The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-01-18
NUMBER Al.
With Sioux Warriors.

In these days when We hear muck
OF the last of the buffalo. let me tell
you and your readers of the last great
buffalo hunt of the Sioux Indians.
L was one of the three or four white
men who happened to be present at
the great and what must be To all
there never-to.forgOtten event.
On the 25;h of October. 1888, about
40 lodge. of the Sioux left their camp
at Standing Rock, on the Missouri
river, for their great buffalo hunt on
the Grand River plains, some 200
miles to the westward. The runners
had come in with the intelligence
that tatOnkas were plentiful on the
head of the Heart, the Cannon Ball
and Grand rivers; so the hunt was
called. soldiers elected, councils held.
medicine mades land we were ready
10 start,
1t was great sight that the sun
shone upon the next morning. A.
h1ndred Of the picked Sioux, mount.
eli on their tlpetest and fastest ponies.
led by old Rain in the Face, of Black
Eill5 and Big Horn fame, filed out
on the prairie. Following these came
the skinners and packers. The herd
was soon located. The number might
have been 800 or 1000, Two of the
hunters were sent around to get in
the wind Of the game, while the rest
spread out 10 WindWard, carefully
keeping out Of sight of the buffalo.
We had not long to wait. The ami
mails soon scented the men, and away
they went charging over the prairie,
mead to the wind. at IL rate which
soon brought them in sight of the
waiting hunters. Seeing these they
sought to turn, but too late.
The yelling Sioux were around and
among them. The sharp crack of
the short Winchester and Sharp car
bines, mingled with the wild, trium-
phant cries from the hunters, the in
cea5ant roar Of hOUGs, the clouds of
yellow dust, believing bulls, snort
ing ponies ridden by haif-naked saw
ayes, made scene of excitement the
like OF which it has never before beer
my fortune TO witness. The herd,
turning this way and that, were met
on every side by their almost equally
active foe. Their leaders shot d0Wr
or crippled, they commenced to run
IN a circlc-"nliliIng,' as it is called.
This is just what the Indians wanted.
They now rode at the outside, send
ing their lead down into the backs of
the flying animals, and often at such
close range that the hair was anged
hy the powder blast. Hundreds fell
until the plain seemed 10 be one
great straightforward.
The buffalo plunges to the ground
and with few strugslls he is dead:
Elsewhere an Indian is seen running
down a bunch of ten or tWelyes :
sometimes it is hard to tell if he is
riding his pony or one of the huffa.
IOeS, 50 close are they, and the smoke
from his rifle tells US he is not idle.
Now and then d great, black mass
droDs and rolls before him, almost
under his p0ny's feet, but with
quick spring the wiry little animal
clears the struggling brute and is
away again, running side by side
with others.
About three O'Clock in the alters
noon the chase was well over; 1900
buffalo had fallen and many others
had escaped, but badly WOundeds
The prairie now was covered with
men. women and children, pack ami
mails. tray0is and wagon carts.
Butchering was the order of the day,
and by shutdown nearly everything
of the meat kind was at the main
camp. Here a grand feast in celebra-
ton of the hunt was given; all night
long the squaws were kept busy boil
ing and roasting, while the bucks
told tales of their prowess in the field,
sang songs or made speeches.