The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-01-23
RIDING A BUFFALO.
A Traveller Escapes Ono Danger
by Getting Into Another.

Twenty-Five years ago, In the fall OF
lsC7, ! was travelling on horseback
over the plains, my objective point be-
ing q small mining camp near where
1.-The city OF Deadwood now stnnds.
had been on o 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 q
dreary November afternoon, md the
clouds threatened a heavy fall of snow.
Ii was about two o'clock, and | was
making for an uninhabited hut If
Teen miles away. where ! knew | could
\ find shelter for myself and horse for
the night.
/ was riding along feeling perfectly
safe in that wilderness when a strange
sound broke upon my cars was not
long in doubt, however, for on glancing
back along the road ! bcheld about a
mile away something fast approaching
that looked like a black cloud moving
rapidly along close to the ground
From what / had heard | knew at once
that was being pursued by n half
furnished pack. of black wolves, and
Il Atlhb II = GOAA0 ~ AtANA bip GA9AA my
self and horse would be torn to pieces
by the ravenous creatures. ! lost no
time in putting spurssto my horse for q
race to the death. The animal caught
the alarm and needed no urging to
make him do his best Fer d few miles
the brave horse did noble work and the
merciless pursuers failed to gain upon
us, but 1t soon became evident that the 4
horse could not keep up the gait and
that the wolves were sure to overtake
as 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.
It 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 q
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 Licensed 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 tiloy bounced upon him, as l had
anticipated, and snapped and snarled
and fought like demons over the
choicest portions OF their feast. While
they were thus engaged ! gained fully
q mile upon them. But l knew they
would quickly he upon my trail again.
Soon heard the orninous sound that
had Grst 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, slackcned my pace and gathered
strength for the l~ife-and-death contest
that was inevitable. My idea was to
FIRE and kill two or three wolves at q
time and them rush forward as far as
possible while they We're consuming
the bodies Of The dead animals. l fired
rapidly at the foremost, and was lucky
enough to kill Tour in as many shots.
Then ! rushed forward, and gained some
distance before they d~eyoured the dead,
and agaiu started in pursuit. Again /
fred, 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
was too nnequal, andthat ] might as
we'll give up the struggle first as last
The running fight was kept up for a
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
fusillade at my relentless enemies, when
the whole pack suddenly stopped and
stood for fully q minute in a listening
attitude. From the west came a 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 causea 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
I felt as if ! had been delivered by the
hands of a special providence, but was
not long in~Sdiscovering that / was still
in the greatest Of peril, and had not
one chance in a thousand Of escaping q
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." Nolone has ever explained
whatever caused a herd now and then
to become suddenly frightened and In
almost one solid mass rush madly.
away, never stopping until they were
completely worn ont In those stam-
pedes tie ~mnddened animals would