The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-04-22
HUNTING THE BUFFALO.
Facing an Angry Herd-An Incident OF Thrilling
Interest.
Detroit Free Press.

Detroit Free Press
Upward of 10 years ago | was hunting on the
plains. One afternoon left Fort Wallace, close
to the line between Kansas and Colorado, car
rying rifle and ammunition. I followed the
railroad for short distance and then struck
across the prairie. / soon came in sight of a
herd of buffalo. Crawling a short distance
got in range and brought down five fine, fat
ones. Taking off their saddles, or hind quar-
ters, left the carcasses intending to return
the next day with team and haul them TO the
fort. BY the time l had them dressed it was
dark and | had good long stretch to get to
camp. | shouldered my rifle and struck ont.
In short time | became aware by the sound
that there was a herd of buffalo ahead of me.
Which way they were travelling l could only
guess. After listening a few moments l de-
Clded to keep on, but soon came right on to the
herd. They appeared to be travelling tho same
way wanted to CO. SO followed, as supposed,
bringing up the rear. But they did not 20 fast
enough for me, so l struck Off at right angles
to SEQ if l could get past them, and soon found
that that was out of the question. / then tried
the left; there again / found buffalo. | then
faced to the rear, and what was my astonish-
ment to see line advancing in that direction.
! must confess that my hair raised little when
/ saw the predicament l was in. l had delib-
erately walked right into the center of the
herd Of buffalo, and they were bringing up the
rear instead Of me.
It was dark and I could not see n hundred
feet, but could distinguish plainly that was
in little square, with buffalo all around me.
had to travel as the herd was moving, aud the
rear bulls were crowding q little 200 close for
comfort. Every few moments an olG bull would
turn around, shake his head and below, rs if to
challenge fight. But | was not looking for a
fight then. | knew if | fired my gun the herd
would stampede and that would end my career.
/ would be trampled to death in the shake of
getting on his dead body and letting the herd
run around me; but gave up that idea, as they
would crowd each other in their terror and |
would be sure to be knocked over and killed.
All this time my circle was getting smaller and
smaller, and / could see the bulls were getting
restless. Every minute one would turn, paw
and below, while | would dodge, and those be-
hind were so close l could almost touch them.
l saw l must do something, and at once de-
cided on bold push for liberty.
Watching my chance, l edged up close to a
twO-year-old, then, making q spring, landed
square on his back, sinking my hands into the
long hair that grows on his fore shoulders. l
gave a yell that would have made an Apache
Indian ashamed of himself and the fun com.
menccd Away we went, the dust and sand fly
ing the bufiiiloeS crowding and jamming each
other, up and down hill, across guches, their
hoofs rattling, the bulls believing, making a
noise that could be heard for mile. hung on
tenaciously, like grim death. How it all would
end l could not tell. AS long as my bull kept
his feet l stood chance, although l came
near having my legs broken by the crowding
animals. They kept up this race for perhaps
half an hour. 1t was very uncomfortable, and
felt that could not hold on much longer, and
thinking what l should do next, when the ami
NAL / rode made such short turn to the right
that l nearly went of his back. Looking up |
saw the herd had divided, some going to the
left and some to the right. The cause of it was
plain. We had struck the railroad, where the
bank was very high and steep, and l was now
going parallel with and close beside the track.
/ placed the muzzle of my revolver close to the
head of my poor beast, pulled the trigger, and
the next minute went over his head in heap
but had killed my buffalo and was safe, al
though good deal shaken up, but after rest
ing little was able to go to camp, well pleased
that things were no worse.