The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-04-02
VOL. 3

I te0fsA kssslns ana the courseof az hour
leacned Solomon river. The stream Is
broad and shallow, and its hankA ara
devoid OF timber. Toward 'eveninp wo j
arrixedat Prairie Dog creek. fifty niles
from Parks Fort. AS there was cos.
saoerable game in the neighborhood
and plenty Of wood and water we con,
cluded to make this our canning
ground For two or three days we were
busily 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 corr,
fortably settled before we discovered i
better-looking camping-place. about
three miles distant. So we yacatsed onr
hrst house, and commenced buildin0, 4
Lighthouse. This We loopholed. hanRhd
up with dirt, md rooted rs before. Bnsi-
ness now commenced. Whenever we
kllledsa iewobuffalo, we cut of the
hams, took out the humps and tongues.
ana 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 coyotes, Our bats were looked
after every morning, and occasionally
we had from one to six wolves.
After q few weeks, game becoming
scarce, we took trip over to Sappa
creek, Seven miles north, with, the in
santlon Of staying there few days.
The first day of onr arrival we, killed
seventeen buffalo, and, as usual, pois-
oned the remains. The following
morning we found twenty dead wolves
and coyotes. BY Che time we had them
all skinned and pegged out it was time
for supper. As l 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 a mile
down the stream from us. As discre-
tion was the better part Of yalor, we
built no fire, and, consequently, went
supperless to bed. / don't think either
of us slept much. At the first CLEAN of
daylight we, saddled up and made a
hasty retreat back to our CASTLE. We
never returned for our wolf-pelts; and
whether our red d.brethren appropriated
the spoils or no. deponent sayeth not.
Buffalo, antelope, black-teil deer,
beaver, otter, wild turkey and iack-rab-
bits were abundant. On one occasion,
there beinga little snow on the ground,
we found the tracks of band of deer,
which we followed. They had crossed
and recrossed the frozen creek several
times, and, in making one trip over the
ice, it proved treacherous, and in l
went. AS the day was intensely cold,
my compulsory. bath was rather uncom-
Portable, and, although I made good
time to our cabin, l found both my feet
were badly frozen. This accident rem
dered me somewhat Of a cripple, and
confined me in doors for several days.
In the course OF week, the contine-
ment proving irksome, and my partner
reporting fresh deer r-tracks, ] wrapped
my feeT in gunny-sacks and we sailed
forth. As the creek-banks were lined
with willows, he took one side, | the
other. Before going far 1 espied an
old bull-bufalo, evidently taking q
kindly interest in my maneuyers. Al
though he was nearly 400 yards away, !
fred, and he fell. In going toward
him slipped another cartridge into my
rifle. When within about five yards l
noticed he was pretty hvely-looking
corpse, but, ere had time to ruminate,
he up and charged. Instinctively !
pointed the rifle at his head and fired.
The old fellow merely shook his crani-
um, but delayed not. / dropped my
rife; then commenced one of the most
interesting races ever beheld. / was
little ahead, with the bull a good sec
ond. After retaining my slight lead
for about seventy-fiye yards heard my
partner, on the opposite side of the
creek, yelling with laughter and halloo-
ing, Go it, Cook go It'll" Previous to
receiving this encouragement had
been doing my utmost to beat the buf-
fale. Presently my partners rifle
cracked, and, glancing over my shoul-
der. i saw my antagonist was down,
having. evidently withdrawn. from the
contest. The moment / felt ] was safe
I began hobbling toward my partner,
but be at once obj jected to my mode OF
locometion, elaiming,its to be an utter
impossibility for cripple to make such
good time as ! had repently done. He
ever afterward insisted that, with little
training, would be the heetest foot
man on the plains.
On another occasion Leonard wound.
I'd a,youne bull, which leisurely walked
into the stream and lay down. As We
were anxious to hsye him on dry
ground, I was to poke him with stick
and, when he charged me, my partner
was to shoot him down. After a good
deal Of punching, the animal came out
to interview me. Unfortunately, after
he tot on terra firma, Leonard's rifle
missed fire, and I had another foot-race
We, however, only raced about fifty
wards, when the buffalo, apparently
stricken with remorse, Withdrew from
the contest, and returned To the stream