The new enterprise., 1904-12-08

| ards. zone afternoon we were max
ing our way leisurely along a ridge
when we suddenly deserted on the
summit OF another ridge a huge black
line at least a halfmile 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 it was a herd
of buffalo
1--WE could see plainly enough that
with our heavily loaded teams we
could not get beyond it. Our chiet
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 tas-
tened TO the wheels. Then one man
was detailed to each mule to keep 1t
as quiet as possible. while ten OF us
were instructed to Gil our pockets with
cartridges form a line, 60 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 a 5O-caliber bullet
with a 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 a mass
Of buffalo half a mile long on the front
and extending at least that far back.
The animals we're coming toward us at
what was only fast walk until we
opened fire. and then broke into a gal
lop. 10 stop them was out Of the ques-
ton, for those in front were urged for
ward by those behind.
Il recall distinctly that when l fred
my first shot, the front OF the line
being about 200 yards from us, |
thought | had struck horn, but when
l had fred several shots and heard
them all strike l knew 1 was hitting
something beside horns. thought
noise might be of benefit at this time,
so having good lungs l eXerted 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 our voices, with what exc
cution our bullets were doing, caused
the herd to divide and pass to each
side of us. But we soon found our
selves in a precarlous situation. When
the herd was first split, the buffalo
could see as well as hear us, and they
veered off either way, but those that
were following created such a noise
themselves and raised such n cloud of
dust that they could hardly see or
hear us, and soon began to crowd in on
us in q way exceedingly disquieting.
SITUATION EXCITING.
The animals were being forced back
ward and in and upon each other to
such an extent that it 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
as the outfit wiped off the face Of the
earth. We had been forced into a solid
line and were splitting the herd, be-
cause we would not be doubled up or
give way on,either side. We had been
going back foot by foot, had few cart
ridges left and it 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 300 shots had been fired.
Having a 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 a short distance Of us. On ac-
count Of the wounded buffalo and smell
OF fresh blood, they were in a state of
turmoil all night, while the wolves
both coyotes and the large cray 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,
"The buffalo is, under ordinary cir
cumstances," continued Mr.. Richards,
"a docile animal. neither aggressive
nor combative, but had some exper-
ience with the animal which went to
show that when aggravated they arc
dangerous. found that ordinarily
buffalo, like any other wild animal