Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-04
a Greet nnrsIo o Pot.nnnt.,,

days have been securing the prairie
in every direction, bring the well
come intelligence of the discovery
of the main herds. The line of
march is at once turned toward the
pointindicated, and the laws against
firing and leaving the main body
are rigidly enforced. The long
train moves cautiously and as ST.
lently as possible. Advantage is
taken of depressions in the prairie
to keep the train concealed from
the buffalo, and not sound is
raised that may give warning of its
presence. Approach is made as
closely as may be compatible with
safety, always keeping to the wind
ward of the herd. Then, if con-
venient locality is reached, camp is
made, and busy preparations for the
evening hunt begin. Guns are
carefully scanned, powder -ha8ks
and bullet-pouches filled, saddles
and brides examined, and, above
all, the horses to be used in the
final chase carefully groomed, for
highest among his possessions the
plain-hunter ranks his "buffalo-
runner" 1t is to him like the
Arabs steed-a daily comrade to
be petted and spoken to, the COM
panion Of his long journeys, and
the means of his livelihood.
The buffalo-runner belongs to no
particular breed, the only requisites
being speed, tact in bringing his
rider alongside the retreating herd
and maintaining a certain relative
distance while there, and the avoid
ing the numerous pitfalls with
which the prairie abounds. Horses
well trained in these duties, and
possessing the additional requisite
speed, command high prices in the
hunt, often ranging from fifty to
eighty pounds sterling. On the hunt
they are seldom used for any other
purpose than that of the final race,
except it may be to occasionally
draw the cart of madame at times
when her neighbor appears in un-
wonted attire.
Before daybreak on the following
morning-for a chase is seldom be-
gun late in the day-the great body
Of hunters are off under the guild
ance of scouts in pursuit of the
main herd. A ride of an hour or
more brings them within, say a
mile of the buffalo, which have been
moving slowly off as they ap
preached. The hunt up to this
time has moved in four columns,
with every man in his place. As
they draw nearer at a gentle trot, the
immense herd breaks into a rolling
gallop. Now the critical and long
desired moment has arrived. The
chief gives the signal. Alice! al
leep he shouts, and a thousand
reckless riders dash forward at a
wild run. Into the herd they pene-
trate along its sides they stretch,
the trained horses regulating their
pace to that of the moving mass
beside them; guns fash, shots and
yells resound; the dust arises in
thick clouds over the struggling
band; and the chase sweeps rapidly
over the plain, leaving it's traces be-
hind in the multitude Of animals
lying dead upon the ground, or
feebly struggling in their death
throes. The hunter paqses not a
moment, but loads and fires with
the utmost rapidity, pouring in his
bullets at the closest range, often
almost touching the animal he aims
at. To facilitate the rapidity of his
fire he uses a tlint-lock, smooth
bore trading gun, and enters the
chase with his mouth filed with
bullets A handful of powder is
let fall from the powdsr-horp, a
bullet is dropped from the mouth
into the muzzle, q tap with the butt
end Of the fireloek on the saddle
causes the saliyated bullet to adhere
to the powder during the moment
necessary to depress the barrel, when
the discharge is instantly effected
without bringing the gun to the
shoulder.