The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-17
RIDING A BUFFALO.
a Travelor Escapes Ono Danger
by Getting Into Another.

over the plains, my objective point be-
ing small mining camp near where
the city of Deadwood now stands 1
had been on n prospecting tour two
hundred miles to the northwest, and
was yet about one hundred mics from
my destination, when the adventure l
am about to relate occurred. 1t was Il
dreary November afternoon, and the
clouds threatened a heavy fall of snow.
1t was about two o'clock, and l was
making for an uninh nbitcd hut fif-
teen miles away. where l knew | could
find shelter for myself nnd horse for
the night.
was riding along feeling perfectly
safe in that wilderness when strange
sound broke upon my ears. was not
long in doubt, however, for on CHANGING
back along the road ! bchcld about u
mile away something fast approaching
that looked like n 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
thatif i could not reach the cabin N.Y.
self and horse would be torn to pieces
by the ravcnous creatures. lost no
time in putting spurs to my horse for a
race to the death. The animal caught
the alarm and needed no urging to
make him do his best. For few miles
the brave horse did noble work and the
mcrcilcss pursuers failed to gain upon
us, but it soon became evident that the
horse could not keep up the gait and
that the wolves were sure to ovcrtalle
us before we could arrive within five
miles of the log hut.
On we went but soon the speed of
my horse began to slack en-, and the
wolves were slowly closing the gap.
My mind was intensely busy with the
problem of what was best TO be DONE
1t 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. 1t was n
forlorn hope, but there was no other
chance OF escape, and, like the drown
ing man, / caught at 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. When the wolves reached my
horse they bounced upon him, rs had
anticipated, and snapped and snarlcd
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 fixed my attention, and gazing
back over the level plain | saw the
pack in full pursuit Knowing that
could not keep them from overt;.iiinr
me, slacllened my pace and gathered
strength for the life-and-dcath contest
that was inevitable My idea was to
fire and kill two or three wolves at n
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 as 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. 1t was still
fully four miles to the longcd-for hut,
and began to feel that the contest
was too unequal, and that | might rs
well 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 rs horrible. / had halted and
turned for the purpose of firing another
fuslladc nj 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
nlntAS nr Incl .ic irf 70
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 dartcd
madly away TO the northward At first
felt as if had been delivered by the
hands of Il 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 a
terrible death. That which caused tho
seeming distant thunder and clouds of
dust was what was known in the par.
lance OF the plains as "a buffalo STAN.
pedc." No one has ever explained
whatever caused herd now and then
to become suddenly frightened and in
almost one solid mass rush madly
away. ncvor 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 pandcmonium
No living thing ever escaped being
tramplcd into shapcless mass that
happened TO be in front of them. Even
the wolves that followed mo with such
logged purpose understood the danger