Newspaper Page Text
intense heat, was as loud as that of the
blaze coming down upon us.
“For a little while there was reason to
hope that our tire would compel the herd
to divide and pass us to the right and left,
but whether the leaders did not regard
the fire, or could not help themselves, we
saw them leap right through the flame
and hold their headlong course, until they
saw that there was an obstruction before
them which they could not possibly over
pass. Then their confusion and terror
became intense. They looked wildly
around, then attempted to pass to one
side or the other, but, being pushed for
ward by those behind, they planted them
selves to withstand the pressure, until
overpowered, some endeavored to break
through the gaps between the wagons,
but became entangled and were shot by
our men, and some, over-ridden by the
others, were trampled and smothered to
death. The most dreadful part of that
scene was at the line where they met the
fire, and where they could neither go
farther on account of the stoppage before,
nor go back on account of the pressure
behind. Poor wretches! their roar of
pain, as the fire burned slowly under their
bodies, and passed from one to another,
was horrible, mixed as it was with the
groans and gaspings of the smothered
ones next the wagon train.
“At one time it seemed as if the number
crowded and pressed against us would be
such as to enable those behind to climb
over them, and over our rampart of wag
ons, and trample us to death on the other
side. Fortunately for us, however, the
herd with which we had to contend was
comparatively small, and our wagons
were so closely set that although some of
them were pushed a little out of place
and jammed against the line next to them,
not the first buffalo was able to cross the
line. The only serious accident to which
we were exposed was from the fire. In
spite of all our care, a little flame had
straggled off from the rest and got to bla
zing under our wagon train. There was
one of our wagons actually on fire, and
what added to the seriousness of the case
was the fact that while the buffaloes were
pressing and jamming upon us in their
greatest fury, this wagon was burning
next to the wagon that contained our gun
powder. For a while it seemed as if we
were doomed to be blown to atoms if we
remained, or to be trampled to death if
we attempted to escape.
“In ten minutes or less, perhaps in five,
the whole herd had passed. I do not
know how long the time was, measured
by the watch. I only know that no ten
hours of my life seem to me so long, or so
BURKE’S WEEKLY.
crowded with horrors as these minutes.
About a quarter of an hour after they had
passed the fire came, but we were by this
time well protected, for the fire kindled
just around us had spread so as to leave
us untouched by that which came from
above. And now, Doctor, I think you
will agree with me, that however large
the fire on the island was the other night,
and however much I regretted it, it was
only a circumstance compared with one I
had seen on the prairies.”
“ I do agree with you,” Dr. Gordon re
plied ; “ yet let me ask whether in all that
horrible melee of fire and buffaloes, there
was nobody hurt?”
“Nobody seriously,” was the reply,
“ though there were some very narrow
escapes. When the cry of Fire! at the
ammunition wagon was given, there was
a boy so badly frightened that he at
tempted to run. We judge, from circum
stances, that he had no eye nor thought
for any danger except that from the gun
powder, for he was seen to run, and was
afterwards picked up, breathless, just in
side the track of the buffaloes; and it is
supposed that one of these beasts, finding
him in his way, took him on his horns
and flung him back within the line.
“What became of the hunters who
were out at the time ?” Dr. Gordon in
quired.
“They had a pretty rough time of it,”
replied Wheeler. “ One of them must
have perished, for we never saw or heard
of him afterwards, although we remained
two days at the Butte and searched for
him in every direction. lie and his horse
must have been trampled to death. Os
the different squads that went out, the
only one that came in was that which
had ffone west. They came at full speed,
with their horses sides in <x l<ithcr, and
joined us barely in time to save them
selves, but not in time to help us. Ano
ther party made for the Butte and shel
tered themselves behind it from both
buffaloes and fire; and so did another
party by getting down into the canyon.
But the squad that went south perceived
no sign of danger until it was too late to
return. The first thing they knew, the
buffaloes and the fire were upon them,
and they had to run for their lives. They
got together, all but one man, and made
for a high rock they had seen in thoii
hunt, and thus escaped. The missing
man, who had strayed miles away from
his companions in following a bull, saw
no chance for life but to run his jaded
horse ahead of the buffaloes, just as a
sailor scuds before a storm under bare
poles. He kept ahead of them mile after
mile, when just as his horse’s strength
was failing, he saw a mass of iron-rock*
sticking out of the ground like a stump,
about a yard in diameter and two yards
high. Behind that he dismounted, threw
his lariat over it, drew up his horse as
near it as possible to leave himself room,
and there abode his fate. When the buf
faloes came and the earth began to shake
under their tread, his horse became so
frantic with the noise, and struggled, and
struck at him so violently with his hoofs,
that after hesitating whether to risk death
by the horse, or death by being left afoot
on the prairie, he chose the latter, cut the
lariat, and set the frightened brute at lib
erty. It was well that he did so, for the
moment the horse was free he recovered
his senses, crouched up trembling to his
master, and there kept perfectly quiet
until the herd had passed by.”
“Do not these terrible fires cause great
destruction of life among the poor brute
creatures inhabiting the prairies ?” Dr.
Gordon asked.
“ Os course, a good deal,” replied Wheel
er, “but, so far as we could see, not so
much by a great deal as you might sup
pose. You know that most of the small
creatures that live there burrow in the
ground. When a fire comes they have
only to go into their holes, and are safe.
It is so of wolves, foxes, prairie dogs and
rabbits, and even of the owls and snakes.
All the larger animals seem to know, as
well as we do, that their safety consists
in being on the burnt side of the prairie,
and I have seen them, when the fire came
near, rush right through the flames, and
scamper to where the ground is cool.
And not only they, but even the grass
hoppers, when the flame is not too high,
as is the case in the low grass, which they
prefer to inhabit, will rise in the air and
pitch over the flame into the burnt ground
beyond. I have thought of it many a
time, and nothing I have ever seen makes
me feel more like—more like I ought to”
—ho hesitated, then took off his hat and
said reverently—“ more like I ought to
feel towards our Heavenly Father, than
to see his kindness to these dumb brutes
in giving them the knowledge necessary
to their place £ in time of need. ”
“ The Lord is good unto all,” said Dr.
Gordon devoutly; “ His tender mercies
are over all His works, and all His works
praise Him. So sung David, and so may
every man sing who will walk the world
with his eyes open.”
* ThMp singular masses are said to be meteoric. One of
them forms quite a little lull.
Os all earthly music, that which
reaches the furthest into Heaven is the
beating of a loving heart.
259