, 1885-06-13
BRuIN ON BISON.
Riding a snIi Buffalo to Escape a Big
Hear.

Hear.
b. Gilpin, Jr., is a Colorado cattleman
well known in Wyoming, and a gentleman
whose character for v%eracity has been
very good until he told the following story
to a Neus man in Denver. The scene Of
the escapade is laid in Wyoming and will
therefore make more ''interestin rcadini -
for Cheyennese than otherwise, and yet
it is interesting anyhow. Speaking Of
the decadence of the buffalo, Mr.. Gilpin
says: THE last herd | ever saw was a
small one, consisting of less than twenty
head which my brother Frank and | en-
c%ountcred near Powder river, Wyoming,
in the fall of 1883. We were out pros.
pecting for a good cattle range and came
upon the bisons near a wooded bluff, close
to the river. Leaving our buck. board
and four horses tied to a tree, we started
after the noble game, quickly selecting a
fine looking bull, which we cut out of the
herd and chased M foot as well as we
could. Owing 10 the rough character Of
the ground my brother and | soon became
separated, Frank going on one side of a
hill and | on the other, losing sight of
each other for a few minutes. When |
emerged ON the other side | witnessed a
strange transformation the pursued had
become the pursuer, my brother was run
ming like a quarter horse, while the bull,
with lowered horns was rapidly closing up
the gap between them. The situation
looked critical and | made the most haste
possible to render what assistance ] could
to my fleeing brother. Before | could
approach near enough to get n shot at the
shaggy pursuer, Frank suddenly disap-
pearcd in the mouth of a large cave with
the buffalo following, a good second.
Their disappearance lasted for a few
moments. Just as | got opposite
the cave the frightened beast
emerged. aud with a low below
plunged for the creek beyond, aud what
was the most wonderful, Frank was
seated on the back of the buffalo with
both hands enmeshed in his shaggy hair,
holding on as for dear life with blanched
face and eyes starting from their sockets.
The mad plunges of the beast, accom-
panied by its terrific roars, were perfectly
frightful. Dashing down the bank, it
plunged in the stream, partly waded and
partly swan across, then rushing up the
bank on the opposite side, through a
clump OF scrub oaks and willow, sue
ceeded in ~dislodging Frank and landing
him bruised and bleeding in the under
brush Making my way to him as soon
as possible, | relieved him ofhis awkward
predicament and assisted him to rise. As
soon as he recovered himself sufficiently
to speak he asked for some brandy. Hay-
ing a flask with me. | gave him some and
he revived considerably. That was a
close shave he gasped, as he renewed
his attentions to the flask. Whist was
it2 | asked. Well you sec after | got
separated from you at the hill took "a
short cut through a r%avinc, thinking to
head off the buffalo and get a good shot.
| succeeded in heading him off, but in
stead of getting a shot at him he turned
upon me suddenly, and fearing his horns
| ran along the edge Of the bank, and see
ing the mouth of the cave, dashed in with
the bull close behind me. | had pro-
ceeded but a few yards, however. before |
saw before me what seemed 10 be two
balls If fire, and was greeted with a horri-
Die sound. which was n cross be-
tween a growl and a roar.
became suddenly awue that
was facing = huge cinnamon
bear. which to my excited Imagination
was "A thousand times more terrible than
the pursuing buffalo. Turning to go back
found my recent enemy blocking my
wag Of eeress, and in the agony of the
moment | chose the desperate alternative
of mounting upon his back, my only
thought being 10 escape from the bear
No sooner had | alightcd ON the beast
than he turned swiftly aud rushed out Of
the cave frightened. if anything, more
than | was myself You know the rest.
l don't want another such experience, /
can tell you
We went back to our wagon and
camped for the night, returning the next
morning to the cave, where we concealed
ourselves anil waited some hours. until
finally the bear came out Of his hiding
place. Seeing us be made a desperate
lunge towards the spot where We stood.
| fired at him from my Winchester,
wounding him in the breast. The shot
seemed to anger him more, and it was
not until ] had nearly emptied the maya
zine of my rife that he finally fell Sew
cral shots from my brothers rife coon
finished him. We drove the wagon us
close to the carcass as possible, loaded il
on the vehicle with some difficulty and
took it to the nearest town. The bear
weighed $40 pounds aud was one Of the
largest hat had been killed in that por-
ton of the country"
Farewell for Awhile.
Mr. Hugh Barton was ON Yesterday
presented with an elegant gold headed
cane by his Cheyenne friends. In APP
probation Of this token Of friendship he
desires to express his thanks and hopes
to appreciate the renewal Of a wider circle