The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-23

ions OF DlOou, tnen Iell heavily Onward,
and We knew the jig was up.
The Snake Indians who lived on Wind
River, were OF terms OF peace with the
whites, but they were considered as dan
gerous and q good many men had disap.
peared while hunting here, who could
never be accounted for, and there was no
doubt but that these %treacherous Indians
had killed them. We had been warned
not to approach their camp, or hunt buf-
falo within sight Of their villages, as they
always became enraged when this was
done, aud 1t was q violation OF the treaty
that was made some years before.
We were now scattered over O radius OF
twenty miles, and our game OF course could
not all be gathered up by our wagon that
day.
We concluded to donate our prize to the
Indians, and our resolution received q new
strength Is we saw a band OF them leave
their Iepes and start toward US as fast their
old ponies could move.
We didn't stop TO make q presentation
speech, or stand for a moment on ceremo.
ny, but mounted our bronchos and struck
out in the direction OF camp on a double
quick.
On the way we met cur team with Finn
as escort. So | struck out with the wagon
in the direction taken by the herd in their
flight, while the comrades OF the 18th Ohio
cavalry struck for camp. Wesoon came in
sight Of a small squad OF our men who
were SHINING a buffalo and in . short
time after We had the hind quarters, hump
and tongue, and a few other choice pieces,
loaded into our wagon and were on our
way over the plain to where another vic
tim lay with his hide peeled off.
There was only one man with this one,
the Others having gone in pursuit OF a
struggling bison which had run past them
while they were at work.
There were now four OF us. The other
men OF our party had all gone to the camp
and We were left with the team to get to
! camp as best we could.
Night was fast approaching, and we
judged that we must be eight miles from
the station. We saw now that 1t would be
our fate to camp where we were, over
night, as it would not be possible to find
the way back through snow drifts over a
strange country.
We were well provided with jarked
buffalo meat which we had been eating all
day. Our poor old ponies and mules had
bad not a bite nor had we anything to give
them now. 80
We were les q thicket OF wild sage,
the stalks Of which grew as large asa mans
arm,
Out Of these we made a Are and hoiled
our coffee. The four mules were hitched
to the wagon tongue near the double trees.
On top OF a pile Of sage brush under the
wagon we spread our robes and blankets
and were soon comfortably sound asleep,
nor did we awake unit the sun had peep.
ed over bluffs in the east.
Finn was the FIST man up. Then we
were awakened by his yells.
Boys, boys, be the mother OF saints, the
mules haye swallowed the wagon tohgue
and deserted the camp ~entoirely."
We al! crawled out at once, and sure
enough the mules were gone apd nowhere
in sight.
III wager me Government pony that
the Snakes over beyant have the mules at
this minute in their bloody camp" taid
Finn, now terribly excited.
but, see here, what would the Indians
want yith the wagon ~tongue?" said one Of
the bsys. thinking that ne had exploded
Flinn's theory.
"Why shure and isn't the tongue hick.
oEy,2 an, don't the pesky skunks make war
clubs an bows an arrays d HICKORY Z ta
a bloody. wonder they did not lug Of the
whole OF the wagon, sure,' replied the
lrlshLIan ~ he started OF to Q bluff to see
what observations he could make.
But we had seen mules eatup wagons In
the army in the east, and a close examin.
alton revealed the fact that they had
gpaEed thp tongue of during the night
and wagged Oft with 4, -
Finn soon called to US that he could see
our team a short distance of. We soon
had them back at our camp. But how to
fx the wagon tongue was the rub.
We went at II, however, and by heating
the king.holt ina sage wood fire famed
into q white heat with our hats and caps,
we succeeded in making q hole through the
broken parts, through which we drove 3
pin made from one end Of an ax handle
then wrapped with q buffalo robe and we
We soon moved all right in the direction Of
the camp, WHICH VIC reached that
forenoon, where we found the officers and
men anxiously awaiting our arrival. The
next day we had q successful hunt, In
which we all Joined. In this hunt Lieut..
Myers was thrown from his horse over an
embanknent fully thirty feet, and world
have been killed had he not fallen into q
snow drift. He was in hot pursuit OF q
bull which had run ont along u ridge to an
embankmsnt where he the bplll suddenly
lodged 10 n side and the Lieutenants
pony stopping short, plunged his rider
head hrst and planted him wrong side up.
in a snow drift. All the officers succeed.
etiR killing several fine bulls each during
the week We hunted at this place and We
went back to Platte Bridge well Satisfied
With our experience,
Il Is o hard mater TO kill q COW or a cali,
as the bulls protect them by keeping them
well in treat when being pursued. No
body ever saw q buffalo COW on picket,
and 1t 10 generally the pickets who get
killed. The robe Of q COW ID much more
valuable than that OF q bull, but COW
robes are rarely ever seen In our Livery
stables, or even in the markets. But
can't devote any mere time to buffalo
hunting. Suffice to ssy We spent a week
here and killed moro buffalo than We
wanted, and only loaded our wagon with
hind quarters and hump. We returnedt 10 |
Platte bridge alter being gone nearly three
weeks. Tie trip was . hard one, but we
bad an abundance Of fun and an expert.
enps WHICH pope Of Is would care to part
with.
On our return 10 Casper we found the
scurvy had broken out among the boys To-
an alarming extent, and some OF them
already dead. The lack Of vegetables was
the cause, and our surgeon feared that the
dreaded disease would spread and that
death might claim all the camp for It's vic.
tins before spring, II We could not obtain
q fruit diet Of some kind.
The weather had now become fearful,
pud our supply Of forage was about eY.
hansted, ~ LOO
Major squires now determined 10 send
our herd Of ponies over to "Jack's Valley
only retaining enough to do the necessary
work at the Post.
.HH"H". WI. TaAs.I