Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-03-12
A BUFFALO STAMPEDE.
The Plees11t Experience CT Splitting One
in the West

William 4. Richards. commissioner Of
the land Office, spent many of his early
days on the great plains OF the west.
and always has at hand fund of good
stories ready to tap when called upon.
This is one of them: ~ party Of fouF-
teen of Us were going south from Fort
hcarney. Neh.. on foot with two mule
teams To haul our camp equipment and
supplies, related Mr.. Richards. One
afternoon we were making our way
lelSurely along a ridge when we sudden
ly deserted on the summit of another
ridge Il huge black line Mt least half 4
mile in length Those OF MS who had
not been on the plains before could not
were Informed by the chief of our party
that II was herd of buffalo. We could
see plainly enough that with our heavily
loaded team We could not get beyond
the line before the herd would be upon
Us. Our chief. therefore. promptly called
halt. gave orders that the TWO wagons
lie brought UP close together one behind
,he other, and directed that the mules
be unhitchcd, placed behind the wagons
on the side opposite that from which
lie buffalo were coming and securely
fastened 70 the wheels Then one man
WAS detailed to each mule 10 keep it as
quiet rs possible, while ten of rs were
d
ridges. form line, 20 out 10 meet the
buffalo and try TO split them. and keep
/ hem divided until they passed the
wagons.
The Spencer carbincS with which we
were armed shot = 5O-calibcr bullet with
charge nf powder much too light for
that weight of load and that kind of
game. We went back some 800 yards
from the wagons and opened fire The
rear end of the herd lad not yet come
NJ over the opposite ridge, so that NE
Wcfe confronted by mass of buffalo
half mile long on the front and extend
ing at least that far back. The animals
were coming toward rs at what was
only fast walk until we opened fire.
and then broke into 4 gallup To stop
I them WAS out Of the question. for those
IN front were urged forward by those
behind. | recall distinctly that when ]
hred my first shot, the front of the line
/ being about 200 yards from MS. | thought
| had struck 4 horn. but when had
hred several shots and heard them al!
! strike | knew | was hitting something
1 besides horns. ! thought noise might
bc Of benefit at this time, 50, having good
lungs. | eXerted them to the utmost
joined at once by the rest of the firing
party. And my theory worked out ali
right.
The noise of our guns aud our voices
with what execution our bullets were do
ing, caused the herd Ia divide and pass
TO each side of us But we soon found
/ ourselves in pTecariouS situation
/ When the herd first split, the buffalo
could see as well as hear us. and they
veered off either way, but those that
were following created such n noise
! themselves and raised such cloud Of
dust THAT they could hardly see or hear
/ us. and soon began TO crowd in on MS in
q way that was exceedingly disquietinc
The animals were being forced back
ward and in and upon each other To such
an extent that it became doubtful wheth-
/ er we were going to succeed in our eff
! fort. If we Should fail il meant that we
would be trampted under foot and the en-
/ tire party as well as the outfit wiped off
the face Of the earth. We had been forced
/ into solid line and were splitting the
/ herd. because we would not bc doubled
/ up or give way on either side We had
been gong back foot 10y foot. had few
cartridges left and il was becoming cyl.
dent that we could moi hold out much
/ longer. when our backs came in contact
with the wagon. and almost ut the same
instant saw daylight ahead of us. and
there was the end OF the herd. The most
remarkable thing about the whole affair
was that when the herd nHd passed and
the dust had settled there were only two
dead buffalo living upon the ulainS. while
more than 500 shots had been fred
Washington Star.