The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-16

IL Took Place In 1875 ana the Twelve
Bur aiOes In the Herd Were All siaush.
tered-Remorse After the Exhilara.
ton OF the Killing" Kick Me Now"
A we'll known sportsman in this city
who, although not too old to cas-. fly or
draw a bead is still counted among the
gray haired veterans Of the fraternity,
was recountng the other day some OF his
early exploits and told among other things
OF his first and last buffalo hunt In that
hunt the last herd Of buffaloes in Nebraska
and one Of the last in the United States
was wiped out.
The e1hilaration Of tie slaughter was
immense, but this man has felt renorse
ever since; and although somebody would
probably have to hold him if the same
opportunity we're offered again under the
same circumstances, still, he would, he
declares, greatly enjoy being kicked soundly
by an able bodied man with large boots
if he repeated his part in the killing.
1T was my good or i'll fortune, take it
any way you please" said he, "to find
myself located in the year 1875 in tie
small hamlet Of Mslrose, Harlan county,
southwest Nebraska. Fer two or three
wears that section Of the country had been
had sniireiy ceased. the trend being east
inst cad Of west. and the few settlers who
remained were having a hard time OF it,
being supported chiefly by the Govern
ment on corn neal, beans and salt pork,
and for fresh meat depending altogether
on their rifles.
1T was these circumstances which af-
forded me, a tenderfoot, the opportunity
to Join with two veterans on hunt for
buffalo meat and pets when news reached
the place that a herd-the first that had
appeared in several months in the State
had been sighted west from Melrose, At
that time there were only few OF the
animals left In Nebraska and not many
in other States, ard we knew that the set
tiers would soon have the pelts of all OF
them in their wagons The great slaughter
occurred in ls71-S-4, and, although Nebraska
prohibited the transp ortation OF hides
through the State in 1873. ald Kansas did
30 q year later, the precautions were taken
too late.
1t was early in the morning of day in
August when Newell Bill and myself started
out in the direction where the herd was re-
ported to have been seen. We knew at the
time that the herd was the last in the State,
and probably the last in the country.
AT Melrose the Republican River is
Joined by the Sappa and the Beaver, and
while the Republican trends nearly. due
west, the Sappa west and south and the
Beaver still further south apd west they all
flow nearly parallel, being only thirty. o.,
forty miles apart at their headwaters. They
are Joined by many tributaries, and in the
day Of the buffalo the region was one Of
the greatest pasture grounds in the country
for them. 1t was to this section that the
~ nrhAx
sought permission from the Government
to come from their reservations for their
annual meat supply, and 1t was in one OF the
draws between the Republican and Sappa
rivers that the Pawnees were nearly ex-
terminated by the Sioux in 1874.
Our equipment when we started con-
sisted Of two Sharps sporting rifles and a
small carbine-this for the tenderfoot;
two good horses, a spring wagon, three bar
rels OF provisions; plenty OF ammunition.
family to the mastiff
aFording the Republican and Sappa
rivers we took the north bank of the Beaver
and at nightfall found ourselves at Beaver
eral store and hotel all in one, and one
dwelling house. 1t was the last settlement
west of Melroee.
AT daybreak the next morning we again
took the road. so-caled, still following
where thousands Of cattle we're roaming
and stray cowboy or two were on guard
II was toward evening that / had my first
opportunity to try my caTbine on game.
I noticed a large black bird sitting on a
limb OF an old cottonwood tree.
Game for my gum 1 yelled, as /
Jumped out Of the wagon. and, raiaing tho
sights for 200 yards, blased away,
mot feather moved; the bird didn't
even look surprised; 1t might have been
Poe's raven, leaving out the croak. I
ssked Newell II 200 yards wasn't about right.
II was. and tried again, Same result.
The third shot dropped him, though.
allowed must have my game
Certainly; go, get II, said Newell.
81 noticed as / approached the quarry
a mighty disagreeable odor, but never
supposed II came from the feathered thing
ahead until my nose got directly over the
bird. And then-great Cesar Before !
reached the wagon lost my wind and my
conceit and was greeted with roars OF
laughter which made me lose my temper
also.
Some time subsequently was informed
that the bird was a turkey brzzaTd,
prairie scavenger When gorged 1t can
be knocked over with club, but is seldom
molested Nearly every buffalo hunter
has had an experience with the bird ono
time or other, but one experience is usually
sufficient.
AT night we camped far beyond the sound
Of any civilization, and the next day VIC left
the Beaver valley ard struck on for the di-
vide between the ReaTer and the Sappa'
We were now In buffalo territory and in the
section where we had heard the last animals
in the State had herded.
Following the di' ide all the afternoon,
watching north down toward the Sappa
| and south toward the Beaver, we con-