Barbour County index., 1904-06-08

NomeeeekerA
William A Richards, Commissioners
Of the land once, spent many of his
early days on the great plains of tho
West. and always has at hand . fund
OF good stories ready 70 tap when
called upon. This b one. OF them:
"A party OF fourteen OF us we're go
Ing south from Fort Kearney, Neb..
on FOOT with two mule teams to haul
our camp equipment and supplies"
related Mr. Richards. ''One afternoon
We were making our way leisurely
along ridge, when We suddenly de-
scried on the summit Of another
Ridge . huge black line at least q
half mile In length. Those Of us who
had not been on the plains before
could not make out what this line
was. but we were informed by the
cAief of ouR party that it was herd
Of buffalo.
We could see plainly enough that
with our heavily loaded teams we
could not get beyond the Hne before
the herd would be upon us. Our
chief, therefore. promptly called q
halt, gave orders that the two wag.
ons be brought up close together, one
behind the other. and directed that
the mules be inhitched. placed behind
the wagons on the side opposite that
from which the Buffalo we're coming.
and securely fastened 10 the wheels.
Then one man was detailed to each
mule to keep It as quiet as possible.
White ten Of US were instructed 30 fill
our pockets With cartridges, for a
line, 60 out 70 meet the buffalo and
try to split them and keep them d.
Nded until they passed the wagons.
"The Spencer carbines with which
We were armed shot q so caliber bull
let with . charge of 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 IRE. The rear end Of the herd
had not pet come up over the opposite
ridge. SO that we were confronted By
q mess Of buffalo half q mile long ON
the front and extending at least that
far back. The animals were coming
toward us at what as only Q fast
walk until We opened fire. and then
broke into gallop To stop them was
out Of the question, fm those In front
were urged forward by those behind
Il recall distinctly that when fred
my first shot, the front Of the lns
being about two hundred yards from
US. thought had struck q horn, but
wnen had fired several shots and
heard them all strike knew I was
hitting something besides horns.
thought noise might be Of benefit at
this time. SO having good lungs I ez.
erted them to the Utmost Joined at
once by the rest OF the firing party.
And my theory worked out all right.
"The noise Of our guns and Of ou1
voices. with what execution our bul
lets were doing, caused the herd to
divide and pass to each side Of us- But
We soon found ourselves in precart
Gus situation When the herd was
Arst split, the buffalo could SEQ GO
well as hear US, and they veered Oh
either way, but those that we're fol-
lowing created such noise them.
selves and raised such q cloud Of dust
that they could hardly see or hear us.
and soon began to crowd in on US IN
q way that was exceedingly disQuiet-
ing.
1.-The animals were being forced
backward and in and upon each other
to such an extent that II became
doubtful whether we were going to
succeed in our effort. II we should
fall it meant that we would be tram
pied under foot and the entire party
as well as the outfit wiped on the face
Of the earth. We had been forced
into q solid line and we're splitting
the herd, because we would not be
doubled up or give way on either side.
We had been going back foot by foot,
had few cartridges len, and II was
becoming evident that we could not
hold out much longer. when our backs
came in contact with the wagon, and
almost at the same. instant we saw
daylight ahead Of Us, end there was
the end OF the herd.
"The most remarkable thing about
the whole affair was that when the
herd had passed and the dust had
settled there were only two dead but.
falo Tying upon the plains. while more
than three hundred shots had been