1872 Oakland Newspaper - Buffalo Hunt for Russian

Description: A rare and original issue of The Oakland Daily News for Saturday, January 6, 1872 This Republican newspaper was founded in 1866 and was published daily, except on Sunday, until at least 1877 - delivered by carrier for 15 cents per week. At this time the new Republican Governor of California was Newton Booth and The President of the United States was Ulysees S. Grant. The paper covers national headlines and local political news and activities. Of particular interest is the planned buffalo hunt for the benefit of Grand Duke Alexis of Russia and the arrangements made to ensure Spotted Tail and other indian chiefs would participate - see scan and below An advertisement by the Union Pacific Railroad offers Free Homes and 12,000,000 acres of good farmland in Nebraska at prices ranging from $2 to $10 per acre - see scan This issue of 2 pages, 4 sides features a fascinating variety of advertisements including real estate sales and medicinal cures California newspapers of this early date are rarely seen. Fascinating reading for the historian. Good condition for its age - see scans. Page size 17.5 x 23.5 inches . Note: International mailing in a tube is expensive ($18).The quoted international rate assumes the paper is lightly folded and mailed in a reinforced envelopeGrand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich killing a buffalo with a pistol shot on 15 January 1872Buffalo huntThe big hunt took place on Alexei's 22nd birthday, 14 January 1872. He carried a Russian hunting knife and an American revolver bearing the coats-of-arms of the United States and Russia on the handle, which he had recently received as a present. The hunting party approached buffalo herd several miles up the Red Willow Creek. Alexei rode Buffalo Bill's celebrated buffalo horse "Buckskin Joe", which had been trained to ride at full gallop with a target so that the best shot could be made. As soon as a herd of buffalo was seen, some two miles away, Alexei wanted to make a charge but was restrained by Bill. The party moved to the windward and gradually approached the herd. Within a hundred yards of the fleeing buffalo, Alexei, not accustomed to shooting from a running horse, fired, but missed. Buffalo Bill rode up close beside him, handed him his own famed .48-caliber rifle, "Lucretia", the one with which he claimed to have killed 4,200 buffalo, and advised him not to fire until he was on the flank of the buffalo. When Alexei tried again, he brought down his game. The hide of the dead buffalo was carefully removed and dressed; Alexei took it home as a souvenir of his hunt on the western plains. Twenty to thirty animals were killed on the first day of the hunt. The party returned early to camp, where there was a liberal supply of champagne and other beverages provided, and the evening was spent in frontier style.The next morning Spotted Tail requested the Grand Duke to hunt by the side of Two Lance, chief of the Nakota Sioux tribe, so that he could see a demonstration of the Indian way of hunting. Coming up to a herd of buffalo, Two Lance demonstrated his skill by killing a large animal with one arrow which passed entirely through the body of the running buffalo. The arrow was preserved and given to Alexei. He killed two buffalo, one of them at 100 paces distance, with a pistol shot.On the conclusion of the hunt, when returning to Fort McPherson, General Sheridan proposed that Buffalo Bill take the reins and show Alexei the old style of stage driving over the plains with the horses at full gallop. The heavy ambulance bounded over the rough prairie, while the occupants could hardly keep their seats. Alexei was pleased with his hunting trip. When he and Bill parted in Fort McPherson, Alexei presented him with a fur coat and expensive cuff links.

Price: 10 USD

Location: Los Angeles, California

End Time: 2024-10-21T22:55:46.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.5 USD