Year: 1859

OLEAR OREEK May ~, 1909.


l ceased writing No. VI. last night at
midnight at Station 9-the storm, which
had been threatened since dark Just burst.
ing in wind aud rain. The wind was a gale.


but upset neither tents nor wagons; the
rain fell for an hour, then ceased. though q
little more fell this morning, and we have
had thunder and lightning at intervals thro


the day, and have it still, threatening show
ers before dawn. We rose early from our
wagon-bed this morning, had breakfast at
6, and soon bade adieu to Pipe Creek, with
its fringe of low elms cottonwoods, such
as thinly streak all the streams we have
passed to-day that are large enough to pro-
tect timber from prairie.fres Very soon,
we were off the sandstone upon limestone
again, which has been the only rock visible
for the last forty miles, and this but spar
ingly. The soil is of course improved, but
| think not equal to that of Eastern Kan
sas. The face of the country is slightly
rolling-in one place a level prairie eleven
miles wide-but even this is cut and wash
ed out by shallow water-courses, probably
dry a good part Of each Summer. We
have crossed many streams to-day, all max
ing south for Solomon's Fork, which has
throughout been from two to six miles from
us on our left, its narrow belt of timber
constantly sending out longer or shorter
spurs up the creeks which feed it on either
side. The route has been from so to 200
feet above the bed of the fork, keeping out
of all bottoms and marshes, but continual
ly cut by water-courses, often with abrupt
banks and miry beds, in one of which only
were we stalled until an extra span of mules
was sent from the other wagon to aid
(The Express wagons always go in pairs
for reciprocal aid and security.) l pre-
sumo all the timber we have passed through
since we left the Republican at Junction,
(and we are now ITO miles from it by our
route, aud perhaps 100 in straight line)
would not form belt half mile wide,
with but few white oaks to render it of
any value except for fuel. A low, long
limbed, twisty Elm, forms three fourths of
all the wood we have seen this side of juno
tion; the residue is mainly Cottonwood -
The streams are usually clear, except where
riled by recent showers, and springs are
not infrequent If well timbered, this coun-
try would be rather inviting 1t is largely
covered with the dead stalks of the wild
sunfower, which is said to indicate good
soil for Corn. The suDhower plant has not
started this season. .0


On rising our first ridge this morning,
herd Of Buffalo was seen grazing on the
prairie some three miles toward the Solo
mon; soon more were visible; then others.
At length, herd of perhaps hundred ap-
peared on the nOrth-the only one we saw
on that side of our road during the day
They were heading down the valley of
small creek toward the Solomon. Just then
the tents and wagons of body of encamp-
ed Pixies Peakers appeared just across that
stream; two men running across the prairie
on foot to get a shot at the buffalo; anoth-
er mounting a horse with like intent. The
herd passed on a long, awkward gallop
north of the tents and struck southwest a.
cross our road some forty rods ahead Of US.
A Sharps rife was leveled and fired at
them by one of our party, but seemed rath-
er to hasten than arrest their progress
But one old bull Shambled along behind ia
knock-kneep fashion (having probably
been lamed by some former party); and he
was fired at twice by our marksmen as he
attempted to cross the road-once when
only fifteen rods distant. They thought
they wounded him fatally, but he vanished
from our sight behind low hill, and their
hasty search for him proved unsuccessful


Nearly all day, the Buffalo in greater or
less numbers were visible among the bot
toms of Solomon on our right-usually two
or three miles distant. At length about
p. m, we reached the crest of divide
whence We looked down on the valley of
creek running to the Solomon some three
miles distant, and saw the whole region
from half q mile to three miles south of
our road, and for an extent of at least four
miles east aud west, fairly alive with Buff
falo There certainly were not less than
ten thousand of themJ | believe there were
many more. Some were feeding, others
lying down, Others paving up the earth,
rolling on it, &c. The novel spectacle was
too tempting for our sportSmen. The wagi
ons we're stopped, and two men walked
quietly toward the center of the front of
the herd. Favored by watercourse, they
crept up to within fifty rods of the Buffalo
and fred eight or ten shots into the herd,
with no visible effect. The animals near
est the hunters retreated as they advanced,
but the great body of the herd was no
more disturbed or conscious of danger than
if couple of mosquitoes had alighted a.
mong them After an hour Of this fruit.
less effort, the hunters gave it up, alleging
that their rife was so foul and badly sight
ted as to be worthless. They rejoined US,
and we came away, leaving nine-tenths of
the vast herd exactly where we found them.
And there they doubtless are sleeping at
this momont, about 8 miles from us.


We are near the heart Of the Buffalo re-
gion. The stages from the West that met
US here this evening report the sight of mil
lions within the last two days. Their trails
ehequer the p'airie in every direction. A
company of Pixies Peakers killed thirteen
near this point few days since. Eight were
killed yesterday at the next station west OF
this by simple stampeding herd aud driV-
ing them over high-creek, where so many
broke their necks. Buifalo-meat is hang
ing or lying all around us, and a calf two
or three months old is tied to stake just
beside our wagons He was taken by rush
ing herd up steep creek-bank, where SO
poony rould not nosSihIV climb Mt once; this