The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-05-04

there was IN 1t, ana 1t came to be re-
garded as quite an ordinary event.
al want to say, too, that the whole
sale way in which these huge animals
were slaughtered by spectators is some.
thing which always rifles the blood of a
Westerner when it is referred to. Aud
l cannot recall these grand old beasts
without being reminded of the brutality
and unpardonable bloody work Of many
white man from the East.
'I remember a chase which took
place down near the Arknsaas River
along in the early spring of the year
1860, think. Our camp was beginning
to suffer for provisions. One afternoon
l mounted my pony, intending to win :
some duck in distant bend of the river,
where there were sedgy marshes, aud
where they found a favorte resort. But
l was unable to discover the faintest
sign of their presence, and, after ex-
hausting both myself and my pony in q
long search beyond, 1 concluded ia
stop where 1 was for the night. The
next morning my hunt for ducks was
made to appear a small and insignificant
pursuit, unworthy of strong man; for
there in the distance was a great herd OF
buffaloes feeding. 1t was to the wind.
ward and consequently ran no risk of
being scented.
Hastily eating what little lunch had
remaining from the previous night l
started. Luck favored me. 1 discov-
cred the serpentine line of a narrow
hollow formed by the waters when great
rains fell, moving to the river. This
line wound around in a long and circuit.
Gus fashion until it came near the herd.
l was soon into this hollow, and my
pony picked his way down it on fast
walk. AS 1 came near l could hear dis
tinctly the ripping sound which innum-
erable mouths made as they tore the
green grass from the sod.
II had not reached quite the point
where l determined to mount the bank
and make a charge upon the herd when
l came unexpectedly into an opening
where the banks lowered away, exposing
me to the full view Of the COWS that
happened to be browsing in that direc-
tion. They instantly tossed their heads
and started. The attention of Others
was drawn and then some bulls gave a
sharp snort, which was a signal for a
general stampede. Away the whole
herd plunged. 1t was then or never.
So spurring my pony up the grade l
tore after them. They were in good
condition for leadrng me a long race,
and swept away like the wind. But my
pony possessed unusual qualities of speed
and l gained on them gradually.
came close to the straglers, but, as | was
after some tempting steak, had no dis
position to shoot down anything that l
could reach. So pressing on l saw some
fine COWS ahead, and reaching them
put couple of balls in the first and
three in the others, which brought them
down. Theu couple of rods or so
further in advance | saw a magnificent
bull. He was the biggest fellow l had
yet seen, with tremendous shoulders and
name which was immense, urged on
my pony as the enormous fellow, then
on the edge of the herd, stalwart pro-
tector, numbered swiftly along, As l
drew nearer his greatproportions excited
keenest admiration, aud l at once re-
solved that If | got nothing else | must
certainly secure hlm. His magnificent
head and his huge hide would be tro
phies that any hunter might well be
proud Of.
at was nip.and-tuck race. The big
fellow seemed to catch on to my purpose,
for he stretched himself out and tore up
the earth as his gait increased, making a
squirt of speed which heightened the dis
tance between us.
"But my pony caught the full excite
ment of the race and bent himself with
new energy TO his work, and it was
but few minutes when we came
up to the big fellows side.
took careful aim, aud blazed away.
Instinctively my horse swerved away
just in time to escape the outward.
lunge of the beast, who tossed his head
and came charging after.
But he made only several leaps, when
he resumed his pace and went tearing
ahead with still greater speed. Eyi-
dently my bullet had only grazed him,
stimulating him rather than damaging
him. My horse was at his best and
rapidly came up, so that we soon were
tearing along neck and neck again.
"We were little further of this time
from the animal, when, on line with
him, shot again. He turned quick as
Il flash toward me. My pony, attempting
to leap aside, struck number Of prairie
dog holes and lost his footing. Before
he could extricate himself the enraged
bull was upon us. His head was down
and he caught the horse beneath. His
rush was SO great that his head was pre-
vented from being thrown up as highly
as it might have been, As it was, my
pony was lifted from his feet, gored, and
thrown to one side in a heap. / was
jerked from my seat, aud went sprawl
ing over the beast. In the intense ex-
element Of chase like that, one does
not stop to calculate the risks he runs.
SIN my condition any one of a dozen |
incidents would seem to be the occasion |
Of instant death, Behind me came
score of these large fellows right on line |
Of my fall. 1t seemed that 1 woIld be |
to pieces. But | landed on all |
lours and was at once on my feet shout
ing and brandishiug my arms. The mass
parted, and rau to a distance. But the
bull, catching sight of me,
came charging upol me with a furious
below. My bad luck was bound to con
tinue, for l stumbled and fell.
''Down in tremendous pluuges at
me came the monster. l could not rise
,,,;c,- a,oua,b and CalIing, ot tho e;1o Of