Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-05-15
Story OF Buffalo
Stampede Told By
Man l02 Years Old

Eureka, Kan.-George A. Gordon,
1Q2 years old, says"the greatest ad-
Venture in his life was a trip during
which a stampedins herd Of buffalo
charged a tree in which he had taken
refuge.
Alone said MI. Gordon in telling
his story, FAR from. civilization, dis
mounted, in a hostile Indian country,
with my last bullet in my rifle, I was
than L. might have despaired. The
cepter Of the immense herd struck
my clump of trees and the animals
were heaped up by the pressure of
the stampede until those on top of
the struggling pile were higher than
the fork Of the tree in which I
crouched. 1t appeared, that in a few
minutes that pile would engulf me.
In any case it seemed certain that the
horse that 1 had left a the tree
would be destroyed.
1T happened in 1916, when I was
twenty-six years old. In those days
adventure ran in the blood of men,
young and old. 1 had been a resident
of Newton. ILL.,, but had Joined a
party which had no particular pur-
pose except adventure in the wilder
ness beyond the Missouri river, and
had set out across the plains and
down to the Red river country of
Texas. OF my companions two were
grfzzled French Canadian hunters
and trappers from the northwest:
two were natives of Arkansas. I met
them by accident on the evd of their
departure for the plains, and n of
the Canadians offered to lend me his
| rifle it I would join them. They were
mounted and ready to start for their
camp. In less than fifteen minutes I
had Joined them.
Heard Them Coming.
"We carried no comrnissary kit,
land when we had reached buffalo
I country lived almost entirely 81 fresh
buffalo meal. One day in Texas !
became. separated from my com
panions. 1 vas puzzled by a sound
like the buzzing of bees, though there
were no winged insects there on the
| open plain. When the roar becanle
deafening I knew the sound was
| caused by approaching buffalo, and
| made for the ciump Of trees that
have mentioned.
when the buffalo had come within
about 100 feet, those in front for q
| width of about forty or fifty feet say
my horse and attempted to halt, but
in the twinkle Of an y they were
overwhelmed by the pressure from
behind. One who has. seen railroad
cars piled up after a wreck <can
imagine how the buffalo were heaped
up. But this did not in the least
check the progress of the great host,
for they swept by me on either side
like 4 great torrent. 1t did. however,
make an open place for my horse.
II could now enjoy a spectacle
which I fancied neither white man or
Indian had ever before seen. The
| front rank as they passed was as
straight as a regiment of soldiers on
dress parade. The regularity Of their
| movement r was as admirable az
though they had been trained to keep
step, 49,.
"But as 1 was gazing on this mag
| nificent scene the open space had
|'grown narrower, and ] vas alarmed
to see how close the animals were
getting to my horse. The buffalo
were constantly dropping from the
big pile into the open space, and
though they were doing their best by
crowding to keep q, respectable. dis
Etance from my horse. their efforts
awaited little and the lane was rapidly
, filing up. l now could have dashed
| the buffalo on either side with 4
buggy whip, and the heap, itself was
approaching me. If the open space
Allied up my horse would be lost.
''Imagipe my relief when I OBJ
served the herd had greatly lessened
and after ffty-ive minutes Of aitern-
ate terror and pleasure, it had passed
Numerous small bands followed"
shortly afterwards Mr.. Gordon
found his companions and ultimately
returned home in safety. "