The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-08-10
RIDING A BUFFALO.
"a Traveller Escapos Ono Danger
by Getting Into Another.


Twenty-Five years ago, In the fall Of
ts07, l. was travelling on horseback
over the plains, my objective point be-
ing a small mining camp near where
the city Of Deadwood now stands
had been on prospecting tour two
hundred miles 10 the northwest, and
was yet about one hundred miles from
my destination. when the adventure
am about 70 relate occurred Il was a
drcary November afternoon. and the
clouds threatened heavy fall Of snow.
1t was about two o'clock, and ! was
making for an uninhabited hut If
leen miles away. where knew ! could
And shelter for myself and horse for
the night
l was riding along feeling perfectly
safe In that wilderness when strange
sound broke upon my ears. ] was not
long In doubt, however, for on giancinR
back along the road beheld about q
mile away something fast approaching
that looked like black cloud moving
rapidly along close TO the ground
From what had heard knew ut once
that was being pursued by n half
tamished pack OF black wolves. and
that Ii could not reach the cabin my
self and horse would be torn to pieces
by the ravenous creatures. lost no
time In putting spurs to my horse for o
race to the death The animal caught
the alarm and needed no urging to
make him do his best For a few miles
the brave horse did noble work and the
merciless pursuers failed to gain upon
as, but Ii soon became evident that the
horse could not keep up the gait and
that the wolves were sure To overtake
US before we could arrive within 1--WE
miles Of the log hut.
On we went, but soon the speed OF
my horse began to slncken, and the
wolves were slowly closing the gap.
NY mind was intensely buey with the
problem OF what was Desf % b done.
II occurred to mo that my only chance
was to abandon the faithful animal and
rush ahead ON foot while the wolves
were deyouring his carcass. 1t wns q
forlorn hope, but there was no other
chance Of escape, and, like the drown
ing man, caught Mt the only straw
held out to me-
MY horse sank down on the roadside
As soon as ceased to spur him for
ward. and dashed along on foot see
ing that my two pistols were ready for
use. Whom the wolves reached my
horse they pounced upon him, as had
anticipated, and snapped and snarlod
and fought like demons overt the
choicest portions Of their feast Whale
~ = 1l,,,. III .vntvad fhIIx
q mile upon them. But knew they
would quickly be upon my trail again.
Soon heard the ominous sound that
had flrst fixed my attention. and gazing
back over the level plain saw the
pack in full pursuit Knowing that
could not keep them from overtaking
me, slackened my pace and gathered
strength for the lifc-and-death contest
that was inevitable. Ny idea was 10
Are and kill two or three wolves at q
time and then rush forward as far as
possible while they were consuming
the bodies OF the dead animals. fred
rapidly at the foremost, and was lucky
enough to kill four In rs many shots.
Then rushed forward, and gained some
distance before they devoured the dead,
and again started In pursuit. Again ]
fred, and killed three or four, and
again ran for dear life. TWAS still
fully four miles to the longed-for hut,
and I began to feel that the contest
was too unequal, and that ! might as
we'll give up the struggle first ais last.
The running fight was kept up for q
mile or two more, when was suddenly
relieved from all danger from the
wolves, but threatened by another
fully as horrible. | had halted and
turned for the purpose Of firing another
fusilladc at my relentless enemies. when
the whole pack suddenly stopped and
stood for fully minute In listening
attitude From the west came sound
resembling distant thunder, and great
clouds of dust were rising not far away,
obscuring the western view. The
wolves appeared 70 thoroughly under
stand what caused the ominous sounds
and clouds Of dust. for they gave ono
frantic howl over being deprived Of
their expected prey, and then darted
madly away to the northward. Al first
| felt as il had been delivered by the
hands Of special providence, but was
not long in discovering that was still
In the greatest Of peril, and had not
one chance in a thousand Of escaping n
terrible death That which caused the
seeming distant thunder and clouds OF
dust was what was known IN the par
lance Of the plains as "a buffalo stam-
pede. " No one has ever explained
whatever caused herd now and then
to become suddenly frightened and In
almost one solid mass rush madly
away, never stopping until they were
completely worn out In those STAIN
pedes the maddened animals would
keep up a snorting and believing.
creating scene that could be com
pared to nothing but pandemoninm
No living thing ever escaped being
trampIed into a shapeless mass that
happened TO be in front Of them. Even
the wolves that followed me with such
Aas.<.l ..,,,.,,...e I, IA f1dsi the danOaR