The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-21
RIDING A BUFFALO.
a Traveller Escapes Ono Danger
by Getting Into Another.

Twenty-Five years age. IN the fall Of
1867, was travelling on horseback
over the plains. my objective point boz
Ing a small mining camp near where
the city OF Deadwood now stands.
had been on a prospecting tour two
hundred miles to the northwest and
was yet about one hundred miles from
my destination, when the adventure
am about to relate occurred II was
drcarys November afternoon, and the
clouds threatened heavy fallof snow.
It was about two O'clock, and ! was
making for anI1ninhabited hut III.
leen miles away. where knew could
and shelter f5r myself and horse for
tho night
was riding along feeling perfectly
safe IN that Wilderness when a strange
sound broke upon my ears was not
long in doubt, however, for on glancing
back along the road bcheld about
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 half
tamishcd pack OF black wolves, and
that II could not reach the cabin my
self and horse would be torn to pieces
by tho ravcnous creatures. ] lost no
time in putting spurs 70 my horse for
race TO the death The animal caught
the alarm and needed no urging TO
make him do his best. For q few miles
the brave horse did noble work and the
merciless pursuers failed TO gain upon
us, but II soon became evident that the
horse could not keep up the gait and
that the wolves were sure to oycrtakc
as before we could arrive within five
miles Of the log hut
On we went, but soon the speed Of
my horse began to slacsen, and the
wolves were slowly closing the gap
NY mind was intensely busy with the
problem Of what was best to be done.
It occurred to mo that my only chance
was to abandon the faithful animal and
rush ahead on foot while the wolves
were devouring his carcass. 1t was a
iorlern hope, but there was no other
chance Of escape, and, like the drown
ing man, caught at tho only straw
held out to me.
as soon as ! ceased to spur him for
ward, and dashed along on foot, see
ing that my two pistols were ready for
use. When the wolves reached my
horse they pounced upon him. as had
anticipated. and snapped and snarled
and fought like demons over the
choicest portions OF their feast. While
they were thus engaged gained fully
a mile upon them ! But ! knew they
would quickly be upon my trail again
Soon heard the ominous sound that
had FIRST 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 life-and-death contest
that was inevitable. My idea was to
Are and kill two or three wolves at q
time and then rush forward as far us
possible while they werc consuming
the bodies Of the dead animals. fred
rapidly at the foremost, and was lucky
enough to kill four in as many shots.
Then rushed forward, and gained some
distance before they devoured the deadsI
and again started in pursuit Again T
fred, and killed three or four, and
again ran for dear life. 1t was still
fully four miles to the longed-for hut,
and began to feel that the contest
waa too unequal, and that ! might as
well give up the struggle first as last.
The running fight was kept up for Q
mile or two more, when was suddenly
L. - ho
wolves, but threatened by another
fully as horrible. had halted and
turned for the purpose Of firing another
fusillade at my relentless enemies, when
the whole pack suddenly stopped and
stood for fully a 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 TO thoroughly under
stand what caused the ominous sounds
and clouds Of dust, for they gave one.
frantic howl over being deprived OF
their expected prey, and then darted
madly away to the northward- At first
| felt as ii had been delivered by the
hands of special providence. but was
not long in discovering that ! was still
in tho greatest Of peril, and had not
one chance in thousand Of escaping a
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 STAN
pede.n No one has ever explained
whatever caused herd now and then
to become suddenly frightened and In
almost one solid mass rush nadly
away, never stopping until they were
completely worn ont. In those STAN
pedes the maddened animals would
keep upNa snorting and believing,
creating scene that could be com
pared to nothing but pandemonium-
No living thing ever escaped being
trampled into shapelcss mass thai
happened to be III front u them. Even
the wolves that followed me with such
logged purpose understood the danger
perfectly we'll