Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-11-16
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RoosEvELT's FIRST BUFFALO.
His Old Guide Tells Of His Life In
the West.


j. A. Ferris, Of Medora, South Dako.
ia, was President Roosevelt's guide or
the occasion Of his first buffalo hunt
"Mr. Roosevelt's first trip to Medora
was made in the fall Of 1885," says Fer.
ris. "At that time conditions at the
crossing of the Little Missouri were
distinctly those Of the frontier.
"The Northern Pacific construction
crew had a short time before bridged
the Little Missouri, and soldiers were
stationed at a temporary cantonmen,
in the Bad Lands to protect the ad-
vance guard Of the railroad from the
Indians.
"The buffalo had been decreasing
under the slaughter by pothunters, but
few of them were to be found on the
headwaters Of the water courses flow
ing into the Little Missouri, so or 81
miles from Medora or, as it was then
called, Little Missouri. It was buffalo
that brought Mr.. Roosevelt to the Bad
Lands, and his investments in cattle
there were the result Of his observa-
tions while on his first hunting trip.
1T was a prospect that would have
dismayed a less energetic and deter
mined young man than Mr.. Roosevelt
when he first stepped from the train on
a September day in 1883. The buffalo
ranges were so miles away over coun-
try exceedingly rough and unbroken
and to be reached only after much
hardship and exposure. Saddle horses
were few and untrustworthy and camp
life full Of hardships.
"Mr. Roosevelt was then rather
thin young man, plainly dressed, and
when he asked me to 60 buffalo hunt
ing with him, was surprised indeed.
1 was considerably in doubt as to
whether he would stand the trip. 1t
meant lots Of hardships and hard work
to kill a buffalo at that time.
But there was something in the set
Of the young mans face that told me
he was bound to go, and finally I con-
sented to be his guide. We started out
with a hunting outfit to the head OF
Bacon creek, about so miles from the
railroad crossing. Mr.. Roosevelt was
on horseback, and where he learned to
ride, I don't know; but he rode as well
as or better than did and could stand
Just as much knocking about.
I'm making or breaking camp he was
handy as a pocket in shirt, and SEEM
ed to know just what to do. On the
first night out, when we were rs or 80
miles from a settlement, we went into
camp on the open prairie, with our sad
die blankets over us, our horses picket
ed and the picket ropes tied about the
horns of our saddles, which we used as
pillows.
I'm the middle Of the night there was
a rush, our pillows were swept out
from under our heads and our horses
went tearing off over the prairie,
frightened by wolves. Away they tore
and we heard the saddles humping
over the ground after them.
"Mr. Roosevelt was up and OFF In
minute after them. Together we chas-
ed those horses over the prairie until
they slackened speed and we caught up
with them. The night was dark and
there was little to guide us on our re-
turn. Roosevelt's bump Of locality
was good and he led the way back to
camp straight as a die.
ION the following day we reached
our hunting grounds and for several
days travelled about without being able
to get shot at a buffalo. On the
fourth day out, I think it was, while
we were riding along, our horses prick
ed up their ears, as they will do when
big game Is near, and I told Mr.. Roose-
welt there was a buffalo close at hand.
I'VE dismounted and advanced to a
big washout nearby, peered over Its
edge, and there stood a huge buffalo
bull, calmly feeding and unaware Of
our presence.
"Hit him where that patch Of red
shows on his side,' said I, and you've
got him.
Roosevelt was cool as a cucumber,
took careful aim and fired. Out came
the buffalo from the washout. wi'k
blood pouring from his mouth and
nose.
you've shot him. I shouted, and
so it proved, for the buffalo plunged
a few steps and fell.
1T was on this trip that Mr. Roose-
welt, with that quick determination
that has characterized him, saw the
possibilities of the business Of matur-
ing Texas cattle on the broad ranges
of the Bad Lands. While in the buffa-
10 hunting camp he sent word to S. M.
Ferris and A. w. Merrifield, then loca-
ted at what Is known as the Chin
ney Butte ranch, seven miles from Me-
dora on the little Missouri river, asking
them if they would consider a PROPOSE
ton to engage in the cattle business
with him, If he furnished the animals
to stock the ranch, they to assume
charge of them while on the range.
"The result was that Roosevelt de-
posted to their credit funds sufficient
to buy 500 head of steers and thus be-
come a ranchman. The animals were
bought that fall and in the spring the
holdings were increased to several
thousand head. The Maltese cross was
chosen as the brand and soon came to
be we'll known on the ranges.
"A second ranch was established on
the river 40 miles north of Medora and
was known as the Elkhorn. This was
in the fastenesses Of an extremely wild
and unbroken country. It's location