The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-04-20
A WILD BUFFALO HUNT.


OP""'o VI 'ou years ago was nunl- |
ing on the plains. One afternoon / lef,
Fort Wallace close TO the line between
Kansas and Colorado, carrying rife
and ammunition I followed the rail
road for q shorkdistance and then struck
across the prairie. soon came 10 sight
of herd OF buffalo. Crawling Q short
distance got in range and brought
down five fne fat ones. Taking off their
saddles, or hind quarters, left the car
cases intending TO return the next day
with team and haul them to the fort
By thutiWe hsq=tAem- -dresseti-tt-wusI
dark, and | had good long stretch to
get to camp. I shoulde-ed my rifle, and
struck out. In a short time l became
aware by .be sound that there was q herd
Of buffalo ahead OF me. Which way
they were travelling l could only guess.
After listening few moments l decided
to keep on, bot soon came right on to
the herd. They appeared to be travel
ing the same way wanted to 60, 30 ]
folio wed, as l supposed. bringing up
the rear. But they did not 60 fast
enough for me, so struck off at right
angles to see II I could get past them,
and soon found that that was out OF the
question. then tried the left; there,
again, found buffalo. l then faced to
the rear, and, what was my astonisn-
ment to see . line advancing in that di
rection. / must confess that my hair
raised little when l saw the predica-
ment was in. had deliberately walk.
ed right into the center of herd OF buf
falo, and they we're bringing up the rear
instead Of me 1t was dark and could
not see hundred feet, but I could dis
tinguish plainly that | was in little
square, with buffalo all around me.
had to travel as the herd was moving,
and the rear bulls we're crowding little
too close for comfort. Every few mo-
ments an old bull would turn around,
shake bis head and below, as II to chal-
lenee 6ght. Bat vas not looking for
figh' then. knew II I fred nv gun
the herd would stampede, and that would
end nv career. I wonld be trampled to
death In the shake OF your finger. ]
thought once Of killing bull and get
ting on his dead body and let the herd
rua around me, but gave % that idea,
as they would crowd ea,h other 10
their terror, and / would be sure to be
knocked over and killed. All this time
my circle was getting smaller and small
Ter, and could see the bulls we're get
ting restless. Every minute one would
turn, paw and below, while / would
dodge. and thoss behind we're 50 clio.
could almost touch them. / saw
must do something, and at once decided
on bold push for liberty. Watching
my chance l edged up close 10 2-HeaI
old, then, making a spring, landed square
on bis hack, sinking my hands into the
long hair that grows on his fore shoul.
ders. l gave a yell that would have
made an Apache Indian ashamed OF him
self, and the fun commenced. Away W
went. the dust aud sand living, the buf
falos crowding and jauming each other
up and down bill, across gulches. theil
hoofs ratiling, the bulls believing, max
ing noise that could be heard for q
mile ! hung on tensciously-like grim
death. How it oil would end l coult
not tell. As long as my bull KEEP, bis
feet stood chance, although came
near having nv legs broken by tn,
crowding animals. They kept up th;'
race for perhaps half ON hour. 1t twas
very uncomfortable, and / felt that
could not hold on much longer, and VA
thinking what should do nex', wher
the animal ! rode made such q shor
turn to the right that 1 nearly went of
his back. Looking up, saw the here
had divided, some going to the left ant
some to the right. The cause OF 1t va
plain. We bad rstruck the railroad
where the bank was very high and steep
and was now going parallel with, ant
close, beside. the track. placed th'
muzze OF my revolver close to the hes(
Of nv poor beast, pulled the trigger an
the next minute went over his head a
10 heap, but bad killed nv buffalo
and was safe, although good deal shs
ken up, but, after resting little, va
able to go to camp, we'll pleased tbs
things we're no worse.