The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-11-23


ards. zone afternoon we were maxi
ing our way leisurely along ridge.
when we suddenly deserted on the
summit of another ridge a huge black
line Mt least halfmlle 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
chief of our party that 1t was herd
of buffalo.
"We could see plainly enough that
with our heavily loaded teams we
could not get beyond It, Our chief
therefore promptly called halt, gave
orders that the two wagons be brought
up close together, one behind the other
and directed that the mules be un-
hitched. placed behind the wagons on
the side opposite that from which the
buffalo were coming and securely fas-
tened TO the wheels. Then one man
was detailed to each mule TO keep 1t
rs quiet as possible while ten of us
were instructed to fill our pockets with
cartridges. form n line, go out to meet
the buffalo and try TO split them and
keep them divided until they passed
the wagons.
"The Spencer carbines with which
we were armed shot .50-callber bullet
with n 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
fire. The rear end of the herd had not
yet come up over the opposite ridge,
so that we were confronted by mass
OF buffalo half a mile long on the front
and extending at least that far back.
The animals were coming toward us ut
what was only n fast walk until we
opened fire, and then broke into gal
lop. TO stop them was out of the ques-
tlon, for those in front were urged for
ward by those behind.
II recall distinctly that when I fired
my first shot, the front of the line
being about 200 yards from us,
thought | had struck a horn, but when
/ had fired several shots and heard
them all strike l knew l was hitting
something beside horns. / thought
| noise might be of benefit at this time,
HO lU lllS SOuu luISo tAtiitu tiNih
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 our voices, with what exc
cutlon our bullets were doing, caused
the herd to divide and pass to each
side OF us. But we soon found our
selves in precarlous situation. When
the herd was first split, the buffalo
could see as we'll as hear u.s. and they
veered off either way, but those that
We're following created such a noise
themselves and raised such a cloud OF
dust that they could hardly see or
hear us, and soon began TO crowd In on
us in way exceedingly disquietins.
SITUATION EXCITING.
The animals were being forced back
ward and in and upon each other TO
such an extent that 1t became doubt
full whether we were going to succeed
In our effort. If we should fail 1t
meant that we should be trampled un-
der foot and the entire party as well
rs the outfit wiped off the face of the
| earth. We had been forced into solid
line and were splitting the herd. be-
cause we would not be doubled up or
give way on either side. We had been
ridges left and 1t was becoming evident
that we could not hold out much
longer when our backs came in contact
with the wagons, and almost at the
same instant we 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 had passed and the dust had
settled there were only two dead buff
faloes lying upon the plains, while
more than 800 shots had been fired.
Having n small supply of water in
our wagons, we camped at the place
where the fight had taken place, but
got little sleep, as the herd stopped
within q short distance of us. On ac-
count of the wounded buffalo and smell
Of fresh blood, they We're in state Of
turmoil all night, while the wolves
both coyotes and the large gray ami
mals-kept up an incessant bowling all
night long. We moved on the next
morning in good order with plenty of
buffalo meat, the first we had obtained
upon the trip.
"rhe buffalo is, under ordinary cir
cumstances," continued Mr.. Richards.
"a docile animal, neither aggressive
nor combatiye. but had some exper-
ience with the animal which went to
show that when aggravated they are
| dangerous. l found that ordinarily
buffalo, like any other wild animal
with which l have had experience,
will run from hunter when given an
opportunity, and that when wounded
it will not ordinarily charge a man
from a greater distance than about
| fifty yards. On one occasion met one
which was an exception to this rule,
however. 1 was hunting on foot with
Henry rifle. Buffalo were not plen-
tlful in the locality, but finally sight
cd an old bull lying down on the plains.
~