May 25, 1893.] 



FOREST AND STREAM 



447 



witch-hazel and other flowering shrubs put forth their 

 beautiful and aU but odorless flowers. Wildnatiu-e seems 

 .to exert itself to decoy to its embraces its lovers, and each 

 succeeding year they flee to her in greater numbers. It 

 is a haven of rest for tired brains at any season between 

 the snows, and it wfll be weU for the people of the State 

 when the wilderness shall have been converted into a weU 

 kept, well protected park'. D. H. Bruce. 



Syracuse, N. Y., May 30. 



BULLWHACKING IN BUFFALO DAYS. 



No DOUBT many a reader of Forest and Stream, while 

 traveling up the Platte in the luxurious palace car, has 

 been awakened from his reverie by the porter entering 



and announcing "Dinner is ready in the dining kah." _ ^..^^.^.^^^ 



You leisurely go in and take a seat, give the waiter your ! a little muddv stream that puis mto the Grlsshopper!^^ 

 order, and then take the last Forest and Stream from spoke up and said, "Sam, it looks very mucli like we 

 your pocket to while away nearly half an hom-, regretting were going to have a heavy rain; hadn't wo better cross 

 when the waiter spreads before you a dinner second to the creek? " Old Sam flew off the handle and roared out, 

 that of no hotel. You nibble at most all of the delicacies, [ "Who in blazes is running this train, you or me?" 



Monday morning was a new day to a great many of 

 the boys; some were lost in trymg to get eight or nine 

 yoke of oxen together, and it was 1 o'clock before Dick 

 was told to go ahead. We made only about three rniles, 

 but it was a start. Hans was put to driving the carry 

 yard, and he Avas a faithful hand and did well, although 

 he made a ludicrous attempt at swearing and coidd only 

 say "Shu piick." The next day we got off by noon and 

 did a little better, 



I had become quite a favorite with Old Sam; he showed 

 me a good many small favors; I had boasted to my owa. 

 household companions about it, and while they were glad, 

 some of the other boys were a little envious. But they 

 had to wait only a few days for their revenge. 



One evening Old Sam rode up and told Dick to drive 

 out and we woidd corraU on a small mound overlooking 



and in tliree-quarters of an hour you return to your car. 

 not reaUzing that from the time' you entered the dining 

 car imtil your retiu-n, that you have passed over more 

 gi'ound than it used to take us boys ten days or two weeks 

 to ti'avel; and we worked from morning vmtil night, and 

 any one of us could have eaten more in ten minutes than 

 you could have done in a day. 



In 1857 my brother Dick was going to California, and 

 was going to drive an ox team as 

 far as Salt Lake for Majoi-s & Eus- 

 sell. I persuaded my father to let 

 me go with him as far as that, and 

 return; for they were paying ^40 per 

 month for the round trip, or $50 to 

 be dischai-ged at Salt Lake. 



There were three others of our ac- 

 quaintances who were going too — 

 Jack Brown, John Canady and Hans 

 Donderson, a German who had 

 worked for us. Hans was no ox 

 driver, but was a wJiole-souled good 

 feUow, and could speak very little 

 English, After getting all our traps 

 together and bidding our friends 

 good-bye, we stepped aboard the 

 steamer for Leavenworth and pre- 

 sented ourselves at the office of 

 Majors, Kiissell & Waddell, where 

 we signed articles of agreement and 

 were told we could go out to the 

 camp on Salt Creek and begin work 

 Monday morning. Tliis was Satur- 

 fiay. The wagon master, Sam John- 

 son, took mount to camp, where we 

 found quite a company, principally 

 Missoui'ians. On the way out Sam 

 told us that we must not swear or 

 use any bad language wliile we were 

 in civilization, as Mr. IMajors was a 

 preacher and would discharge any 

 man he heard swearing. 1 asked, 

 "How does he expect us to drive 

 from seven to ten yoke of Texas 

 steers and not swear?" "Well," he 

 said, "we must not swear until after 

 we get away from home." Sunday 

 was a beautiful day, and Mv. Majors 

 came out to camp and preacliecl us 

 quite a sermon, 



Monday morning Sam had the 

 cattle brought in; ami told Dick, 

 Jack Brown, John Caniidy and my- 

 self to yoke up ten yoke each and go 

 in and haul out loaded wagons. In 

 about two hours we had our teams 

 coupled up ready to start for town, 

 where they were loading wagons as 

 fast as they could. Dick, bemg the 

 oldest and considered best driver, 

 was to drive the lead team, John 



Canady next, myself next and Jack Brown fourth. We 

 had hitched on to a wagon each and pulled out along the 

 wharf, and had stopped, as a steamboat was roimding to. 

 Just before she reached land a large wharf rat ran out 

 from a pile of flooring that lay between my team and the 

 hill, and made for the gangplank. I uncoiled my whip, 

 gave it one swing and I cut the rat nearly in two. " There 

 was quite a crowd on the steamer and I received a tre- 

 I nendous applause, and they kept it up imtil old Sam rode 

 up and said, "Lew, the passengers want to see you crack 

 your whip." This I did a few times. The ladies put their 

 hands to their eai-s and the gentlemen applauded. The 

 whip I used was ISft. long and weighed 4r|:lbs., yet it was 

 not as long nor as heavy as the one Dick used. We were 

 told to go ahead, and it must have been quite a. curiosity 

 10 the many emigrants on the boat, but few of them 

 havin; 



"You are of course," I said, "but if it rains the creek 

 will be swimming, and it wfll be three or four days before 

 it wiU go down." 



"That's none of your business, and after this you speak 

 when you are spoken to," 



"All right." 1 had made a blunder, but it was too late to 

 correct it. 



We camped on the mormd, so it would be much easier 



INDIAN BUILDING BABK CANOE. 



lACBENTIAN CLUB, CAUADA. 



Forest, and Stream Amateur Photography Competiti 

 Photo by Mr. E. N. Lawrence. 



starting a train down hill than up. Well, it rained that 

 night as if the reservou's of heaven had turned upside 

 down. By morning the httle muddy creek had become a 

 river. Half the cattle had broken away from the herd, 

 and it took the boys mitil late in the afternoon to get 

 them back. Old Sam was furious. Of course I was to 

 blame. 



The second day Old Sam mounted his white mule and 

 rode down to the ford, to see if we could cross. The 

 bank was quite steep and slippery. Old Sam pointed the 

 mule for the other bank, and as that venerable white 

 mule knew Old Sam better than I did, it did not stop to 

 ofl'er any advice; it went in and under, where a deep 

 hole had been washed out in the ford. Sam crossed. 



turned aroimd and came back, wet up to his shirt coUai-. 

 . „ , Some of his best friends laughed, some smiled; Ibid be- 



any idea how the Western people transported i hind my wagon when he passed on his way to the tent 



supplies. We were kept busy that week hauling out |to change his clothes. After changing his rig and wettine 



wagons as fast as they could load them; our loads ran 

 from S,'700 to 9,5001b3. to the wagon. By Saturday night 

 our train was made up. It consisted of twenty-nine 

 freight and two mess wagons; and our crew comprised 

 thirty-one drivere, two cooks, two night herders, two 

 carry yard drivers, one wagon master and two assistants. 

 There were one mule, six horses and 350 yoke of oxen. 



Old Sam told us at breakfast Simday morning that Mr. 

 Majors wovdd be out in the afternoon to preach us a fai-e- 

 weli sermon and give us a good lecture. Among the 

 things he told us was that before entering upon any great 

 and important undertaking we should first invoke the aid 

 of the Deity. We all knelt down while ho prayed; and no 

 doubt but that was the last time a great many of our 

 knees touched mother earth in benediction, although 

 mine often came to the groimd when I woidd kneel at 

 some mud puddle and blow away the green scum and 

 slake my thirst, and think the water good. Mr. Majore 

 told us that as we were a sout to leave civilization behind 

 we must do nothing wrong; and sliould any do wrong he 

 would bo tried by the train, a majority of whom should 

 rule, and Sam should preside. I wanted to know if Sam 

 did wrong who would preside. He said the next assistant 

 but that there was no danger of Sam doing wrong, for he 

 Avas an old and experienced wagon master. After pre- 

 senting us each with a New Testament and teUiug us to 



the inside from above the collar, he came out, called as up 

 and told us to get oiu- axes and go and bridge the creek. 

 There being plenty of small cottonwood, we soon made a 

 passable bridge. The next day we yoked up and crossed 

 the creek. One of the boys let his team get a httle too far 

 to the right and his wagon turned over, yet it did but 

 httle damage. That was charged to me also. 



Things went on about the same, though we made a 

 little better time, as the boys got used to their oxen. 

 When we reached the high grormd overlooking the Big 

 Blue, we could see dark objects away across the hflls, 

 which we were told were buffalo. 



Saturday night we camped near Marysvtlle, or wliere 

 Marysvflle now stands. The next morning was beauti- 

 ful. I had intended to go himting and fishing down the 

 Blue; but while we were eating breakfast old Sam said: 

 "Boys, if you will drive to-day, when we get into the 

 buffalo coimtry, we will lay over a day and hunt." This 

 was unanimously agreed to. 



Om- progress was very slow the next week, or seemed 

 so to me. Large lierds of buffalo could be seen across the 

 Little Blue, and I was very anxious to kill one. Saturday 

 night we camped neai- where the road came down from 

 the high ground to the creek: and at supper I announced 

 that next day I should kill a buffalo. Old Sam looked np 

 and said tn a very sai-castic manner: "You will have to 



remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, he shook hajids get a bigger gun than yourn, unless you load it with 

 and wishing us God speed left us. ' ' cheek and conceit." At this only about eight of the boys 



laughed. I said, "Will you swim Little Blue on your 

 mule and bring in what I kill, cheek or no cheek?" 



"Yes," he drawled out. 



The next morning as day was dawning, I woke Dick 

 up and told him I was going for a hunt. "Oh, M^ait till 

 after breakfast." "I'll kill a buffalo for breakfast." "I'm 

 not going tiU I get my breakfast, when lots of the boys 

 are going." 



I turned out, buckled on my revolver, shouldered my 

 little rifle and started for the creek, which I found deep 

 and sluggish. When I approached the creek I heard 

 some animal phmge into the water. I stood still a few 

 moments and presently I saw the creature, about as large 

 as a coon, swimming. When I moved it dove and as it 

 went under it slapped the water with its tail. I knew 

 tlien it was a beaver. I did not try to shoot at it; I was 

 after larger game. I went up tlie creek nearly a mile be- 

 fore I found a place I could wade, then pulled off my 

 clothes and started across. The water was fearfully cold 

 and came nearly up to my arms. But I cared httle for 

 cold or wet. After I got my clothes on I felt splendidly, 

 and started and ran for a half mile to get warm. It was 

 but a short time before I saw three buffalo lying down on 

 a srnaU ridge. I crept up the hollow until I was within 

 less than 100yds. of them. Here I waited and watched 

 for quite a while. I knew it would be useless to shoot at 

 the body with my small rifle, and I had often heard that 

 it was of no use shooting at the forehead; so not having 

 heard any objections to the butt of the ear, I concluded I 

 would try that. I raised my rifle, 

 took cai-eful aim and fired. Two 

 of the buffalo jumped up; the other 

 rolled over on to its side. I kept well 

 hidden and in a few moments the 

 two trotted off up the ridge. As 

 soon as they were out of sight I 

 loaded my rifle, pulled oft' my boots, 

 and having everything in readiness 

 for a run approached the down buf- 

 alo. I was certain it was dead, yet 

 I did not know it, I went up to 

 within about 10yds, and took a shot 

 at one of its eyes, but it did not 

 move. I loaded my rifle and very 

 carefully approached my fallen vic- 

 tim. I felt proud. 1 rolled him over 

 as best I could, took his entrails out 

 and cut out his tongue, then put on 

 my boots and struck out for camp. 

 The water did not feel so cold, and 

 it was not so far, I reached camp 

 just before grub time, and for a 

 while I was the hero of the train. 

 The boys began chafiing old Sam 

 about his packing in my buffalo. He 

 joined in the laugh and said he 

 would do it if he had to swim his 

 white mule. 



After breakfast about twenty of 

 the boys shouldered their gams and 

 started for buffalo. But when they 

 got to the ford, and felt the wate'r 

 and saw how deep it was, they con- 

 cluded they would himt on the camp 

 side of the creek. Old Sam took 

 three horses afid we went for my 

 meat; it was a young bull, and fat 

 and good. We "got back to camp in 

 time to have some for dinner. The 

 other boys came straggling in and 

 all had killed buffalo, yet only four 

 of them broiight in any tongues. 



After supper I shouldered my rifle 

 and started for the creek to watch 

 for beaver. About a mile below 

 camp I found where the beaver had 

 been at work the night before, but 

 not understanding any of their habits 

 I walked along very close to the edge 

 of the water. I selected a place 

 about 50yds. from where they had 

 been at work and had not been waiting very long when I 

 heard a very pecidiar noise, which seemed to come from 

 the water. I soon saw a beaver coming toward their 

 feeding groimd, and when it came near the bank it 

 wheeleil around, dove under the water and brought its 

 broad, flat tail down, which resounded like hitting the 

 water with a canoe paddle. I was surprised. I was cer- 

 tain I had not moved. It came up aboiic 50yds. away. I 

 was determined not to shoot unless there was a chance 

 of securing the game. I waited a short time, when a 

 smaller one came swimming along very leisurely and 

 made straight for the place the first had landed at, and 

 when it landed it went through about the same perform- 

 ance, although it did not make as jnuch fuss with its 

 tail, but it left in a hmay. The shadows of the hills had 

 begun to get very long, the sun was nearly down and 

 I had begun to think about abandoning my hunt for that 

 evening. but soon I saw another beaver coming nearly 

 straight across the creek. I had my rifle ready and in- 

 tended to shoot just as soon as its head reached the bank. 

 On it came, and when it touched the bank* with its fore- 

 paws and raised its head out of the Avater just a little I 

 fired, dropped my rifle and ran down to where it was. 

 The water was very bloody. Just then it came to the 

 surface about 6ft. below where it was •s\'hen I had shot at 

 it. I made a plunge and grabbed it as it was sinking. I 

 got wet, but I had the beaver. I dragged it out on the 

 bank, and after examing it closely pidled off my clothes, 

 wrung them out, i^ut them on and started for camp with 

 my game. Before I got there I met Dick coming down 

 to' see what I had been shooting at. He was as much 

 pleased as I was and that is saying a good deal. We 

 pronounced it to be a very large one; in fact, we thought 

 it must undoubtedly be the largest one in the Little Blue. 

 When Ave reached camp Old Sam examined it and pro- 

 nounced it to be a yearling. Tliis lowered him in my 

 estimation, for I thought he was trying to make me feel 

 bad. Dick and I peeled it and, of course, like aU green 

 hands, we cut the musk bags, which gave us a rather 

 high-toned smell for a few days. 



The next, morning everything went smoothly, AA'-e got 

 off in good season, made about eight miles, and camped 

 near tlie creek again. As soon as dinner was over I pulled 

 out for the creek, and a number ,of the other boys, Avho 

 hankered for beaver, went along I had taken my' fishing 

 ackle; I did not care for beavei " although I should hav^ • 



