Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-03-08
RIDING A WILD RuFEAL ),
The Rockies Feat by Whia.. y. estarz.
Hunter Won a Wager.

Inc tecALeS Eces ssg ~ iiisttta a;s.- ss;taEzl
Hunter Won Wager.
Billings, Mont Gazette: In Novem-
Der, 1882, north OF the Yel-
lowstope river, between Dry Fork and
Red Water streams, the buffaloes were
very plentiful, and the slaughter of them
was prosecuted with unrelenting yigor.
That was the section where Y ic Smith,
Doc Zahl, Missouri Jim," jim Blake,
George Brown and many others follow
ed the buffalo like an evenging Nemesis
and sad to say, never let mp until this
noble game was wiped oat.
At that time q young man named
Charles w. Rock, apown as Dick Rock,
was acknowledged the quickest buffalo
skinner on the range. HIS could easily
ska 45 butfaloes IN one day, was well
proportioned six.footer, and the best
horsemsn ever saw, He claimed that
he could ride and "stick" anything that
wore hair, unless it wes grizzly bear.
It was seldom that he spoke OF his
prowess unless bantered by some of his
companions. at that time he was hunt,
ing on a tributary of Dry Fork; close to
Vic Smiths camp. One evening in camp
the subject of breaking horses and Wild
animals 70 ride came up, Dick offered to
bet 500 that he ceuld ride buffalo
His money wea quickly covered and
Sam Bicknell chosen referee and stake
holder.
The conditions were thas he should
ride buffalo half an hour, barring ac-
oidents, such as the buffalo falling down
or running under limbs OF trees that
skirted the small streams. The next
morning one of the party rode over to
Smiths camp and acquainted him with
the facts of the wager, and required his
assistance in securing the animal on
which Rock was to ride. Vic acquiesced,
and soon all hands rode out in search of
game. They approached within about
200 yards of about dozen buffalo, and
all hands stopped except Vic, who
crawled on hands and knees within 100
yards, and, selecting fine, fat COW, took
careful aim and accomplished what was
intended-that iB, shot her through The
Muscles Of the neck and knocked her
down--a feat that is called "creasipg =
at the crack OF the riil, Rock on his
horse sped link the wind to the fallen
COW, and quickly dismounting, sprang
upon the brute's back, which had al
ready recovered consciousness, and away
they went full tilt after the balance OF
the herd, which was about aquarter OF
mile distant. His large spurs, which
he had sunk deep in the cows sides,
served to assist him in retaining his seat
while it served also to irritate the brute
| she beloved and bucked in frightfni
manner while Rock applied the squirt.
They soon were among the herd oil
buffalo. and, remarkable as 1t may APP
pear, the other buffalo did not seen
frightened at coming In contact with
man, but, on the contrary. endeavored tt
unseat him by hooking vioiously ct hi
legs.
The balance Of the boye soon separated
Rock ard his animal from the rest o
the herd and ran them In circle unit
time was called, when @ half.breet
named Baptiste shot the buffalo, AMI
Rock laid down on the ground for abou
twenty minutes to search for his los
wind that had been pumped ont OF hin
by the terrible bucking and jolting tina
he had received. His legs were badl,
bruised from the horus OF the herd. Blu
thereafter his ability as rider wa
never questioned AID the palm wa
accorded him as the boss buffelo rider.