Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-16
RIDING BUFFALO.
Dick Rocks Performance on the Back ola Wild
Wounded Bison

Dick Rocks Performance on the Back OF a Wild
Wounded Bison.
In November, 1882. north of the Yellow
stone river, between Dry Fork and Red
Water streams, the bufaloes were very
plentiful, and the slaughter of them was
prosecuted with unrelenting vigor. That
was the section where Vic Smith, Doc
Yahl, ''lMissouri Jim," jim Blake, George
Brown, and many others followed the
buffalo like an avenging Nemesis, and,
sad to say, never let up until this noble
game was wiped cut. As that time
young man named Charles ". Rock, bet
ter known as Dick Rock, on the range; he
could easily skin forty-ive buffalo N one
day: q well-proportioned six-footer, and
the best hOrsemen ! ever saw. He claim
ed that he coHld ride and "stick anything
that wore hair, unless it was a grizzly
bear" 1t was seldom that he spoke of his
proWess unless bantered by some of his
companions.
At that time he was hunting on tribu-
tary of Dry Fork, close 10 Vic nith's
camp. One evening in camp the szbiect
of breaking horses and wild animals to
ride came up, and Dick offered to bet $50
that he could ride buffalo. His money
was quickly covered, and Sam Bickneii
conditions were, that he should ride a
buffalo half an hour, barring accidents,
such as the buffalo falling down, or run
ming under limbs of trees that skirted
small streams. The next morning one
Of the party rode over to Smiths camp
and acq TAINTED him with the facts Of the
wager, and required his assistance to pro-
cure the animal on which Doc was TO ride.
Vic acquiesced, and soon all hands rode
out in search of the game. They approa-
ched within about two hundred yards Of
about dozen buffalo, and all hands
stopped with the exception of Vie, who
crawled On hands and knees within one
hundred yards, and, selecting a fine fat
COW, took careful aim and accom- plished
what was intended-that IS, shooting her
through the muclss OF the neck and
knocking her down. feat that is called
''creasing."
At the crack OF the rife, Rock on kis
horse, s ped like the wind for the fallen
COW, and, quickly dismounting, sprang
upon the brute's back, WHO had already
recovered consciousness, and away they
went full tilt after the remainder of the
herd, which were about quarter of mile
distant. His large spurs, which he had
help him in retaining his seat, while they
served also to irritate the brute. She bel
lowed and bucked In a frightful manner,
while Rock applied the "quirt." They
were soon among the herd of buffalo,
and, remarkable as il may appear, the
other bufaloes did rot seem frightened
in coming in contact with man, but, on
the contrary, endeavored to unseet him
by hooking viciously at his legs.
| The rest of the boys soon separated
Rock and his animal from the remainder
Of the herd, and ran them in a circle until
time was called, when a half-breed named
Baptiste shot the buffalo, and Rock lai3
down on the ground for about twenty
minutes to search for the lost wind that
had been completely pumped out of him
by the terrible bucking and jolting he
had received. His legs were badly bruis-
| ed from the horns of the herd. But there
| after his ability to ride was never ques-
| toned, and the palm was acceded him as
the "boss" buffalo-rider.