Year: 1869

HAYS CRY, KANSAS, Nov. /, 1869.


Nothing can so much promote the
pleasure Of travelling as agreeable CON-
pany, and next to that of ones own
most intimate friend OF friends is that
Of an imprOvised association of con-
genial companions. By means of
such good fortune the Ryan excursion
was made doubly enjoyable to the un-
dersigued, and he expresses the unaui.
nous sentiment of our coterie when he
states that the best pleasure Of the
trip, itself one of the pleasantest, was the
social enjoyment growing out of our
temporary mingliDg together. For
this we we're chiefly indebted to the la
dies of the party, two of whom were
from gour city, and all Of whom were
of the right sort to make any journey
attractive


But like ali pleasant things this lit
tie party had to have an end, and its
dissolution commenced at Hays City.
On arriving there the excursion train
was ordered by the Superintendent Of
the road to proceed at once to Kansas
City, so that the projected return TO
Coyote and buffalo hunt from that
point had TO be abandoned. Neverthe-
less some Of the party we're unwilling
to return without having enjoyed the
hunt, and resolved to remain at Hays
City for that purpose. The weather
was splendid, the country full of buffalo
and the time rs propitious as could be.
So the excursiOnists passed on, leaving
behind eleven of their number bent
upon seeing life aud having sport on
the plains.


Accompanied By three experienced
scouts and couple of teams, these set
forth on the following morniugiu pur.
suit of game and adventures. II was
u grand Indian Summer day, the un-
clOuded sun streaming with tempered
light aud heat through the smoky at
mOsphere, and the fresh, dry air Of the
plains blowing With just sufficient force
to make its exhiliaratinR influence per-
feet.


Buffalo are not usually found in con-
siderable numbers within less than ten
or fifteen miles of Fort Hays, although
at some Of the stations west of this i'm
mense herds are now collected within
four or i've miles of the railway track.
Accordingly our party proceeded to
the sUuthWestward from Hays toward
the Big smoky Hill River, an impor-
tant branch Of the Kansas.


There are two methods Of hunting
the buffalo, that Of btill hunting, or
approaching the animals stealthily on
foot, and that of chasing them down
with horses. Success By the first
method is mainly question Of skill
aud ,nutiUp, and - It requires the
most adruii management, may be said
to sffurd The greatest pleasure TO the
hunter. By lhe second method any
one may succeed who il a fair rider
aud il favored with horse Of ordinary
sWiftness. The mounted hunter may
charge at once upon the herd, only ta-
king she precauiion to get within rea-
sonable distance of the game before il
takes the alarm. The still hunter muat
be careful not to discover himself to
the buffalo until he gets within easy
rife range, and If he will then keep
himself concealed be may sometimes
shoot a half dozen or more before
the herd will run away The least ex-
posture of the hunter will alarm the
game, and they viii, in q moment, gel.
Top out Of range Of the moat effective
rife. Sometimes, a wounded buffalo,
discovering his tOFmentor, will turn
upon him, and then woe be 10 the dis
mounted hunter who is unable 10 put
in a deadly shot or fnd the shelter of
some friendly bank or ravine.