The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-02-29
THE BISON AND THE BEAR.

| teludy, witnessing scene IN nature man
years ago, while crossing that vast sea of lane
known as the Plains of America, which mad
ones lcart ache. The new grass was jus
beginning to afford ample food for the thous
ands of buffalo that moved in herds from tht
more southern and milder climate of thu
Cherokee lands, towards the mountains.
| When buffalo becomes so old that hi
cannot keep pace with the herds he is left ir
the rear to meet whatever fate may befal him
This is not uncertain. Numbers of Cayote OF
prairie wolves follow in the wake of these
herds, eagerly watching for the dscrepid buff
falo, whose age compels him to drop behind
| and await his fate The sly, sneaking, ac-
tive cayote loses no time in securing his prey
They attack the bison in rear, and continue,
by quick movements, to nip at his hamstrings
until they are cut, and the noble animal is at
their mercy. When the buffalo fails, the
whole pack, as if by concert, stop, and throw
ing up their heads, send forth sim ultaneous
howl Of triumph. The struggle of death then
commences, the huge form Of the buffalo tos-
sing to and fro in helpless rage and misery,
under the fierce attacks of his blood-thirsty
prosecutors.
We had been out on the plains about ten
days, when we discried vast moving mass
Of blacknessa in the distance, crossing our
road. It was estimated by an old frontier
man, that there were at least 10000 in the
herd. They were moving rapidly from south
to north. The scene was fearfully grand
After the vast column had passed, a flock Of
sneaking prairie wolves brought up the rear,
close to the heels of huge old buffalo, who
exhibited evident signs Of fatigue. We had
stopped to Craze our horses and mules, and
cook a late dinner. We had not been in camp
long, before we heard terrific bowling of
the wolves, some distance from US. In COM
pany with others Of our party We galloped in
the direction Of the sound, and speedily came
upon saline lake, all around the borders Of
which the wolves had gathered, uttering their
cries Of disappointment. The old buffalo, al
most white with age, Lad taken refuge in the
centre Of the lake from his prosecutors, and
there majesticaly stood, as though contem-
plating his certain doom. A pistol shot
among the wolves soon dispersed them for
the time. Their habits were explained to us
by our companion A moment afterwards
we raised our rifle and sped a ball through
the heart of the monarch Of the plains,
which caused his huge carcass to roll over in
the turgid saline waters that surrounded him
We were sharply asked why We did that, as
we had spoiled some fun. Our response was,
that we thought death would be relief to
the helpless animal, and Che rife ball would
save him the slow torturing death Of starva-
ton in the waters Or from the equally painful
process of taking life inflicted by the wolves.
We were reminded Of this incident as IL
Illustrative Of the dangers the buffalo has to
encounter even from the Wild animals, by
reading an account Of the grand ducal hunt
gotten up by Sheridan and Custar for the
amusement of his Highness, Alexis, Grand
Duke Of Russia. It is stated that in one of
their drives they encountered large herd Of
buffalo, into which the Grad Duke, or Rus
sian Bear, and party, rushed, shooting right
and left, killing and wounding number Of
the animals, and only cutting off the tails Of
some of them to exhibit in camp as the evil
denees ofthe proves and success of the hunt
ing party! They did not stop to count the
wounded, which, perchance, would struggle
along with the herd for a short time, to fall
and perish in tantalizing misery from the gun
shots, OF the more agoulziag torturss Of the
natural enemy Of the buffalo, the cayotes.
We regard this as wicked and barbarous
sport, indicative Of callous heart, foreign
to everything akin to high state Of christi
an civilization. It is merely another phase
of the spirit that prompted the Austrian
brute Haynau to torture and murder the gal
liant Poles, and this same Sheridan to dew
estate the homes Of the helpless women and
children Of the Valley Of Virginia. A man
who can find pleasure in indicting misery up
on brute or bird, only wants the restraint
Of the law thrown off, for HIM to treat his te.-
low man in like manner.
It would have been better for the fame
Of Alexis, if he had dispensed both with as
sociating with Sheridan and the barbarous
buffalo hunt, conducted as this one was,
with more savage cruelty than is exhibited
BY the native Indian.
Prominent democrats, among them ex-sen-
ators Hendricks, Of Indiana, and Bigler, of
Pennsylvania, are in Washington consulting
with the National Democratic committee.
A bill has passed Congress, in relation to
general education, the main points OF which
are: 1st The creation Of general fund out of