| 11THE HUNT OF THE BISON.
The late-lamented "Texas Jack" gave the following laconic, yet realistic description of this exciting sport in
Wilkes' Spirit, March 26, 1877:
Fort McPherson, Neb.,
March 1, 1877.
DEAR SPIRIT: My old friends,
W. F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill") and
Major North, paid me a visit the
other evening, having returned
from a successful hunting trip.
The camp fire tête à tête reminded
me of my first buffalo hunt with
Indians. If I don't get like the
butcher's calf and "kind o' give
out," I'll try and give you an idea
of one of the most exciting scenes
I ever saw or read of, not excepting
my school-boy impression of
Andy Jackson's hoo-doo at New
Orleans. I thought I had seen
fun in a Texas cattle stampede,
been astonished in a mustang
chase: but it wasn't a marker, and
it made me believe that Methuselah
was right when he suggested that
the oldest could "live and learn."
It is a pity the old man didn't
stick it out. He could have enjoyed
this lesson.
A few years ago I was deputized
United States Agent, under
Major North, to accompany a
party of Pawnee and Ponca
Indians. Although "blanket Indians"
(living wild), they have for
a long time been friends of the
Government, and have done excellent
service under command of
the justly celebrated Major Frank
North, whose famed Pawnee
scouts (now at Sidney, Neb.) have
always been a terror to the Sioux
nation. Owing to their hatred of
each other, it is necessary to send
an agent with them to prevent
"picnics," and also to settle disputes
with the white hunters. As
Major North was in poor health
at that time, this delicate task fell
to me.
As I don't like to be long-winded,
I'll pass over the scenes
and incidents of wild Indian camp
life. the magnificent sight of a
moving village of "nature's children,"
looking like a long rainbow
in the bright colors of their blankets,
beads, feathers, war paint,
etc., etc., as it would form a full
chapter, and skip an eleven-days'
march from the Loup River
Reservation to Plum Creek, on
the North Platte, where our runners
reported.
Early in the evening, as we
were about making camp, my old
friend, Baptiste, the interpreter,
joyfully remarked: "Jack, the
blanket is up three times -- fun
and fresh meat to-morrow."
There was a great powwowing
that night, and all the warriors
were to turn out for the grand
"buffalo surround," leaving the
squaws and papooses in the village.
Just before daybreak, there
was a general stir and bustle on
all sides, giving evidence of the
complete preparations making for
the coming events. As it was dark, and I busied in arranging my own outfit, thinking of the grand sight soon | 11THE HUNT OF THE BISON.
The late-lamented "Texas Jack" gave the following laconic, yet realistic description of this exciting sport in
Wilkes' Spirit, March 26, 1877:
Fort McPherson, Neb.,
March 1, 1877.
DEAR SPIRIT: My old friends,
W. F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill") and
Major North, paid me a visit the
other evening, having returned
from a successful hunting trip.
The camp fire tête à tête reminded
me of my first buffalo hunt with
Indians. If I don't get like the
butcher's calf and "kind o' give
out," I'll try and give you an idea
of one of the most exciting scenes
I ever saw or read of, not excepting
my school-boy impression of
Andy Jackson's hoo-doo at New
Orleans. I thought I had seen
fun in a Texas cattle stampede,
been astonished in a mustang
chase: but it wasn't a marker, and
it made me believe that Methuselah
was right when he suggested that
the oldest could "live and learn."
It is a pity the old man didn't
stick it out. He could have enjoyed
this lesson.
A few years ago I was deputized
United States Agent, under
Major North, to accompany a
party of Pawnee and Ponca
Indians. Although "blanket Indians"
(living wild), they have for
a long time been friends of the
Government, and have done excellent
service under command of
the justly celebrated Major Frank
North, whose famed Pawnee
scouts (now at Sidney, Neb.) have
always been a terror to the Sioux
nation. Owing to their hatred of each other, it is necessary to send an agent with them to prevent "picnics," and also to settle disputes with the white hunters. As Major North was in poor health at that time, this delicate task fell to me.
As I don't like to be long winded, I'll pass over the scenes and incidents of wild Indian camp life. the magnificent sight of a moving village of "nature's children," looking like a long rainbow in the bright colors of their blankets, bends, feathers, war paint, etc, etc, as it would form a full chapter, and skip an eleven days march from the Loup River, Reservation to Plum Creek, on the North Platte, where our runners reported.
Early in the evening, as we were about making camp, my old friend, Baptise, the interpreter joyfully remarked: "Jack, the blanket is up three times-- fun and fresh meat to-morrow,"
There was a great powwow-ing that night and all the warriors were to turn out for the grand "buffalo surround," leaving the squaws and papooses in the village.
Just before daybreak, there was a general stil and bustle on all sides, giving evidence of the complete preparations making for the coming events. As it was dark, and busied in arranging my own outfit, thinking of the grand sight soon. |
