2^2 



The Wilderiiess FIttnter\ 



During the first two months of 1877, my brother El- 

 liott, then a lad not seventeen years old, made a buffalo- 

 hunt toward the edee of the Staked Plains in northern 

 Texas. He was thus in at the death of the southern 

 herds ; for all, save a few scattering bands, were destroyed 

 within two years of this time. He was with my cousin, 

 John Roosevelt, and they went out on the range with six 

 other adventurers. It was a party of just such young men 

 as frequently drift to the frontier. All were short of cash, 

 and all were hardy, vigorous fellows, eager for excitement 

 and adventure. My brother was much the youngest of 

 the party, and the least experienced ; but he was well- 

 grown, strong and healthy, and very fond of boxing, 

 wrestling, running, riding, and shooting ; moreover, he 

 had served an apprenticeship in hunting deer and turkeys. 

 Their mess-kit, ammunition, bedding, and provisions were 

 carried in two prairie-wagons, each drawn by four horses. 

 In addition to the teams they had six saddle-animals — all 

 of them shaggy, unkempt mustangs. Three or four dogs, 

 setters and half-bred greyhounds, trotted along behind the 

 wagons. Each man took his turn for two days as teamster 

 and cook ; and there were always two with the wagons, or 

 camp, as the case might be, while the other six were off 

 hunting, usually in couples. The expedition was under- 

 taken partly for sport and partly with the hope of profit ; 

 for, after purchasing the horses and wagons, none of the 

 party had any money left, and they were forced to rely 

 upon selling skins and hides, and, when near the forts, 

 meat. 



They started on January 2d, and shaped their course 



