Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-02-16
RIDING ABUFFALo.
Dick Rocks Performance on the Back ola Wild
Wounded Bison

Dick Rocks Performance on the Back Ola Wild
Wounded Bison
In November, 1882, north of the Yellow
stone river, between Dry Fork and Red
Water streams, the buffaloes were very
plentiful, and the slaughter of them was
prosecuted with unrelenting vigor. That
was the section where Vic Smith, Doc
Yahl, missouri JIM" Jim Blake, George
Brown, and many others followed the
buffalo like an ayenging Nemesis, and,
sad TO say, never let up until this noble
game was wiped out. Az that time a
young man named Charles W. Rock, bet
ter known as Dick Rock, on the range; he
could easily skin iorty-hve buffalo In one
day; well-proportioned six-foOier, and
the best horseman | ever saw. He claim
ed that he could ride and "stiok anything
that wore hair, unless it was a grizzly
bear" 1t was seldom that he spoke of his
prowess unless bantered by sopIo of his
companions.
At that time he was hunting on tribu-
tary of Dry Fork, close to Vic Smiths
camp. One evening in camp the subject
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 Blcknell
chosen referee and stekehold5r, The
conditions were, that he should ride a
buffalo half an hour, barring accidents,
such as the buffalo falling down, or nun
ming under limbs of trees that skirted
small streams. The next morning one
of the party rode over to Smiths camp
and cauainted him with the facts of the
wager, and required his assistance to pro-
cure the animal on which Doc was TO ride.
Vic aoquiesced, aud soon all hands rode
out in search of the game. They approa-
ched within about Two hundred yards of
about a dozen buffalo, and all hands
stopped with the exception of Vic, who
crawled on hands and knees within one
hundred yards, and, selecting a fine fat
COW, took careful aim and accom- plished
what was interded-that is, shooting her
through the mucles of the neck and
knocking her down feat that is called
"creasing."
At the crack OF the rifle, Rock on his
horse, sped 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 we're about quarter of mile
distant. His large spurs, which he had
sunk deep into the cows sides served &c
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
we're soon among the herd of buffalo
and, remarkable as it may appear, the
other bufaloes did not seem frightened
in coming in contact with man, but on
the contrary, endeavored to unseat hin
by hooking viciously at his legs.
The rest of the boys soon separated
Rock and his animal from Che remainder
of the herd, and ran them in circle unit
| time was called, when half breed named
| Baptiste shot the buffalo, and Rock laia
down on the ground for about twent!
minutes to search for the lost wind that
had been completely pumped out OF hin
| by the terrible bucking and iolting NJ
had received His legs we're badly brais
ed from the horns of the herd. Bat there
after his ability to ride was never ques
/ toned, and the palm was acceded him a
4 the "bOssn buffalO-rider.