New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-27
MIR. ELKINS HUNTING BUFFALOS.
Ills SINGLE EXPERIENCE ON THE PLAINS.

SATISFIED WHEN HE had KILLED ONE ANIMAL
HIS NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH.
s. b. EIkins who spent half his lifetime in New
Mexico and on the plains, having crossed them 'nm
teen times before transcontinental railroads we're Du
saw the declining years Of Bent, ST. Vrain and hlt
Carson and himself experienced much Of the discom-
forts excitements and vcisstudes Of plain life on the
praries He went in 10 see Albert Berstadts hall
finished picture of a buffalo hunt the other day. Inc
central figure is an lnfurIated buffalo bull, which mas
turned to gore appearing horse, the rider on Whch
is endeavoring to break the attack with spear IL
led Mr. Elkins TO eXcIam
That takes me back twenty-five years, u I"
similar experience Of my own"
He continued the relation follows: III was
my first and only buffalo hunt. l was 'raveliins
with wagon train for protection against the Indians
who were on the warpath and savage. We were ny
preaching Fort Learned on the Old Pawnee rum
The Indians were so bad that VIC had massed three
trains together. making about seventy-hve or eghy
wagons and 100 men, and we kept close together
There were a number of expert buffalo hunters III
the train who would ride out almost any time anu
kill a buffalo for meat. / have seen them 40 II nun
drcds OF times. Their horses were trained 10 run
right alongside the beast when they would IRE lh'o
him lust back OF oreleG The meat would be cut UP
and hung under the wagon, where 1t would oecone
coated with dust. This coating we would cut OH a'
night and find the juicy meat underneath.
Well we had made camp for day within coupic
~ miles of Fort Learned when / a herd OF
bu4ralo about a mile away, and l determined to Try
nv Iuck. I borrowed a big gray buffalo horse ana
started out across the fork Of the river after my
game I had a sharps rifle and two big navy re-
voIvers The distance 10 the beasts was much greater
than it looked, but finally overlook one ana nreu
tuo buIlets into him from a revolver. The horse hai
brought me right alongside for this purpose. Inc
buffalo didn't fall slack up and was getuhs ND
rife ready TO shoot when the horse gave all a"iUi
sidewtse lunge We were going at rapid rare
hodr,t baen watching the beast The horse had and
being well trained had jumped to avoid gorng iro'n
the buffalo who feeling the effects OF the Shots hau
become Infatuated and turned on us. wasn't pre-
pared for the shock and was nearly ENDORSED. Ny
rifle went one way, my revolver another. was
thrown out of the saddle back the horses hauncne
and only saved myself by graspng the saddle IN DOM
hands II l had fallen off the buffalo would nave
rored me 10 death. By this time the buhalo was
chasing the horse who could easily keep away from
him and a sixty yards ended the buliai9 pur-
nose 10 catch us. He turned and went on ms NaS;
Was terribly bruised ami sore, but was also MAD
all over for knew they were watching me nom me
camp with field glasses and rode back 70 ger my
carbine with a detcrinihauoH ~ s0' '' -
II was some time before I got In range AGAIN DE-
but the rifle brought him down just a. ne lri. s on
Tuian rose mn I'm The grass a hundred yards away IRON
me and behind him at longer distances IouI .r vi nnd
moro. They had been watching me en't f "a, hrtsao
probably expected 10 capture my eIects tnc AZ
cot the best of As they might 2e .Us i ,,b
though the near, started i0r ,he IRAN VIZ 90
ont cutting out the tongue when Is Gus onldIS 81
nat M one will disturb the TIL you 90 Dach
after A. The Indian came up 10 within twenty faIu
~ me and cried out friend in Spanish, but mOuoeu
MIN hack and pointed to the buffalo, all the tlme
walking my horse faster and faster tOWaru o"i, r.
when got in 10 my friends they had big laugh oyca
hugalo hunting thereafter, was satisfied Win ohc
experience