Omaha daily bee., 1908-11-29
A FAMOUS BUFFALO HUNT
R~ecOlleCtions Of the Chase Planned
for Grand Duke Alexis.
HUNTING PARTY MEET IN OMAHA
Noted Army Omcers ana PIainsmen
Escort Royalty and Participate
In the sport and
Festivities.

The late Grand Duke Alexis of Russia,
uncle of Emperor Nicholas, whose funeral
took place in st. Petersburg last week, was
the chief guest in what is classed in plains
history as the most imposing and distin-
guished hunting party that ever chased
buffalo. Omaha was the rendezvous of the
hunters, the grand duke arriving here
January 1S, 1872, and was given a reception
at the residence of Hon. Alvin Saunders.
The origin of the hunt and the details of
it have been pieced together by James AL
bert Hadley from the records of the Kan
sas Historical society and reprinted in the
New York Evening Post. The affair, as
shown by the records, was arranged for
the benefit of Alexis, a brother of the then
emperor OF Russia, who came here when
the country's appreciation of Russia's atti-
titude toward the United States during the
was sent as the special ambassador to bear
his country's congratulations to President
Grant and the United States, and nothing
was too good for him.
1t was at a dinner at the White House
that General Phil Sheridan suggested to
the grand luke that he should go west to
get a real appreciation of the size of the
country. and that while on the way he
should participate in a buffalo hunt to see
what American sport really was.
That idea appealed to Alexis much more
than the thought of continuous entertain
ment in the eastern cities and the nightly
swapping of international compliments at
the banquet table, for he was not only a
true sailor, but a sportsman and a great
horseman, and he loved adventure. Further
more he was only %, and, doubtless, the
thought OF going for big game in a new
country was as attractive to him as the
prospect of a Jungle hunt in Africa is to
the young men of today. To General Sheri-
dan and General Custer was assigned the
honor of taking the nations guest to the
plains.
General Custer, who Joined the party at
on January ~, 1872. was in command
of the field operations, and his following
included, beside the grand duke, Vice Ad-
miral Posslet, commander of the Russian
fleet, hen In American waters; count
Olsenfieff and Count Shouvaloff, and vari-
GUS other Russian mobiles of the ducal re-
tinue. Among the Americans were Generals
Sheridan, James w. Forsyth, and George
A. Forsyth, General Ord. commanding the
Department of the Platte; General Innis
N. Palmer, Colonel Michael V. Sheridan,
the generals brother, and the great scout,
Buffalo Bill. Every one of the Americans
was an expert hunter and thoroughly knew
the short-grass country between the big
Muddy and the Rockies.
Two Troops ms Escort.
AS an escort for the hunters there were
two troops, B and X, of the Second cav
airy, with the band of the regiment, and
there were almost as many servants and
Wallets in the retinue of the Russians as
there were troopers In the expedition.
Surely an elaborate outfit for a hunting
expedition.
But there was so much real roughing it
that the frills. the band, and the cham
payne wagons could not take the edge off
the adventure for the grand luke. He and
his personal guards were all fine horse
men. and kept to the saddle every day long
after the counts had taken to the ambu-
lances.
From Omaha a special train took the
hunters TO North Platte, where they
mounted for the first days ride, a fifty
mile walk. trot. and gallop. to Camp
Alexis. which General Palmer had estab-
lished for the occasion on Red Willow
creek. The camp outfit consisted of two
hospital tents. in which the meals were
served; ten wall tents. and a tent for
soldiers and servants There was a stock
Of 10000 rations each of flour. sugar and
coffee. to say nothing of the delicacies and
the wine, and 1000 pounds of tobacco to
give to the Indians.
The grand duke was interested in the
Indians almost as much as he was In
the buffalo, so General Sheridan mad a
tribe of Brules. under command of
Spotted Tail. moved bodily to Camp
them at his leisure. There were fifty
dren in this tribe.
First Herd Reported.
On the first night of camp General
Custer sent out scouts to look for buffalo.
The report of a herd within three miles
was brought back before midnight, and
the duke turned in with as much joyful
anticipation of the morning as a small
boy has on, the night before Christmas
He was up when the cavalry bugler
sounded r~eveille, and found General Gus
ter down on the picket line, personally
inspecting the horse that we. to be rid.
den by a Russian guest. Before break,
fast was over the early morning scouts
came in with the report that the mair
herd was between Red Willow and Medi'
cine creeks, about fifteen miles from
camp, and the order to mount was given
Before the start was made. however, Gen
eral Custer announced the following rule
for the chase: The first attack to b
made by Alexis. accompanied by Custer
Buffalo Bill and two Brule Indians; tn
main party to remain in the backgroun,
until the grand duke had made his frs
kill" after which the hunt was to opel