The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-02-27
FRONTIER LIFE.

An officer of the regular army, whose
death recently took place, and who in
his lifetime was well and favorably
known in St. Paul, having been sta
toned at Fort Smelling, told the follow
ing story of his experience on the
frontier many years ago: One cold day
| in the winter of 1866 I started from
Yankton, in a stage, bound for Fort
Randall. My only companion was a
young army officer, journeying to one
of the western posts to join his regi-
ment. It had been showing hard all
day, and the four horses attached to the
stage found it very difficult to drag the
vehicle through the drifts and over the
bad roads. and the young man soon
became engaged in conversation, such
was the effect of riding in stage in those
DAYS. 1t was a sufficient introduction
to ride together, and fellow travellers
depended much on one another to pass
away the weary hours spent in the
coach. We spent half day in travel
| ing a short distance. We were both
tired. The young officer suggested the
propriety of taking horses at the next
station, which proved to be Springfield.
He thought that it would be change
to get out of the stage and exercise our.
selves on horseback. gladly assented,
for was heartily tired Of being cooped
up in stage. When we got to SPRING
field we were served dinner at the eat
ing-house at that station. The eating
house was frontier tavern, and was
presided over by determined-looking
woman, the woman's looks preventing
any expression of dissatisfaction with
the food or drink. The meal was frugal
in its character, as might naturally be
expected. The coffee was made of
chicory. We took everything, however,
and never uttered complaint We
saw the effects of the landlady's iron
will on her dejected-looking husband.
The lesson taught us to make the best
| of the meal. We did so. Afterward
we made arrangements for two saddle
horses, and in short time after dinner
were on our journey on horseback.
We rode on, when an abrupt turn in
the road brought us suddenly upon q
bull. The animal was plunging about
as if Infatuated. Retreat was impossi-
BILE, so we concluded to attack him.
Fortunately we had our rifles hung on
the saddles. l hastily drew mine and
fired at the bull. The ball entered his
side, but apparently had no other effect
than to increase his fury. He rushed
at us, singing me out as his first victim.
As he neared me he made fearful
plunge. Just before his horns entered
the horse upon which / was seated !
seized him with both hands, and held
him with grip that only my great
strength and my atheletic skill made
successful. This saved my life. Tossed
and thrown from side to side, but never
losing my hold on his horns, Istruggled,
almost suffocated by the creatures
terrible, scorching, sitting breath,
which, as he would give these snerts
| and puffs, would seem like volumes of
hottest impure air, and feared would
almost overwhelm me at times. But
still tightly held on his horns and
hoped to conquer in some way not ap.
parent then. Ny companion, mean.
while, had been unable to render me any
assistance, for doubling his ability to
kill the bull at shot, he
wisely refrained from shooting at
all, lest he might increase the
creatures madness. Seeing that was
becoming exhausted without exhaust
ing the bull, the young man concluded
that something must be done quickly
to relieve me. He therefore raised the
rifle to shoot, when the bull, as if de-
termined to shake me of, gave mighty
/ S<>~~f< n <<r IL =
landed in a big snow-bank, and so
great was the force of my fall that I
disappeared entirely from sight, buried
in the snow. The bull appeared sur
prised. He remained motionless for q
moment. The young man was quick
to see the advantage, and before the
bull could turn to renew the attack ON
either of us the young man shot the
animal in the head, which sent
him writhing to the ground. / got cut
of the snow-bank and sent Q SECOND
shot into his carcass, which killed him
instantly. As soon as / had time to
examine myself found that my hands
were in terrible condition, and that
my body and legs were bruised. We
hastily mounted our horses, the cold
weather necessitating prompt action,
and started on to the next station. We
were soon overtaken by the stage. and
we resumed our seats in that vehicle
and SO continued our journey to Fort
Randall. At the fort l was taken in
charge by the post surgeon. In about
three weeks was all right. At the
fort we learned that the bull had been
running at large for some time, doing
considerable damage. The Indians
had shot him repeatedly, but had not
succeeded in hitting him in vital
spot. The wounds only increased his
fury. He was generally regarded as a
dangerous creature. Paul Pioneer
Press.