Year: 1876

It was a calm. beautiful morning il
the month of October, that my friene
Bob Morton and myself mounted oul
horses and rode up to the north bank
of the South Platte on hunt after
buffaloes. The Platte river at St.
Vrain's, makes a great bend-the river
above the fort running almost due
north. and turning almost due east al
the foot We thought we would ride
up the river few miles, and then,
striking northward into the broad. open
prairie, where we should be most likely
to find our game, return BY short cu'
across the prairie to the fort.


/. We rode up the river until almost
noon. seeing many deer and wolves
for one could hardly ride through this
tall grass mile without seeing them
yet, as we were not looking after this
kind Of game, we paid no attention to
them until nearly noon, when feeling
somewhat tired ard hungry. Bob, who
was an excellent shot, killed fine
buck; and, dismounting, we made a
most delicious meal on the young and
tender venison.


Mounting, after dinner, we struck
northwest across the broad prairie,
where. with the exception Of the tall
grass, there was not tree or shrub on
all that vast expanse, except along the
river bank. Ssls SEs7


1t was 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
just as we were beginning to get dis
couraged, and VIC were thinking Of
turning our horses heads towards home.
when we discovered the object Of our
search. There were two buffaloes
quietly feeding on little rise in the
prairie-the first rise we had discovered
since leaving the river.


"Hurrah, Fred p exclaimed Bob,
putting spurs to his horse, and getting
excited "Now for some sport. and
tuffaloes' tongues for supper p and
away be went at reckless, break-neck
speed.


Our game was long distance off
when first discovered. and had disap-
peared over the rise in the prairie, and
was out of sight.


We agreed to separate as soon as We
reached the top Of the ridge. and each
take our game, and charge down upon
them, and capture both if possible.





As we came dashing up to the top Of
the hill they discovered US. and imme-
diately took to fight. Buffaloes can
run very fast, Notwithstanding their
weight; they seem to gather momen-
tum as they proceed, and are not easily
run down. We made our choice i'm
mediately, and gave pursuit.


My horse was feet, but the tall grass
tangled his feet, and I had long. hard
chase before came up with my game.
I paid no attention to Bob; his game
had taken a different direction from
mine, and we we're soon widely separ-
ated.


After a hard chase, I came near
enough. / thought, to venture shot
perhaps, if I did not kill him I could
cripple him, and thus stop him some-
what in his mad career. l brought my
rife to my shoulder quickly but as l
fired, my horse stumbled slightly, his
feet having become tangled in the grass,
and I missed my aim, but struck the
beast in the shoulder instead of the
heart /; and the ball being large. made
terrible wound, from which the blood
flowed in stream.


This maddened him; and turning
quickly he charged with terrible half
snort and half roar down upon me-
My horse was taken by surprise and
frightened; and. in springing partly to
one side, as if to turn suddenly and fly
away from the mad creature. his foot
caught in the tangled grass, and be fell,
me many feet over his head.


The fall did not hurt me. and / was
on my feet in an instant; but before l
could reach my horse. he was up aud
bounding over the prairie, leaving me
to my fate.


I had no time to think whether /
fancied the situation or not, for the mad
bull was upon me almost; and with a
look Of despair after my flying horse, I
ran, I knew not whittier, but with an
instinct of self-preservation.


All this happened in an instant. I
had hoped the maddened creature would
pursue my horse but not so-the
buffalo knows we'll who is bis worst
enemy. I was feet on foot, for l had
run for my life many times; but the
tall grass impeded my progress. and l
knew could hold cut but few moments.


I saw not the slightest chance for my
life. Here I was, upon this broad ocean
Of prairie Bob was I knew not where.
nor had time to look the grass tang
ling my feet, and taking away my
strength, and wounded buffalo within
. few yards of me, and gaining upon
me at every bound.


I thought of my revolver, and that I
would sell my life as dearly as possible.
[ always carried it in my belt; and
perhaps. I could throw it over my
shoulder and shoot him in the eye. I
had no hope Of the ball doing him any
harm if it hit him anywhere else; for
these animals have thick mass Of hair
IN their forehead. that is so matted to-
yether with sand and dirt, that no ball
rom rife will penetrate it. knew.
t ball from my revolver struck his