The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-09-24
Almost Slain by Buffaloes.

band OF hostiles, as fragment OF Sit
ting Bulls great camp, were brought
in as prisoners OF war. Orders We're
received to send them to Standing Rock
Agency, and it fell to my lot, writes q
Lieutenant in the regular army to the
Philadelphia Times, to escort them
across the country. My detachment
numbered thirty men, mounted on
Cayuse ponies and we'll armed and
equipped. The next morning, with
our prisoners under guard, we struck
out boldly across the country in the
direction of Standing Rock. 1t took
us sixteen days to make the journey,
which was full OF interesting incidents
and adventures, for the country was
wild, and, so tospeak, unexplored
region as yet, with hostile Sioux and
Cheyennes scattered all through it.
The plains ofMontana were pretty full
ofbutfalo at the time write, and it is of
an adventure with them lam going to
spesk. About the third day out we
were in the midst OF thousands OF BIZ
son. and as it was no fun to kill them
with rifle or to still hunt, by reason
of numbers, l proposed to have the
rare sport of bunting a few with the
revolver and from horseback. Next
morning was up before break of day,
and telling my orderly to accompany
me we started ahead OF the command
to hunt our game, each with q brace
of Colts 'forty- five" revolvers and
two hundred rounds OF ammunition
apiece strapped across our persons.
We came in sight OF one herd as
day was breaking, and Immediately
gave chase. The bison fed before us,
we tearing after them like mad; but in
a few minutes the herd scattered, and
SO we selected a certain bunch, which
we followed up. l had gotten pretty
close upon my quarry, when whisk
out of sight they went, and in a mo.
ment had followed them. They had
gone over a bank into creek so sud
denly that, not observing it, / follow
ed close upon their heels; and there we
were, buffaloes pony and myself, un-
injured, but houndering and swim
ing about in deep water. By the
time got to the opposite bank and
secured my pony the buffaloes were
gone out OF sight, scampering across
the prairie to join the main herd, and
my orderly stood on the bluff behind
where we had just tumbled from,
laughing at my predicament. He had
luckily checked himself and steed Just
in time to save both from following
US.
In half an hour matters were
Strengthened out and we rode to the
top OF a neighboring knoll to get a
view OF the surroundings. Our origi-
nal herd were dim in the distance, a
cloud OF dust on the horizon telling
where they We're still going at full
speed. While regretfully watching
them, my orderly suddenly exclaimed:
"Look, Lieutenant, here comes an
other herd across the country, and
making straight for us.
Casting my eyes in the direction in
dicated, sure enough another trenlen-
dous herd was pointing in the direc-
tion OF our knoll and coming directly
at us like a thunder cloud. No use to
fly, for there was no place to fly to.
One solid, black mass was sweeping
toward us like a whirlwind, and it
became necessary for us to do some
thing and do it quickly, too, or have
the life trampled out OF us in a few
minutes.
"Dismount!" 1 cried; sling the bride
over your arm, and, when l give the
word, fire as rapidly as you can"
We both dismounted and drawing
our four revolvers opened fire on the
solid phalanx at long range The
great drove OF animals were plunging
wildly forward with their heads down,
almost sweeping the ground, and con-
sequently did not see us. Our hope
was to attract their attention, and
by SO doing to frighten them and en-
deavor to throw them out of their
course. Had they seen us in the first
place they would probably have halt
ed or turned their course to one side.
AS it happened, they kept madly on
until our bullets began to sting them,
when the leaders looked up and seeing
the strange sight in front OF them, act
ually paused, or attempted to do so,
but it was at their peril, for the fore
most were Immediately trampled be-
Meath the feet OF the rushing, crush
ing multitude behind. The pile OF
bodies was our salvation, Tor it
served as an impediment to those in
the rear, and together with our rapid
fire sort of stampeded the whole out
fit. The pile became higher and high
er as buffalo after buffalo came rolling
on to the heap, and this blockade
actually caused the tremendous mass
to split and divide, a moiety going to
each side of it. The center had been
checked, but the wings were sweeping
by at railroad speed. We hurried
down to the pile OF carcasses as being
our safest point, and stood there
watching the sea OF animals raging
and tearing by like the pillows of an
angry sea. A hundred yards further
on the wings came together again,
and there we were, in the midst of
that living mass, safe and free from
harm.
1t was strange, remarkable sight
-Olic WHlCu 1 lioNCI cape w SEQ On
earth again. My head turned dizzy
with SO much motion all about me,
but both myself and the orderly had
sense enoug ii to blaze away incessant-
ly directly in front OF us, which had
the effect to throw thesuccessive lead
ers in still more confusion, and no
doubt was the means OF saving us
from being trampled to death. After
this tremendous herd of bison had
passed gong at about twelve miles an
hour, which consumed some forty
minutes of time, we found ourselves
among the scattered tail end OF the
herd. Here was our chance. Quickly
singing out an animal, / was soon
dashing alongside OF him and pump
ing cold lead into his bosom from my
revolver. My pony, we'll trained to
this sport, never left his side until the