Evening star., 1909-06-13
The Chance to Make His Hit


The Chance to Make His Hit
THE next day took us past Fort Harker out
into the buffalo country, and the country
of the prairie dog as well. About two o'clock in
the afternoon spied buffalo. and my heart
heaved with pride; for soon | should be the
envy of every man in the outfit. | watched for
my chance | rode on ahead-and 1t soon
came. | started into the herd, and after awhile
got one cut out and headed for the train. The
teams were stopped, and everyone was inter-
ested in the chase
worked him all right brought him in about
where | wanted him, and raised my gun.
fired but instead of one shot there came sue
cession of them. had creased that confounded
revolver so much that one cap exploded after
another until lead was flying in all directions
One bullet took my horse in the ear Down
went his head, and at the same instant down
went one of his feet into prairie dogs hole
And the next thing | knew | was standing on
my head somewhere about thirty feet beyond
him,-and it was a question as to which was
higher in the air, my high heeled boots, or his
tail and hoofs
1t was sudden stop. AS tried to sit up, l
saw my horse doing the same trick. | cast my
eyes toward the buffalo, and he was loping off
unharmed. hen all blank to me for
sometime. | did not want to look at those
girls for a week, and had made the attempt
should have been obliged to turn clear round
and look sdewise for nearly broke my neck.
OF course, they sympathized with me; but
t
| attributed my failure entirely to the gun,
and have never owned similar since.
Before the trip was over | redeemed my
promise to the girls and supplied all with plenty
of buffalo meat: but somehow did not derive
the satisfaction from it that had anticipated.
Down Into Arkansas
TN the fall of 1866 the idea dawned upon me
that If 1t was good thing tor the buffalo to
go south, it might prove equally SO for me.
had suffered severely from exposure the previ-
Gus winter, and my health somewhat i'm
paired by it So purchased at once two pack
mules, good saddle horse, and the necessary
camping outfit for an extended trip
started from Fort Harker across country to
the Little Arkansas River, on which, at the
crossing of the old Santa Fe Trail, was located
Greenway's ranch Thence took" down the
Little Arkansas until reached the point where
the town of Wichita afterward located.
Back from the confluence of the Big and
Little Arkansas Rivers about two miles, IS
small stream called Chsholms Creek. Here l
found encamped typical trapper and hunter
who gave me hearty welcome and invited me
to camp with him.
Together rode over the country for sew
era days while he looked after his traps, wolf
bats and small band of horses he owned.
Daily was more delighted with the country,
SO entirely different was it from the rolling
prairie of the Smoky Hill Here, instead of
coarse weeds and short buffalo grass, grew the
tall luxuriant grasses of a more fertile region.
was almost entirely free from alka the curse
of the prairie 1t seemed SO bountiful a land
that | decided TO 60 back to Fort Harker,
where some people in whom was greatly in
terested were waiting until spring to join
outfit going to Oregon under my guidance. !
am bound to confess that my interest centered
mainly in family one member of which was
very pretty girl, who had been at the fort long
enough for youth of my susceptible years to
become attached to- especially girls were
scarce. hoped that might induce her father
a view to settlement
| was so far successful that he and several
others returned with and located on land
now the site of Wichita. ! think that if the
records of real estate transfers were examined
to-day they would show that all deeds for the
three hundred and twenty acres OF land upon
which the city is built back to two men
named Waterman and Mnger whom located
there at that time.
So far my plans were working to my entire
satisfaction | remained with them until they
had their log houses completed and then all
went on gen 1ral hunt.
Nine miles south of the Arkansas, on a stream
since named Cowskin Creek, we found buffalo
plentiful and in few days returned with two
wagons loaded with humps and hind quarters
meat enough to last the party till spring and all
choice cuts Wild turkey, prairie chickens,
quail, deer and antelope were abundant and
easily obtained by the hunter. So | left them
well provisioned for the winter, to proceed on
nv triD south. for II the country improved so