Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-12-07
WINTER ON THE PLAINS.
Life I'm the Land of the Buffalo and c.


In the fall of 1870, after the compile
ton of the Kansas Pacific railroad to
Denver, I concluded to have one win
ter's hunting on the plains. In pursu-
ance of this object went from Parks
Fort (now Trego), small station stu
ated about halfway between Kansas
City and Denver. The fort was named
after Tom Parks, railroad contractor
on the Kansas Pacific, who was killed
by Indians near this place. I was well
acquainted with him, and helped to lay
him out after his body was recovered.
If recollect correctly, I counted sew
enteen arrow, spear, gunshot, and tom
ahawk wounds he had received. He
was not scalped, and killed eight In
dams before succumbing. One cart
ridge was still left in bis Winchester
rife.
At the time of which I am writing
the plains were vast feeding-ground
for countless herds of buffalo; but of
late years they haze almost entirely
disappeared. On reaching Parks Fort
I formed the acquaintance of young
Ohioan named Leonard. As he had
just arrived, having come on a hunting
expedition like myself, we struck up a
partnership; and concluded to hunt to-
brought small armory from the States
with him. A Winchester rifle, needle
gun, a bowie-knife, three different
sized revolyers, and a big box of assort-
ed cartridges, composed a portion OF his
warlike aceouterments. After arrang-
ing a programme for the winters cam
paign, we bought horse each, and
cart and harness, together with a stock
Of provisions. Finally, everything be-
ing in readiness, we hitched up our
horses, tandem fashion, and struck out
almost due north. The first night we
made Brush creek, and camped. As it
was yet dusk, we shouldered our rifles,
and stroDed down the creek in search
of game. After travelling half mile we
reached grove of trees taller than the
surrounding ones. Each tree contained
one or more of what appeared to be the
nests of some gigantic bird. Curious
to ascertain what kind of nests they
were, I climbed up one Of them, and
found it was composed mostly of bark,
and in the inside, wrapped in an old
blanket, was small skeleton. We had
run across AN old Indian burying.
ground. It is still the fashion With
some tribes of Indians to bury thei1
dead in trees.
Next morning We harnessed up our
novel team, and in the course Of az hour
reached Solomon river. The stream is
broad and shallow, and its banks are
devoid Of timber. Toward evening we
arrived at Prairie Dog creek, fifty miles
from Parks Fort. As there was con.
siderable game in the neighborhood.
and plenty Of wood and water, we con-
Guided to make this our camping
ground. For two or three days We were
buslly engaged in building a residence
"a kind of rooted cellar. We killed a
few buffalo, and used their hides for
shingles. We had barely become COM
fortably settled before we discovered
better-looking camping-place, abou
three miles distant. So we vacated our
first house, and commenced building a
Lighthouse, This we loopholed, banked
up with dirt, and rooted as before. Bust
ness now commenced. Whenever we
killed few buffalo, we cut off the
hams, took out the humps and tongues,
and hauled them to camp. These were
cut up, salted in brine, and finally
smoked and dried. The balance of the
carcass was slit here and there, and
strychnine placed in the cuts. This
was intended to accommodate the wolves
and aNv0foS INV hats
after every morning, and occasionally
We had from one to six wolves.
After few weeks, game becoming
scarce, We took a trip over to Sappa
creek, seven miles north, with the in
tention of staying there a few days.
The first day Of orr arrival We killed
seventeen buffalo, and, as usual, pois-
oned the remains. The following
morning We found twenty dead wolves
and coyotes. By the time We had them
all skinned and pegged out it was time
for supper. As I was gathering up
sticks with the intention of starting a
fire, my partner called my attention to
some fellow on horseback coming over
the divide from the Republican river.
Just as he got within plain view, anoth-
er and another followed, until finally
We counted eight OF what proved to be
Indians. They came down the creek
and went into camp about half mile
down the stream from us. As discre.
ton was the better part Of valor, We
built no fire, and, consequently, went
supperless to bed. I don't think either
OF Us slept much. At the first CLEAN of
daylight We saddled up and made
hasty retreat back to our castle. We
never returned for our wolf-pelts; and
whether our red brethren appropriated
the spoils or no, deponent saTeth not.
Buffalo, antelope, black-tail deer,
beaver, otter, wild turkey and jack-rab-
bits were abundant. On one occasion,
there being little snow on the ground,
~e found the tracks of band of deer,
which We followed. They had crossed
and recrossed the frozen creek several
times, and, IN making one TIP over the
ice, it proved rescherous, and in I
went. As the day was intensely cold.
my compulsory bath was rather uncon-
Portable, and, although I made good
time to our cabin, I found both my feet
we're badly frozen. This accident rem
dered me somewhat of a cripple, and
confined me in doors for several DAYS.
In the course of a week, the ccntine-
nent proving irksome, and my partner
reporting fresh deer-uacks, I wrapped
my feet In gunny-sacks and We sailed