Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-04
ANlNDIAN BUFFALO HUNT
Exciting Sport In Battling With a Great
Flying Herd-Wi'd Men. wild HO, see,
and Wild Buffslos in Great Rushing
are Train ed hunters

and Wild Buffslos in a Great Rushing
Mass Dang. "a of the Chase-Ponfes that
are Train ed Runters
New York SUM-
Fort BENTON. Aug. 15.-News had been
received that a herd of buffaloes were
coming from the north, and in an hour
the hunting bucks of the Assinniboin tribe
were ready. Stripped to the breech clout
painted picturesquely and horri-
bly, for the hunt, mounted on travelling
cayuses and leading buffalo ponies, the
bucks took up line of march along the
west bank of Wolf creek, and then turn
ing to the northwest plunged across the
prairie at a smart lope, with the intention
of getting in the rear of the game. From
Yellow Butte the buffaloes were first
sighted. moving in six or eight parallel
lines. and so rapidly as to indicate the
presence of an enemy in the north.
..Must be Blackfeet or half -breeds!a
muttered Tom Henderson, the agent, who
accompanied the hunters to see and share
the fun. If we all fall in together
somebody'll get hurt"
The course was now due west. the In
dams silent, and the only noise the beating
of hoofs and the heavy breathing of
horses. The dip into the valley took the
party out of sight of the chase for an
hour. but as they rounded through Silver
Creek Pass the vast herd was again in
view. and the terrible race began. The
cayuses were set at liberty and left to fol-
low the buffalo ponies, which were now
pressed into the service. No brides and
not much saddle, only a little beaded pad.
with short feathers and stirrups that just
admitted the toes. Trained to the business.
each poney knew what was expected of
him. and burst out upon the prairie at a
hot run. encouraged by the voice and hand
of his rider.
press your knees close, and he'll take
care of himself and you toor' shouted
Tom Henderson. and then new life COM
menced The plain flew backward under
the ponies hoofs like the belt on a driving
wheel. The sky turned red, and the wind
cut like needle points. Down upon the
flank of the herd poured the yelling saw
ages. wheeling around into the rear and
closing up between the long lines of the
flying. roaring game. Whether Blackfoot
or half-breed had started the train there
was no inquiry now. Neither had ap-
IL.
spirit had never been wrapped up in the
horsefesh that could overtake that scream
ing complication of Indians. buffaloes and
ponies as they swept down toward the Mis-
souri,
Henderson tried to say something, but
his voice was drowned in the frightful
noise and the next instant he plunged into
the whirlwind of dust that turned the as
T., Il.
swell into giant as the glories of the hunt
unfolded to him. His eyeballs turned red
and cleaned with fearful ferocity. Sway
ing on his horse. he turned from one side
to the other and sent unerring bullet or
certain arrow to vital point, and with
shrek of victory drove his heel into the
ribs of his horse and pressed upon the
plunging foe in front. Down through the
darkness of the dust the sun was pouring
its splendor. The air was suffocating.
Along the plain huge buffaloes rolled I'M
der the death-shot, tongue lolling. mouth
frothing and eyes splitting blood. Loudly
above the crack of the rife and whirr of
arrow rang the peal of voices and the jar
gon of bowls mingled with the hammering
of hoofs.
To the south ten miles away, was a deep
basin, and beyond a butte. Would the
chase plunge down that dip or GO around
it? was question that deeply interest one
gentleman, who was holding his horse by
the name and specializing on the prospect
of getting out whole. Straight for the
basin the head of the column laid its course.
pushed forward by the frightened rear
guard, hurried on by the hunters, whose
excitement had overlooked all bounds.
There was no escape from the crush. The
terror-striken beasts behind, too frightened
to turn, followed closely, goring the cay
uses and struggling to regain their place
in the herd. The cries of wounded horses
arose above the roar of the hunt as they
went down under the hoofs of their foes.
Bufaloes were dropping thickly now.
The plain was strewn with carcasseS and
desperately wounded bulls. As the route
entered the defle that led to the basin, the
lines of buffaloes on the sides were forced
in upon the main body, and, jammed up
together, men horses and bumped brutes,
in one huge brown mass, sewpt on toward
the danger ahead. The slaughter was
sickening. The fight was at close quar-
tiers, and the knife played cleaning part
while the hot rifle was silent. Down to-
ward the basin swept the dust, the noise,
and the struggling mass. Reckless of
danger, the Indians lay along the sides of
their horses, and arose from each thrust
buried to the shoulder in blood. The deflle
was carpeted with the mangled bodies of
buffaloes. 1t is no place to kill them.
The hoofs of the survivors tore all value
out of the robes, but the spirit of killing
had seized upon the souls of those savages,
and the hunt had become amuck for the
sake of producing death.
At the brink of the basin the leading
bulls paused. shock and shudder went
throug the herd. At this point they fell
by the hundred. and it was only when the
panic-srnitten main body fairly hurled the
hesitating leaders down the bank that the
pace was restored. There was no default
| among the Indians. Separated by the
now raging buffaloes,th tore down the in
cline, shooting, stabbing, and as wild as
the quarry.
The stay in the basin seemed scarcely a
moment. Up the steep butte and out OF
the blood stained pit flew brute and man.
while down on the water course at
the bottom pony. buffalo, ond endorsed
Indian struggled for release from
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