Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-11-20
A MEMORABLE HUNT,
THE LAST GREAT EXPEDITION
AFTER BUFFALO.
How Sioux Warriors Kill and Divide
Big Game-Exciting Scenes Dur
ing Memorable Expedition.

A correspondent of the Chicago Herald
accompanied an expedition of Sioux In
dians, who left Standing Rock Agency
to do buffalo hunting in the fall of 1880.
1t was the last great expedition after big
game, as soon afterward the buffaloes be-
came so scarce that very few could not
be found save in small herds. The cor
respondent describes the discovery of
the herd, and the subsequent exciting
events. as follows
With a wild whoop all the hunters
broke from the camp about o'clock a.
m. and started for the hills, where we
found the Indian dog-soldiers waiting
for us. We were fanked as heretofore
by this body of police, and again we
started off, but this time at a gentle trot,
much to my relief, for found that the
malt worn out quartermasters horse
which | was riding was inclined to
stumble, and | had much difficulty keep
ing him on his feet. My ease, however,
was of short duration, as the hunters
broke into run before we had proceeded
half mile, and found myself in the
middle of a bunch of about two hun
dred OF the most experienced riders who
went dashing down the valley at almost
break-neck speed. Arriving at a point
about three miles from the camp we
met couple of Indians who had been on
guard all night at that place. The whole
command halted and proceeded to un-
saddle their ponies and divest themselves
of their Surplus clothing was left be-
hind. Speeches were then addressed to
the Indians by Running Antelope and
Long Soldier, in which they informed
the hunter that within an hour they
would have plenty of meat in sight for
them to be brave and conduct themselves
like warriors, adding that the "myster-
lous spirit would watch over and protect
them. The Indians then divided into
two parties, which were placed in charge
of head soldiers, who had orders to shoot
any horse or pony should its rider dis
charge his firearm before the signal to
charge the herd was given, and although
we passed within few yards of some
outgraziug bulls this order was scrupu-
lously observed. Each division of the
hunters rode down separate but lateral
ravines; their object in so doing was to
travel until the herd of buffalo which
had already been selected for killing
should be found in the valley that lay
between the ravines through which the
hunters rode. After riding through the
ravines about two miles halts were called
by the respective parties, who found
themselves separated from the object Of
the chase by long ranges of high hills
that hid the buffalo from sight and
walled up the valley in which the ami
mails were feeding. After rest of fif-
teen minutes an Indian from each party
crawled up opposite hills and signalcd to
each other over the heads of the unsus
pecting buffalo, which were then quietly
grazing in the valley. In the mean
time every man had mounted his
horse and looked to the placement
and preparation of his weapons, after
which the two parties rode very
quietly up the hills upon their respective
sides until all were within ten feet of
their tops Another halt was now made
until the signal man gave the word,
when every Indian urged his pony for
ward at its utmost speed. To dash to
the tops of the hills was the work of
second, and before the eyes of the eager
hunters appeared the brown shaggy
backs of the much coveted buffalo.
There was no longer any hating. At II
glance every Indian took in the situation,
and with shrill cries and whoops rushed
at headlong speed down the hillsidcs
into the valley. Although the first wild
buffalo | had ever seen were now before
me my whole attention was attracted
toward the Indians as they rushed wildly
down the steep declivity. The sight
was well worth the ten days journey
had taken. The hills over which the
l,1
half mile apart at their bases and the
valley between them was about two
miles along. The buffalo were at first
pretty well bunched together in center,
but as soon as the Indians rushed over
the hills they became alarmed, STAN
peded, and pushed in all directions, but
to little purpose, as the hunters quickly
reached the level of the valley and
completely surrounded the frightened
beasts. The Indians at once commenced
shooting into the herd, which SO con-
fused the terrified animals that they
plunged frantically up either ends of the
valley, breaking through the lines of
hunters. This was the golden oppor-
tunity for the Indians armed with bows
and arrows, who until then had remained
-outside of the circle. The archers
rushed to head off the infuriated animals,
which were wildly snorting and tearing
up the sod with their hoofs and horns.
The intrepidity with which these feather
crowned warriors rode their ponies up to
the dangerous beasts was wonderful to
behold. After ranging themselves along
side the buffalo the archers would drop
the bride reins of their ponies, and such
of the little animals as were trained to
the work would retain their positions by
side of the buffalo while the hunters, un
hindered, buried their arrows up to the
feathered ends in the backs and just be-
hind the shoulder blades of the doomed
animals. Sometimes two or three well
directed shafts would bring the big
beasts to the ground, but IN the majority
of cases six or eight of the arrows
would be driven in before the wild ami
mails succumbed, and in few instances
many more arrows were necessary, the
carcasses in many cases looking like huge
pin cushions. The buffalo when once
wounded would frequently try to turn
on the hunters, but generally without
avail, as the ponies would turn with
them, and no movement on the part of
the game was too quick for the ponies,
who seemed to realize that their safety
depended on keeping alongside and
close to the buffalo, thus giving them no
chance to gore with their short but pow
erful horns. The animals killed in this
way were only those that escaped from
the circle which had been formed by
those of the Indians who were equipped