The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-14
SAW THE BUFFALO DIE
One Thousand Watch Killing
of the Large Bison.
MATHESON is DRAMATIC
Fires Shot With Old SpenSer
Rifle Amidst JeerS.

Look out, men! The bead is drawnr'
Thus shouted the North Side policeman,
Charlie Payne and Manager Fred Dold
yesterday afternoon, when thousand
men were breathlessly awaiting the
GROWING event of final tragedy. AS
had been announced in Tuesdays Eagle,
the big bull buffalo at the Union stock
yards was about TO be slaughtered, and
that, too by man whose reputation has
been world wide and whose exploits have
sounded over the length and breadth of
two cont lsants. The largest buffalo in tx
istence so far as known was TO be killed,
and vast throng was present 20 watch
the tragic end of the last leader Of an ex-
sinct race In the central division of the
cattle pens in pen No. 14S, was 10 be en-
acted the hast act, and all the dramatic
unities were carried out. He had been re-
moved early in the day from his old quar-
tiers in pen No. 147 so that better light
and more room would be afforded All
was in readiness and a hush settled over
the formerly jeering, excited crowd. Who
was to fire the fatal shot? How was he
to know where 10 shoot, once and
straight? These were questions which
passed over the impatient throng. But no
one seemed 20 know. Just as the crowd
had arranged themselves over the palings
and high raids of the enclosure, a tail,
well formed old man stepped forth into
the arena, and barring his head, displayed
a wealth Of snowy hair. At once a hiss
of disappointment went over that por-
zion of the audience who did not know
him, and a cheer from those who did. i
was WicfG ta's pride, Buffalo Bill'' Math-
ewson, the intrepid scout, Indian fighter
trader and frontiersman, who for fifty
years chaseH the buffalo in his native
haunts and found the paths through the
irackless plains for the government reg
ulars. Calmly he stepped into the enclos-
ure, and with quick but complete glance
took in the situation, the position of the
big brute. The range and the effect of the
light. Then he turned to the gaping crowd
and slowly remarked: Gentlemen, 1 be
lieve I have killed more buffalo than any
one present ever read Of
Charlie Payne then handed him a fine,
telescopes lighted needle rifle. Mr.. Math-
ewson inspected it and handed it back
with the remark, 'I can not use that"
He rold his boy, Fred, to go to his buggy
and bring his Spencer rifle. When it ap-
peared it was bloodstained and rusty with
many a conflict with man and beast. and
once more the crowd grew incredulous
and made sarcastic remarks about hitting
flock of balloons with such an ungainly
affair. Buffalo Bill paid no attention to
these jeers, but leveled the piece to his
shoulder and took deliberate aim. Was
St a minute an hour, an age? With sup
pressed excitement the crowd waited for
the report But none came. Instead
came the tell-tale snap of a miss fire
The cartridge failed to explode Again
The crowd jeered. With just one wither-
ing, scorching look of infinite scorn and
contempt, the hero of many an exciting
chase turned TO his rifle, removed the |
worthless shell as coolly as though light |
ing cigar, touched the spring which |
showed from the magazine a fresh cart |
ridge, and once more took aim.
Long and carefully he gazed along that |
fatal gun barrel. the bison meanwhile |
calmly chewing his cud, little realizing |
his immediate fate. 1t seemed an age. |
but it was only as seconds when the loud |
report resounded and re-echoed through /
ieveled on the target. He simply kicked |
Niciously. threw up his head and went on |
chewing his cud- That he was hit was |
certain, but was It a mortal wound? Not /
a living being believed it was, except one.
and that one was compla Gently climbing
down from his position and walking away
towards his buggy. his little boys hand
clasped in his own. Charlie Payne rush
ed IN TO this solitary man and said in
excited tones: Here is my gun. Take an
other shot. quick. He is only hurt a lit
tie. See him standing there" Buffalo
Bill smiled slightly and replied:
Don't You know I have six shells lef.
in my Own gun with which I could kin
him? Be patient for one moment. He is
dead
a thousand pair Of eyes were intentlv
watching the buffalo. All expected him
70 drop at once. But there he stood plac-
Idly chewing away on his cud. Just there
The skilled hunter was right and the
crowd wrong. Had he been only slightly
wounded he would at once have reared
and plunged and paved the earth and
dashed madly at everything in sight. But