Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-02-02
RIDING A BUFFALO.
A Traveller Escapes Ono Danger
by Getting Into Another.

ing q small mining camp near where
the city of Deadwood now stands. !
had been on n 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 n
dreary November afternoon, and the
/ clouds threatened heavy fall of snow.
II was about two o'clock, and ! was
making for an inhabited hut If
teen miles away. where knew | could
! find shelter for myself aud horse for
the 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 glnncing
back along the road ! behold about II
mile AWAY something fast approaching
| that looked like q black cloud moving
rapidly along close TO the ground
From what had heard knew at once
that ] was being pursued by half
famished pack of black wolves, and
that u could not reach the cabin my
self and horse would be torn to pieces
by the rsvenons creatures. ] lost no
time In putting spurs to my horse for n
race TO the death. The animal cauL 1T
the alarm and needed no urging to
make him do his best For n few miles
the brave horse did noble work aud the
merciless pursuers failed to gain upon
US, but IL soon became evident that the
horse could not keep up the gait and
| that the wolves were sure To ovcrtakc
us before we could arrive within Eve
| miles OF the log hut
On we went, but soon the speed OF
my horse began to slaclten, and the
wolves were slowly closing the gap.
NY mind was intensely busy with the
| problem Of what was best to be done.
| IL occurred to me that my only chance
was TO abandon the faithful animal and
rush ahead on foot while the wolves
were devouring his carcass. II was
forlorn hope, but there was no other
chance of escape, and, like the drown
ing man, I caught at the only straw
held out TO me.
My horse sank down on the roadside
as soon US ] 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 pounceo upon him, as had
| hhh ohhplNh ohai ith
and fought like demons over the
choicest portions OF their feast. While
they were thus engaged ] gained fully
mile upon them. But ! knew they
would quickly be upon my trail again.
Soon heard the ominous sound that
had first hxed my attention, and gazing
back over the level plain ] saw the
pack in full pursuit. Knowing that
could not keep them from overtakinR
me, ! slackened my pace and gathered
strength for the life-and-death contest
that was inevitable. My idea was TO
Ere and kill two or three wolves ut a
time and then rush forward as far as
possible while they were consuming
the bodies of the dead animals. ] fired
rapidly at the foremost, and was lucky
enough to kill four in us many shots.
Then rushed forward, and gained some
distance before they devourcd the dead,
and again started in pursuit. Again
fired, and killed three or four, and
again ran for dear life. II was still
fully four miles to the longed-for hut,
and | began to feel that the contest
wac too unequal, and that | might as
we'll give up the struggle FIRST as last.
The running fight was kept up for
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 Il ring another
fusillnde Mt my relentless enemies, when
the whole pack suddenly stopped and
stood for fully minute in listening
attitude. From the west came sound
reese m bling 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 nwuy to the northwnrd. At first
felt ~ IL had been delivered by the
hands OF n special providence, but was
not long In discovering that was still
In the greatest of peril, and had not
one chance in thousand Of escaping u
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." 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 STAN
pedes the maddened animals would
keep up a snortinR and believing,
creating a scene that could be COM
pared to nothing but pandemonium.
No living thing ever escaped being
trampled into a shapeless mass that
happened to be In front OF them. Even
the wolves that followed me with such
dogged purpose understood the danger
perfectly we'll
had given myself up for lost, for /
was near the center line Of the APP
pr oaching herd, and II would have
been folly for me TO have run forward
or backward with the hope OF getting
out OF their way, On they came, like
the huge waves Of an angry sea, and,
although fully appreciated the great
peril W a. IN, the scene fascinated me,
and / awaited the end with calm resig-
nation. In the foremost ranks was a
huge bull with shaPgy name and long
1 1,f l.