Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-04-30
CAMPAIGNING WITH SHELLEY
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Continued from Page ~

| tnelr neaVy burdens TO the village
Meanwhile overlooking kettles steamed
from many camp fires. and prepare.
lions were made for a grand feast
Such is an outline description of an
Indian buffalo hunt, and the gather
ing in of the spoils. +,
The Red river hunters and half
breeds annually ranged the buffalo
country in the valley of the James
river in those days; and each year
carried off to the settlements at
Pembina, hundreds of cart loads of
buffalo meat dried and in the shape
of "Pemican" But the buffaloes are
now rarely seen in their wild state on
the North American continent. Their
destruction has been alarmingly
rapid; they are found no more upon
the great ranges in the northwest.
The white wolves of the plains fol-
lowed in the tracks of the buffaloes
from one season 10 another; Cutting
themselves on the remaining portions
of the carcasses of those that fell by
the deadly shafts of the red hunters.
While the herd was together they
were never attacked, as the buffaloes
would instantly gather for combined
resistance which they effectuany
made. But: when they were migrat,
ing, oftentimes it would happen that
an aged or wounded one would linger
at a distance behind when it would be
set upon by these gaunt hunters, who
would torture it to death and use it
up at "a meal. The buffalo, however,
is a huge and ferocious animal. And
when attacked and his retreat cut off
would make a desperate resistance;
contending to the last moment for the
right of life, frequently inflicting
death on many of his canine assail-
ants, by transfxing them with his
sharp horns and stamping them under
his feet before being overpowered and
slain. ~ t.>., -
John La Faure, an old French trap
per who was known to the early
pioneers by the distinguished appela-
ton of "Old Dakota" told the writer
in 1867, that while guiding party of
hunters from Big Stone Lake to Elm
river, in 1886, he witnessed a tragic
scene on the Dakota plains A huge
buffalo stood in plain view short dis
lance from them encircled by a gang
of white wolves. The poor old
veteran stood bracing up In the midst
OF his devourers, who had ceased
hostilities for a few minutes to enjoy
a sort of parley; recovering strength
before preparing to resume the attack
again. Riding UP toward the group
of gaunt sneaking cormorants, they
dispersed and Withdrew from their in
tended victim, who still stood his
ground with his head lowered ready
to defend himself. Wondering why
the buffalo did not move off the hunt
ers rode up closer and to their sur
prise found that the animal had made
a desperate resistance in the pro-
longed and unequal fight. His eyes
were entirely eaten out Of his head;
the grizzle Of his nose was mostly
gone; his tongue lacerated and bleed
ing; while the skin and flesh of his
legs We're literally torn into strings.
In this tattered and torn condition the
wounded animal had continued to
make a desperate and deadly resist
ance to his voracious enemies who
were engaged in the effort to take his
Life. Riding nearer to the pitable
object, as he stood bleeding and
trembling before them, the half-breed
scout said, Nov is your time, old fell
low, you had better be off" Though
blind and nearly vanquished the buff
falo evidently seemed to recognize a
friend in the voice of the half-breed
guide, for he Instantly Strengthened up
with excitement and dashed off at full
speed upon the prairie in a straight
line. Turning their horses toward the
river they resumed their march, and
when they had advanced about one
half mile they looked back and saw
the i'll fated animal again surrounded
by his tormentors; to whose insatiab,s
voracity he unquestionably soon fell
victim. j II.
Ito be continued.) S #
: Mextce Cave fssseitareS siG45 Sss:ss