The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-10
ROOSEYELT'S FIRST BUFFALO.
HIS OLD GUIDE TELLS OF BIS
LIFE IN THE WEST.
Showed His Ability to Endure Hsrdships
on His First visit-His Entrance Into
The Cattle Business Experiences n
n Cowboy-His Sense Of Justice.

SoWDoy -hs sosso VI "
Svl PAUL, Nov. s.-J. A. Ferris OF Medors
was Presidents Roosevelt's guide on the
occasion OF his first buffalo hunt.
mir. Roosevelt's first trip to Medora was
made In the fall Of 1888" says Ferris. AT
that time conditions at the crossing OF the
Little Missouri River 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 cantonment in the Bad Lands
10 protect the advance guard OF the rail-
road from the attacks OF India ms.
Tho buffalo had been decreasing under
the slaughter by the pothunters, but a few
of them were to 30 found on the heodwaters
Of The water courses flowing into the Little
Missouri, fifty or sixty miles from Medora
or. as IL was then called. Little Missouri
It was buffalo that brought Mr.. Rooscvet
TO tho Bad lands, and his Investments IN
cattle there were the result OF his observa-
tons while on his first hunting trip.
1T was a prospect that would have dis
MAYED a less energetic and determined young
MAJ than Mr.. Roosevelt when he first
stepped from the train on a September day
In 1883. The buffalo ranges were Fifty miles
away over a country exceedingly rough
and unbroken and to be reached only after
much hardship and exposure. Saddle
horses were few and untrustworthy ana
camp life full Of hardship.
mir. Roosevelt was then a rather thin
Young man, plainly dressed, and when he
asked me to go buffalo hunting with him
/ was surprised, indeed. | was considerably
In doubt as TO whether he would stand the
trip. II meant lots of hardship and hard
work to kill a buffalo at that time. y, -,
But there was something In the set OF
the young mans face that told me he was
bound to go. and finally | consented to be
his guide. We started out with a hunting
outfit TO the head Of Bacon Creek, about
fry miles from the railroad crossing. Mr..
Roosevelt was on horseback. and where he
learned to ride, ! don't know, but he rode
rs. well as or better than ] did and could
stand just as much knocking about.
in making or breaking camp, he was
handy as a pocket in a shirt. and seemed
to know just what TO do, On the first night
out, when we were twenty-five or thirty
miles from n settlement, we went into camp
on the open prairie. with our saddle blankets
over us. our horses picketed and the picket
ropes tied about the horns OF our saddles.
which we used for pillows.
an the middle OF the night there was a
rush, our pillows were swept out from
under our heads and orr horses went tear
ing of over the prairie, frightened by wolves,
VI III tOlo dAaN We 'DN ~ "
thumping over the ground after them.
"Nr. Roosevelt was up and on in a minuet
after them. Together we chased those
frightened horses over the prairie until
with them. The night was dark and there
was little TO guide us on our return: Roose-
welt = bump of locality was good and he
led the way back TO camp straight as a die.
.~On the following day we reached our
hunting grounds and for several days
tra...I1aI about tyittOtt hpinu mile To get
n shot at a buffalo. On the fourth or fifth
day out, | think Il was. while we were rid
ing along, our horses pricked up their ears,
as they will do when big game is near, and
j told Nr. Roosevelt there was a buffalo
closp ri hand.
aWe dismoun'ed and advanced to a big
wnshou. nearby. peered over its edge. and
there stood a huge buffalo bull, calmly
feeding and unaware OF our presence
Oh 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. with blood
pouring from his mouth and nose.
You've shot him ! shouted, and 80
II proved, for the buffalo plunged a Few
steps and fell.
IL was on this trip that Mr.. Roosevelt.
with that quick determination that has
characterized him. saw the possibilities
az the business Of maturing Texas cattle
TN iff bfbbl laIb''F VI N' De' ~
While In the buffalo hunting camp he sent
word % \. VI. FERRIS and A. ". Merrifeld,
then 10 ,ated AT v nat II known ar the Chini-
ney Butte Ranch. seven miles from Medora
ON the little Missouri River. asking them
IL they would consider n proposition TO
engage in the cattle business with him,
~ he furnished the animals 10 stock the
ranch, they 10 assume charge of them
while on the range.
The result wac thst Roosevelt deposited
" - ~. s.,l. -tNl.m..V q. ItaH ENI
head of steers and thus become aranchmnn.
The animAls were bought that fall and m
the Spring the holding we're Increased
90 several thoussud head The Maltese
cross Wa chosen a. the brand and s"pn
came % he well known "a the ranges
A seoOnd ranch sss established On the
river forty mil.s north of MedOfa and vac
known a. the flkhorn The wa M ~"
fA-' aesses ~ an eAtrein"lywih and unhrOken
oountry. It. location add surrounding
mad. o. popular vith Mr. Roosevelt.
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