Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 August 1858 — Dangerous Sport on the Plains. [ARTICLE]

Dangerous Sport on the Plains.

A correspondent of the <St. Louis Democrat>, following the United States Army, 330 miles from Leavenworth, July 3, writes as follows: “Wolves were seen frequently during the day, and just as we came on the camping ground., a large one started. Gen. Harney’s greyhound caught sight of him, pursued him, overtook him and—never touched a hair. Whether he was afraid of the wolf, or merely friendly to the wolf, I am uable [sic] to say. This chase was hardly over, when a herd (seven or eight) of buffalo were discovered about two miles off. Captain Pleasanton, Gen. Harney’s aid [sic], set out in pursuit, by himself, armed only with a Colt’s pistol, and had a dangerous adventure. His purpose was to run the game toward the camp. He succeeded in driving them in the direction intended, when a body of teamsters, desirrous [sic] of witnessing the sport, came in sight. The buffalo took fright, and made for the hills. The hunter pursued them; but rode a horse which had never before seen a buffalo, and which was hard to manage beside. The hunter singled out a bull, and shot him twice, wounding him each time. By this time he was quite close to him on the verge of one of those clayey precipices with which the place abounds. The hunted animal suddenly stopped, stretching out his forelegs, and wheeling upon them, as on a pivot, thus bringing himself face to face with his pursuers. The horse was unmanageable and rushed on the bull, who set his horns to meet the onset. The collision was fearful. Pleasanton, conscious of his situation, had disengaged his feet from the stirrups, and just as the shock took place, or perhaps a moment sooner, sprung upon the back of the bull, from which he rolled down the precipice. The horse, having been gored in the breast and belly, died instantly. The bull next charged on the dismounted rider; but two more bullets from the revolver persuaded him to change his course. Capt. Pleasanton, I am rejoiced, suffered no personal injury. He took the affair coolly, unbuckled the girths on his slaughtered steed, slung the saddle and accoutrements across his shoulders, and carried them into camp. No torreador or matador in the Spanish circus could have a more formidable antagonist or a. narrower escape. The grand sport of buffalo hunting is now fairly initiated. Capt. Hancock, with the guide, chased another herd for miles. The Captain succeeded in lodging a bullet from the new Burnside rifle in one of them; and the guide hit another; but it was so late that they had to turn from the pursuit before running them down.” ---<>---