The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-11
in A WILD STAMPEDE
HORSE AND RIDER SWEPT ALONG FOR
/ TWO DAYS IN A BUFFALO HERD.

Buhaloes.
1T was in 1868, tho year OF the close OF
ihe civil war" said Hank Marsten, a Mon
tana cattieman. II was high private in
the Second Kansas cavalry, and, instead of
being mustered out at the close of tho
struggle, our regiment was ordered to the
column sent out against the Arapahoes
anu southern Cheyennes, who had been
playing hob on the plains while our hands
Were tied mp fighting the Johnny Rebs.
ms KIND OF campaigning was not new 20
kansans, for whom alkali water and dusty
plains had no terrors. We passed through
country where there was the finest ante
iope and buffalo hunting, and we took such
advantage of our opportunities that it was
an unlucky day when the hunters didn't
bring In meat enough to supply the entire
command
"Three Of us, Tom Packard, Ed Farms
worth and myself, started out one morn
ing with two days ratons in our haver-
sacks for hunt shaping our course to the
right of tho line Of march. We killed two
antelopes the first day. but 1t was not until
the morning of the second day that we
sighted buffaloes. But when we did there
were buffaloes, and no mistake. Itwas the
big southern herd feeding northward from
the Texas plains that we had come upon,
and the prairie was black with buffaloes as
lar as the eye could reach.
Thousands and tens of thousands Of
the heavy shouldered, shaggy necked
brutes were pasturing as peacefully as cat
tie on farm, with the bulls standing
guard on the outskirts all around to keep
of tho wolves that were sneaking about
tho herd watching for a chance 10 snap
up a stray calf. We staid TO look at the
scene for awhile before we got down TO
work. Our spencer carbines did not carry
far enough to stalk the buffaloes at long
range. We had to ride in on them, and,
each man picking out the buffalo he want
ed TO kill we gave our horses free rein
and the spur, and rode at the herd.
1T was half minute or so before the
buffaloes seemed TO get it into their heads
that wo were coming and make mp their
minds what TO do, and by that time we
We're among them. Then the nearest ones
turned and ran, and this gave the alarm
TO those beyond them, and they ran too.
So the panic spread through the herd like
the tipping down OF q row Of bricks, and
in a minute or more the whole herd was
in motion. Farnsworth and Packard each
got the buffalo he went for, and they bag
ged two more besides. But the one se-
lected-it was "a fat young cow-was so
far in the herd and ran SO well that by
the time was alongside her tho buffaloes
were all around me, every one running
head down and tail in the air, not caring
for what stood in the way. There was
only one thing to do, and that was to go
with them. So sent shot in behind the
cows shoulder that dropped her, and then
let my horse take his head. He was car
ia1 ic t, no l,xyt ha
excitement of the stampede, and tried TO
run away. This took us farther into the
herd, until the buffaloes got SO thick about
us that he coCld not force his way among
them. After that for hours and hours
there was nothing but dust and noise
with buffalocs on every side as far as could
see through the smother, crowding, jos
tling, pushing, every one trying TO get
ahead Of the others. My horse was jammed
and tossed about by the buffaloes, but he
kept his footing and went along with the
rest The dust filled my eyes and nostrils.
Darkness came, and still the stampede
went on through the night. 1t was not
until morning that the buffaloes slowed up
and began to scatter and feed. tried then
TO work my way out from among them,
but before had got half way out my mo-
tion alarmed them and they stampeded
again. There was no stopping the thing;
so long as they saw me among them they
were bound 10 stampede, and there was no
getting away from them. They carried me
along with them that day, and, although
now their pace had slowed to a walk,
they did not stop until darkness fell again.
Sometimes we would come to a gulch and
1 could hear the humping sound as tho
buffaloes off to left or right went heels over
m hn aao aoe
But by good luck the part of the herd
where Twas struck place every time where
we could get across. About 10 o'clock in
the night the buffaloes halted once more
and began to scatter and feed. A good many
of them lay down, as if they were tired out
with travelling and wanted no more of it,
started again To get clear of them, and
this time, by working carefully along, let
ting my horse feed as he went ard avoid
ing every motion that might alarm them,
] got to the edge Of the herd just as the
sky was growing light in the cast.
''Whcn / felt that was far enough be-
yond the main herd to he safe against an
other stampede / shot a young bull.
Strange to say, this caused no stampede or
sign of alarm among tho buffaloes. They
had had enough of stampeding, and those
nearest the bull only moved away few
steps at the report OF my carbine, ana then
lay down or went on feeding 1t was not
only that they were tired, but they had gov
used TO my presence, and have 10 doubt
that my horse and could have kept with
them as long as we chose without throw E
ing them into stampede again.
II took the buffalo's tongue and a cut
from his loin, and then set out to find wa
ter, leading my horse; for he was too badly
played out for me to ride him after all we
had been through. I struck spring In
the course of an hour, and water was good
for us about that time. After my horse
and had drunk all it was safo to drink at
the time, washed the dust from my eyes
end face, picketed my horse out to feed and
cooked about six pounds Of steak for my
breakfast. Then dropped down In my
tracks and slept till nightfall. l got my
bearings by tho stars and set out to find
our command. knew the direction they
would take and how far they could march
In day, and / hit IL 40 well that l was In
sight Of the dust raised by the column or