Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-07-13

" tHe MUM III Inv bPihb pONpvAh
and toward the south in the fall, wher
the early frost and cold north wind
heralded the approach Of winter
snow and cold.
The point selected for the hunt
in western Nebraska, was reached
and car loads Of tents and CAM
equipage and two car loads Of cav
airy horses ordered up from a Unit
ed States fort, were soon unloadet
and all made ready for a great chase
and hunt.
The Union Pacific railroad beint
then newly built and comparatively
little known, the owners and man
ayers were eager for the hunt to
be a great success, for It was rightly
held that such would be great ad'
vertIsement to the world Of the line
and the country penetrated Hnd
opened to settlement and develop
ment.
But after a large scope of the
country was reconnoitered by Buff
falo Bill and his assistant scouts, II
was found that the time selected for
the hunt was too late In the season,
the vast herds of buffalo having
passed the region and gone on south
too far and too long to be reached
by the eager, royal hunters. Only q
few superannuated buffalo bulls
trailing singly and alone far in the
rear Of the main herd were found,
and they were too weak, old, and
dilapidated to afford any sport in
the way Of a chase, for to kill them
would scarce be greater or more ex-
citing sport than to have slaughtered
an old, exhausted work OK, and there
fore was NO kind of an object to
interest a Grand Duke bent on kill
ing noble, wild game.
So with great regret Of all parties
whose anticipation Of grand sport
had been dashed to earth, and es-
pecially so with the Pacific railroad
officials 1t had to be confessed that
the hunt was a flat failure as well
as a sore disappointment. Yet the
whole party did not fail to have a
rolIlcking good time in camp feast
ing on the Injuries both solid and
liquid provided by Uncle Sans at
tending commissary who had obyed
instructions to provide in abundance
of the best the land afforded. The
whole party, including the royal
cortege, the military contingent OF
the United States officers, will, quite
a long list of supernumeraries, SER
wants, ETC., numbering about one
hundred men, who like all others
who visit the open free country OF
the west and breathe its invigorat-
ing, ozone-Iaden air, had all-consum-
ing appetites to satisfy which double
order rations were required.
1t was noticed that Grand Duke
Alexis, was close observer Of the
common men, servants and employees
with his American escort,
taking note not only Of how they did
small things, but also what they were
about among themselves, and
he expressed profound astonishment
IN hearing even the humblest labor
srs or servants discussing political
questions, matters of state and ma
lonal policy among themselves, and
he amount of information and in
diligence they manifested concerning
.opical political events and public
He stated that nowhere in
Russia would one hear the like dis
,ussion among the laboring, serving
,lasses. There they had neither
hought nor knowledge about such
hings and no degree Of eomprehen-
ion about governmental affairs or
current issues.
After spending several days in
amp and scouting the adjacent coun-
ny 1t was decided that the ducal
rain should continue its western
our to Denver, Colorado, leaving |
Buffalo Bill and his aides and the
detachment Of cavalry horses to be
eturned to their former quarters.
At Denver the ducal party met |
General Superintendent Bowen Of the
Kansas Pacific railway which was
It that time a separate and distinct
ailway and company from that Of
he Union Pacific railway. It was
to return east over the
Kansas Pacific railway and Super
ntendent Bowen would escort the
'arty over the line. Hearing how
complete had been the failure to
ave a satisfactory buffalo hunt on
he Union Pacific line he sentured
o suggest that the party should stop