddened him; and turning
quickly, he charged with terrible hall
snort, and half roar down upon me. Ny
horse was taken by surprise, and fright
eEed: and, il springing partly to one
side, us IT to turn suddenly and fly away
from the mad creature, his teet caught ii
The tangled ga,.ss, and hc fell, throwing
me many feet over his head.
The fall did not hurt me, and l WIS OF
my feet in AL instant; and before coult
reach my horse lie was up and boundin.
away over the prairie, leaving me to M!
fate.
l had no time to think whether l fan
cieu the situation Or not, for the mad bul
was upon me a!La0st; aud with look ~
despair after my flying horse, l ran,
knew not whither, but with all instinct o.
self tprescrvation; and all this happened
in an instant. had hoped the madden
I'd creature w"uld pursue my horse; bu
rot the buffalo knows we'll who l.
his worst enemy. was f.et Of foot, fo
I had run fer my Life many times; bu
the tall grass impcded my progress, aud
knew could hold out but few mo
ments.
saw not The slightest chance for m,
life. Here was, upon this broad ucc:l
of prairie; Bob was, knew not where
nor had time to look; the grass tangled
my feet, and taking away my strcnSti
and a wounded buffalo within a few yard
OF me, and gaining upon me at ever
bound.
: | thought Of my revolver, and that
would sell my lite rs dearly as possible
always carried il in my belt; and pei
llaps l could throw it over my shoulde
and shoot the bull in the eye. ] had n
hope of the ball doing HIM any hurt if
hit him anywhere else; for you mus
know that these animals always have
thick mass Of hair Oh their forehead, tina
is 80 matted together with sand and dir
that no ball from rifle will penetrate il
knew, if ball from MY revolver strucI
his forehead, it would have no more e.
feet than the wind lowing against it.
, put my hand 10 my belt; but my n
volver was gone, the scabbard was empty
1t had probably fallen out when l wa
thrown from my horse.
1t was with feeling somewhat G
despair that found it gone. 1t SCENE
as ii there was nothing but death bcfor
me; for how could l hope to escap
from, or core successfully with, wOunt
cd buffalo-wounded, as knew, IN n
vital part, but sufficiently to madden hin
could hear more plainly his ha
grunt and half snort close upon my hee
and could feel his breath upon IN
. back-in another instant he would be NJ
on me-would pierce me with his shor
, stumpy horns-would grind me to tn
earth with his monster head, and trampl
me bc meath his feet. l indeed felt til.
my time had come-that no earthly pov
er could save me; aud iustinctivcly
blcathed prayer to heaven.
at that instant my feet became cnta,
gled, and l fell; the maddened Creatul
had just touched me rs went down, an
was under such terrible hcadway that Il
passed directly over ME without toucLin
, inc. AS his tail brushed over my face
grasped it, and was dragged 10 my fee
~ the buffalo, stopping suddenly ,attelnp
cd to turn upon me. But haa ne
lease OF my life. held on to his Ia
with death grasp. aud was dragge