The National tribune., 1899-11-02

We have seen many fresh signs of In
dians, and have followed their trails, but
did not see any hostiles. Our scouts re-
port that the hostiles have divided, and
part have gone north again into Canadian
territory, but the larger body has turned
south, and there is rumor that this party
has attacked Fort Rice. On our march
to overtake the command, our party came
up with the main body of Canadian half
breeds, and We camped part of the day
with them. All were very friendly.
CANADIAN HALF-BREEDS.
These half-breeds are suspected of trad
ing with the hostiles and furnishing them
with ammunition, guns, etc. They are a
queer people-a mixture of Indian, Scotch,
French, and Canadian. They speak but
little English. They dress fairly well in
citizens style, mostly in black corduroy
suits. They number about 1000 to 100
people, men, women, and children, all
devout Roman Catholics, and the priest is
the Judge. jury, boss, and high moguI Of
the whole party.
They seem to be happy-go-lucky, con-
tented people, and move about with family,
bag and baggage, like the gypsies. Their
vehicles are rough. two-wheel carts, home
made, and put together without particle
of iron. The tires of the wheels are made
Of raw-hide ard the axles are never
creased, and make all kinds of hideous
noises when moving. Their carts are
drawn by a single OK, hitched in shafts.
They have a good many horses, mostly
used for hunting only, and their animals
"a no nd a+c, nEo 4
all are excellent runners, and trained for
hunting buffaloes. Some of their ami
mails look like thoroughbreds, and are
priced very highly.
On the day We left camp had an oppor-
tunity of Witnessing and took part in a
buffalo hunt on a large scale, which was
very systematically conducted. | found
a half-breed who used TO live in Minnesota,
and with whom | was acquainted. | ac-
companied him, and he explained pro
ceedi1gs TO me.
At daylight about 200 started out, mount
ed, and armed with double barrel shotbuns,
the barrels of which had been cut off TO
about "A inches, and some shorter These
guns were loaded with single large balls to
ut the bore. This party started out in a
northwestern direction by twos, in straight
line, and at about 400 yards apart, and all
rode at good swinging gallop. OF course,
| 1t was some time before all were started
and the ends of the line could not be seen
! from the center, where l was with my half
| breed acquaintance.
A signal was passed along the line. and
! all stopped, rested their horses a short
time, and then turned at right angles,
started in a southwestern direction and
kept a fairly good line as far as the eve
could reach. The prairie was very level,
and we could see long distances. After
marching III this way for several miles
buffaloes were sighted, in fact, they were
mands were given with a flag or white
| rag tied TO the ramrodS of the guns. all
| being muZZle-loaders
Shortly after we left camp the long line
| OF hunters began gradually to surround
quite a large herd, but none of the hunters
approached near enough to alarm and
stampede them.
| SURROUNDING THE HERD.
This circle was so large that one could
not see the other side from any point buf
| %heh an We're ready the signal was passed
g aiong the nne, and all commenced 10 ride
| toWafo the buffalo, that were quietly grazing
ABOUT TWO miles from where we were on the
the llne. When We came within about one
| lnile OF them we could see that the leaders
the largest bulls, We're becoming uneasy
and moved around a good deal. All at
once the ferd started IN a mad rush south,
and soon gathered in compact bunch
The largest bulls seemed to run ahead
and on the sides and rear, while the cows.
calves, and other young animals were in
the center.
The herd did not run far before the lead
erS came within sight of the men ON the
opposite side of this Gordon of hunters.
some OF the men rode out to meet the herd,
and hred q few shots in the air to turn their