The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-11-21
RocsEvElTs FIRST BUFFALO.
showed hts ability TO Endure Hardships
on hi. Ftr.t Nist Uis En,rabe" Into
the CarttIe business.

showed hts Ability TO Endure Hardships '
on hi. Fir.t Visit His En,rsnc- Into ,
the CartiIe business.
st. Paul, Nov. s j. A. Ferris of /
Medora was Presidents Rorevelps
guide on the Or aston Of his fret
Buffalo hunt.
"Mr. Roosevelt's fret trip 10 Me- |
dora was msde in the fall Of 1883"
zays Ferris. AT that time condi-
tions at the crossing Of the Little
Missouri River were distinctly those
of the frontier.
9Th Northern Pacific cDnsi rue
ton CT w had short time bsfore
bridged the Little Missouri, and
soldiers were stationed at a tempo
rary cantonment In the Bad Lends
to protect the advance guard of the
railroad from the attacks or Indians.
The buffalo had been decreasing
under the slaughter by the po'hunt-
ers, but few Of them were to be
found on the headwaters Of the
water courses flowing into the Little
Missouri, fifty or sixty miles from
Medora or, as 1t was then called,
Liatle Missouri. 1t was buffalo that
brought Mr.. Roosevelt to the Bad
Lands, and his investments In cat
tie there were the result Of his OBJ
servatiOns while on his first hunt
ing trip.
at was a prospect that would
have dismayed less energetic and
determined young man than Mr..
Roosevelt when he first stepped
from the train on September day
In 1883 The buffalo ranges were
Atty miles away over country ex-
ceedingly rough and unbroken and
To be reached only after much hard
ship and exposure. Saddle horses
were few and untrustworthy and
camp life full of hardship.
"Mr. Roosevelt was then 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. IL meant lots of hardship and
hard work to kill 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
1 consented to be his guide. We
started out with hunting outfit to
the head of Bacon Creek, about fifty
miles from the railroad crossing
Mr.. Roosevelt was on horseback, and
where he learned to ride, 1 dom
know, but he rode as we'll as or bet
ter than / did and could stand JUS
As much knocking about.
'In making or breaking camp HI
was handy "a pocket in shirt
and seemed to know just what to do
On the first night cut, when WI
were twenty-five or thirty mile
from q settlement, we went int
camp on the open prairie, with GU
saddle blankets over us, our horse
picketed and the picket ropes tie
about the horns of our saddles, whic
we used for pillows.
'In the middle of the night ther
was a rush, our pillows were swep
out from under our heads and on
horses went tearing off over tn
prairie, frightened by wolves. Ava
they tore and we heard the saddle
humping over the ground afte
them
"Mr. Roosevelt was up and off i
minute after them. Together W
chased thWe frightened horses owe
the prairie until they slackene
speed and we caught up with then
The night was dark and there ws
little to guide us on our return
Roosevelt's bumb Of locality Wa
good and he led the way back t
camp straight as a die.
''On the following day we reache
our hunting grounds and for sewers
days travelled about without bein
able to get shot at buffalo. o.
the fourth or fifth day out, thin
it was, while we were riding alon,
our horses pricked up their ears, ,
they will do when big game is nea
and told Mr.. Roosevelt there W.
buffalo close at hand.
1--WE dismounted and advanced
big washout nearby, peered ov'
its edge, and there stood a hug
buffalo bull, calmly feeding and III
aware Of our presence.
"'Hit him where that patch (
red shows on his side,' said 1, IAN
you've got him.
"Roosevelt was cool as cucumbe
took careful aim and fired. o.
came the buffalo from the wsshou
with blood pouring from his mout
and nose.
"'You've shot him. 1 shoute,
and so 1t proved, for the buffa
plunged few steps and fell.
at was on this trip that M
Roosevelt, with that quick dete
minatio1 that has characterized hin
saw the possibilities of the busine
Of maturing Texas cattle on Il
broad ranges of the Bad Land
While in the buffalo hunting can
ha sent word to s. M. Ferris and 1
w. Merrifield, then located at VIII
Is known as the Chimney But
Ranch, seven miles from Medora {
the Little Missouri River, askir
them If they would consider a pro
osition to engage in the cattle bus
ness with him, If he furnished Il
animals to stock the ranch, they
assume charge of them while on Il
range.
"'The result was that Rooseve
deposited to their credit funds sui
ciarnt IN hun 6Qa hoaL &C .4.s--