Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-12-10
CLEARFIELD, PA, THURSDAY DEC. 10. 1868
The Buffalo and the Indian.

There is great commotion at th
Q West among the Indians and the bu
ialoes. The destinies of the1e tw
kinds Of wild creatures seem TO 0
pysteriously intertwined, and il ha
: long been predicted that the extermt
nation of the one will be simultaneou
with that Of the other. In time @
> peace, the Indians go out in force L
the regular haunts of the buffalo a
certain seasons to lay in their supplies
and they return to their lodges will
their ponies loaded down with tb,
spolls of the chase But the in gasiol
OF the grazing grounds of the buffaloe
and the hunting grounds Of the Indi
ans by the Pacific Railroad has revo
lutiopized the habits of both thes,
wild creatures. and diseoucerted nne
dcmoralized them The Indian tribeI
thut are on the war path are put tC
the trouble Of driving the buffalo or
the route they have TO take SO as tC
insure a supply Of food. The buffalo
Is the commissariat Of the Indian. II
place Of driving wagons loaded with
supplies, be drives the bufialoes. and
Kills them as they are wanted. 1t is
not pleasant TO think of the annihila.
ton Of The bison But the causes
seem to be at work that are to bring
about that result. 10 the good old
times, when the Plains were Quiet.
and only dozens traversed them where
thousands now do so, the herds OF
buffalo were counted by fifty aud a
hundred thousand. They now seem
to be squandered, aud to be divided
into small herds There are still mil
lions OF these animals, but they have
become disorganized and scattered in
those localities penetrated bv the Pa
ctic Railroad and the currents Of emf.
grant travel. The following descrip-
tion OF the American bison, which we
take from the Fort Hays correspond.
enee Of the Philadelphia Eueninq T,ele.
graph, is correct and interesting:
The American bison is generally
larger than the cows or oxen of this
country, and heavier, weighing from
sixteen hundred TO two thousand
pounds. The color of the hair is a
"dun," or brownish-black, except the
long hair, which is tinged with vel.
lowlsh rust color The head, shoul-
ders aud neck are usually covered
with great shaggy masses OF hair,
while ON other portions of the body
and legs the hair is rather short and
fine. Along the buck il is coarser
and about half the length of the hair
on the neck. The physiognomy is
rather repulsive, and indicates ferocily
if aroused or excited. The flesh of
the bison is similar TO coarse grained
beef, but more tender and juicy, aud
has the game flavor When The hump
rs nicely cut in steaks and properly
broiled, or when cooked in the Indian
style, by sewing up the meat IN the
hide and baking in an earth oven
underneath the surface of the ground, |
II is ranked among the most delicate |
Of American dishes. The tongue is
highly priced among epicures, and
much preferred TO the tongues of cat. |
lle The decided preference for this
portion Of the bison, has often resulted
IN hunters staying them merely for
The tongues of the animals. and leav.
ing all other portions for The wolf and
rulture to feed on.
The Indians in Kansas are almost
'ntirely dependent upon the bison fer
heir food, clothing, dwellings and fu.
u. The hides, with the hair. furnish
he finest "buiialo robes, while the
iressed hides are also a considerable
Irticle of commerce, and quite proiita-
Ne. IL is rather astonishing that.
With the present admirable facilities
or reaching all the Eastern cities and
rade centres, some enterprising son
# America has not devised some mode
f capturing the bison, and having
hem transported TO market in the
Hrs Of the "Union" or Empire" lines
f fast freight, and thus realize IA mug-
iticent profit out OF the operation.
here is no portion of the bison but
'hat can be made marketable in Phia.
elphia or New York. The cost of
ecuring them, and the freight would
e comparatively trifing, when their
alue is considered. The trade can
OF much longer be postponed II the
ison can be caught and killed, aud
ortions Of the meat prepared and
old East, at satisfactory profit, how
luch more remunerativo 20 bring .
hem East on the hoof, aud dispose of ,
lem alive. The man or men who
TART this movement will inevitably /;
zap a rich harvest.
The day is not far distant when the ;
eef Of the bison will supply the tables ,
the inhabitants Of our large cities. !
When that day arrives the doom Of
nc bison will be sealed. Should any
indians be then left, il will be inter
sting 70 consider how they will live !
" the buffalo is their oDly source Of !
ipport. Ia
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