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Hunting the Grisly and Other Sketches
by Theodore Roosevelt
An Account of the Big Game of the United
States and its Chase with Horse
Hound； and Rifle
CHAPTER I。
THE BISON OR AMERICAN BUFFALO。
When we became a nation in 1776； the buffaloes； the first animals to
vanish when the wilderness is settled； roved to the crests of the
mountains which mark the western boundaries of Pennsylvania； Virginia；
and the Carolinas。 They were plentiful in what are now the States of
Ohio； Kentucky； and Tennessee。 But by the beginning of the present
century they had been driven beyond the Mississippi； and for the next
eighty years they formed one of the most distinctive and
characteristic features of existence on the great plains。 Their
numbers were countlessincredible。 In vast herds of hundreds of
thousands of individuals； they roamed from the Saskatchewan to the Rio
Grande and westward to the Rocky Mountains。 They furnished all the
means of livelihood to the tribes of Horse Indians； and to the curious
population of French Metis； or Half…breeds； on the Red River； as well
as to those dauntless and archtypical wanderers； the white hunters and
trappers。 Their numbers slowly diminished； but the decrease was very
gradual until after the Civil War。 They were not destroyed by the
settlers； but by the railways and the skin hunters。
After the ending of the Civil War； the work of constructing trans…
continental railway lines was pushed forward with the utmost vigor。
These supplied cheap and indispensable； but hitherto wholly lacking；
means of transportation to the hunters； and at the same time the
demand for buffalo robes and hides became very great； while the
enormous numbers of the beasts； and the comparative ease with which
they were slaughtered； attracted throngs of adventurers。 The result
was such a slaughter of big game as the world had never before seen；
never before were so many large animals of one species destroyed in so
short a time。 Several million buffaloes were slain。 In fifteen years
from the time the destruction fairly began the great herds were
exterminated。 In all probability there are not now； all told； five
hundred head of wild buffaloes on the American continent； and no herd
of a hundred individuals has been in existence since 1884。
The first great break followed the building of the Union Pacific
Railway。 All the buffaloes of the middle region were then destroyed；
and the others were split into two vast sets of herds； the northern
and the southern。 The latter were destroyed first； about 1878； the
former not until 1883。 My own chief experience with buffaloes was
obtained in the latter year； among small bands and scattered
individuals； near my ranch on the Little Missouri； I have related it
elsewhere。 But two of my kinsmen were more fortunate； and took part in
the chase of these lordly beasts when the herds still darkened the
prairie as far as the eye could see。
During the first two months of 1877； my brother Elliott； then a lad
not seventeen years old； made a buffalo…hunt toward the edge 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 horse。 In addition
to the teams they had six saddle…animalsall 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 undertaken 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 2nd； and shaped their course for the head…
waters of the Salt Fork of the Brazos； the centre of abundance for the
great buffalo herds。 During the first few days they were in the
outskirts of the settled country； and shot only small gamequail and
prairie fowl； then they began to kill turkey； deer； and antelope。
These they swapped for flour and feed at the ranches or squalid；
straggling frontier towns。 On several occasions the hunters were lost；
spending the night out in the open； or sleeping at a ranch； if one was
found。 Both towns and ranches were filled with rough customers； all of
my brother's companions were muscular； hot…headed fellows； and as a
consequence they were involved in several savage free fights； in
which； fortunately； nobody was seriously hurt。 My brother kept a very
brief diary； the entries being fairly startling from their
conciseness。 A number of times； the mention of their arrival； either
at a halting…place； a little village； or a rival buffalo…camp is
followed by the laconic remark； 〃big fight；〃 or 〃big row〃； but once
they evidently concluded discretion to be the better part of valor；
the entry for January 20th being； 〃On the roadpassed through Belknap
too lively； so kept on to the Brazosvery late。〃 The buffalo…camps
in particular were very jealous of one another； each party regarding
itself as having exclusive right to the range it was the first to
find； and on several occasions this feeling came near involving my
brother and his companions in serious trouble。
While slowly driving the heavy wagons to the hunting grounds they
suffered the usual hardships of plains travel。 The weather； as in most
Texas winters； alternated between the extremes of heat and cold。 There
had been little rain； in consequence water was scarce。 Twice they were
forced to cross wild； barren wastes； where the pools had dried up； and
they suffered terribly from thirst。 On the first occasion the horses
were in good condition； and they travelled steadily； with only
occasional short halts； for over thirty…six hours； by which time they
were across the waterless country。 The journal reads： 〃January 27th
Big huntno water； and we left Quinn's blockhouse this morning 3 A。M。
on the go all nighthot。 January 28No waterhotat seven we
struck water； and by eight Stinking Creekgrand 'hurrah。' 〃 On the
second occasion； the horses were weak and travelled slowly； so the
party went forty…eight hours without drinking。 〃February 19thPulled
on twenty…one milestrail badfreezing night； no water； and wolves
after our fresh meat。 20Made nineteen miles over prairie； again only
mud； no water； freezing hardfrightful thirst。 21stThirty miles to
Clear Fork； fresh water。〃 These entries were hurriedly jotted down at
the time； by a boy who deemed it unmanly to make any especial note of
hardship or suffering； but every plainsman will understand the real
agony implied in working hard for two nights； one day； and portions of
two others； without water； even in cool weather。 During the last few
miles the staggering horses were only just able to drag the lightly
loaded wagon；for they had but one with them at the time；while the
men plodded along in sullen silence； their mouths so parched that they
could hardly utter a word。 My own hunting and ranching were done in
the north where there is more water； so I have never had a similar
experience。 Once I took a team in thirty…six hours across a country
where there was no water； but by good luck it rained heavily in the
night； so that the horses had plenty of wet grass； and I caught the
rain in my slicker； and so had enough water for myself。 Personally； I
have but once been as long as twenty…six hours without water。
The party pitched their permanent camp in a canyon of the Brazos known
as Canyon Blanco。 The last few days of their journey they travelled
beside the river through a veritable hunter's paradise。 The drought
had forced all the animals to come to the larger water…courses； and
the country was literally swarming with game。 Every day； and all day
long； the wagons travelled through the herds of antelopes that grazed
on every side； while； whenever they approached the canyon brink； bands
of deer started from the timber that fringed the river's course；
often； even the deer wandered out on the prairie with the antelope。
Nor was the game shy； for the hunters； both red and white； followed
only the buffaloes； until the huge； shaggy herds were destroyed； and
the smaller beasts were in consequence but little molested。
Once my brother shot five ante