Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-03-17
Among the Buffaloes.

Whoever desires to shoot buffalo
on the soil Of America must do it very
soon. 1t is said, by good authority,
that there are now left on the Contin-
ent but two large herds. Of course
there are a good many scattering
groups yet to be found; but the red
men are rapidly procuring the best
weapons, and the number of English
men and Americans who glory in the
hunt is increasing with every year,
and at the rate at which the lords of
the prairies have been slaughtered for
some time past, there will scarcely be
buffalo in the country five years
hence.
State legislatures may do what they
please in trying to protect this noble
game from destruction, but it will be
all in vain. The laws are not enforced,
and cannot be enforced without the
presence of an army larger than that
required to keep the Indians in subjec-
ton, and to any one at all conversant
with the country it seems certain that
the poor buffalo "must CO."
The pursuit of this noble game is
most inspiring sport, and a chapter of
the actual experiences of hunting
party for month would prove
very attractive reading. 1t would
be sometimes terribly thrilling,
and at others indescribably laughable,
for both tragedy and comedy have
their place in this wild life. Suppose 1
give single instance of each?
A few years ago gentleman from
one Of the Eastern states spent some
weeks in the buffalo country, and dur
ing his stay had the following very re-
narkable experience. He had been
out one day for several hours without
finding game, and, as the weather was
excessively hot, had stopped to rest be-
meath large cottonwood tree, which
stood on gently sloping hill about
halfway up its side. He laid his rifle
on the gross beside him, and had near
ly fallen asleep, when he was reused
by sound as if an rmy were march
ing past. 81
Accustomed to life on the prairies,
he instantly guessed what it meant,
and springing to his feet and glancing
in the direction whence the sound
came, he saw a herd of a thousand
buffaloes pouring over the hill at a
terrific PACE, and coming directly to-
ward him.
Quick as thought he saw what he
must do, and in less time than it takes
to tell il. he had hidden himself away
behind the trunk of t tree under
whc-.e boughs he had been reclining.
lie knew the herd must divide in
passing u e tree, and at the speed they
they wc,e going it seemed probable
that the or, tes would rush past with
PUT p ~sosr G HIM.
On came the great herd with thun-
dc,.ha tread, and, dividing right and
sef, swept past the tree on either side
80 closely that he could have touched
them with his hand. He supposed they
were simply running to rid themselves
Of flies, as they frequently do on hot
day; but as the last of the herd went
by, he saw strange spectacle.
One of the cow buffaloes was carry
ing upor her shoulders, and staggering
under tha weight of. an enormous
panther. The monsters claws were
sunk in the animals shoulders and
back, while his terrible teeth were in
h.r throat Evidently she had been
running thus for some time, for she
show. j signs of weariness, and at
every. leap she uttered low moan.
1t w;w strange sight to our hunter,
though the scene itself is doubtless re-
peated every day.
1t is no unusual thing for panthers
10 conceal themselves near watering
place, and spring upon their victims
unawares. They usually select the
COWS, know 1g them to be less capable
of long endurance; and after riding
them, as. in this case. till, faint with
loss of blood, they fall upon the prairie,
the panthers take their meals at leisure.
What seems singular is that, if the
monster is seen by the buffaloes, they