The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-02-12
FUR TRADERS.
The Worldwide Reputation OF a
LeayenwOrth Firm.

Messrs. Durfee & Peck, oi this ci'y,
known every where a. the mos, extensive fur
trader. in the United SAFES. after having
heen ex;.nsively mentioned b: The press Of
this country, are nos receiving the attention
Of the Londoa newspapers. The London
Times, of January 18Th. 10 sn Article de.
script,ve OF fur., how they are ob's,Ded and
dressed, records come incidents ia CGmmO.
dore Duriee's Upper Missouri river career.
that have not bcen given in tie newspspers
Of this valley. Ire Comm odore, who lie
now in the city, bears witness to the sccu-
rscy of tn. following article which We clip
from the London Times of the date above
named:
Probably there i. no business carried on
IN the United St I . OF the details OF wbic.,
70 little 10 known by people generally As IL.
fur and robe trade among the Sioux lodi::s
Of Montana and Dako;a. The season in
whic, iurs and peitries are obtained extends
'rcn Ocoter 10 February. Alter that time
til shedding of the coat Commences, the
hair ,ade- aud the skin becomes worthless.
Tn. animals mot sought after are ott.T,
buffalo, welt, elk, bear, iox, deer and coon
Mink is . INT imes taken ny the while trap
pe,a. hat il is considered too email game By
the Indian: BufiAloes are killed mostly BY
the bow and arrow, ~ this method is not
only less expensive than killing with fire.
arms. b.: the arrow can be obtained and
used again. A large herd is surrounded,
some times scattered over an area comprising
several miles in extent, and gradually driven
in t,xether. And here il exhibited . piece
of strategy thoroughly Indian. The s,rag-
plers on the outs knts Of the herd are shot in
the liver, and will bleed 10 death in going
lev miles. The hunters continue driving
them in, and the carcases at the close OF the
slaughter sse consequently not scattered over
n great an extsnt Of ground ~ they would
be il shot Instantly dead. When the circle
is we'll closed 10, the hunters b gin to shoe,
at the heart The ponies are all trained, and
will no; enter the herd, but keep the outside,
although the hunter dies not draw = rein,
after reaching the killing ground. Wolves
are secured by poison in the following Taii-
nsr: A quarter Of buffalo j. either dragged
or taken in wagon TO the spOt where the
wolves most do congregate. A; distance
of about forty rods spart, stakes are stuck In
the ground; on the top Of each a piece Of
meat il impaled, having previously been
poisOned with stry chime The wolves strike
the trail and follow j, up, t,king the piece
% they e.. Next morning the hunters go
along the line ard skin the dead animals
They stretch the skins over 't'kes. with the
inside up, and let them dry No salt or
any thing else is put on them. Sometimes
seventy or eighty wolves are killed With a
single quarter Of meat. One-eighth Oi an
ounce oil etrychnins is sufficient to kill five
wolves. The st;er and beaver are trapped,
various kinds OF drugs being used for bait.
A few silver-grsy foxes have been captured,
but they arr very scarce. The skins OF
these animals are very valuable. bringing
from e1O 70 els escb. When taken, lthey
are invariably sent t, Europe, where they
are used only by tbs weaithiest people. The
Indians use tie braiIs OF the animal TO tan
the skip with. After stretching it over
stakes or frames, rs sSove stated, they rub
on the brains, mixed with juices obtained
from certain roots and plants. The skins
are then scraped with hoes, or other instru-
men,s Of that nature. The brains are said
TO draw out the grease After drying, the
hides are paiIttd and ornamented. The
paint used is the very finest quality Of Chi
nsse vrrmiIlion and chrome yellow and
green, There is populsr idea that some OF
The buffalo roses which we Gnd in the mar
ket are tanned BY white men after being
brought int } the staies, but such Is not the
caae. Many whites have ait mpted il, but
failed. and the Indians seem TO be the only
people who are possessed Of the knowledge
which enable them to import a sof. ness and
pleasant surface to the buffalo robe not found
on anv other skin. As soon rs the hunting
season is over, the Indians put the hides and
furs on poles, which are dragged by ponies,
sometimes 800 miles 10 the nearest trading
post. The whole band generally comes in
with them. Those with whom the Indians
decide 10 trade are compelled to give the
band great feast, which usually lasts dav
and night. Then the business of exchange
commences.. The articles most in demand
nv the rel men are coffee and sugar, Of which
they are passionstely fond. In dry goods,
they wsrt blankets. cloths. prints, the most
Raudy and varigated. A few OF them buy
saddles and brides. An ornament called
the Iroquois shell, picked up on the aeashore
somewhere in Europe, is in grea: demand.
An Indian has been known 10 receive three
four,hs of his trade in these shelia. An old
Indian chief named 1.-TWO Bears" used to
be found very nseful in these negotiations,
By Msssrs. narfee and Peck, one Of the
principal trading Establishments Of the dis.
tsiot-; and Mr.. DIrfee related come time ago
an incident about this old red man, which
illustrates the amusing dignity and pride
which the indian sometimes displays. Mr..
Duriee vac % iae river with one OF his
boal., and had on board several ladies.
"Two Bears' was pointed out to him as a
prominent chief, and he invited him on
board, taking him directly to the ladies'
cabin. Now. it Glanced that our red friend
was not inst then clad in his Sundsy'go-to-
meeting clothes, bn:, on the other hand,
presented an appearance that would have
hardly been couptenanced in genteel society.
As soon ss he cav the ladies, he was deeply
mortified at having been inveigled into their
presence clad in 10 scanty drese. No urR-
ing could induce him 20 remain q moment,
and he marched OF the boat. In about an
hour he came back, decked of in all the
,udy hab;liments Of First Family Sioux,
stuck all over with gewsaws and feather,
and mounted on pony no les gaily caPar-
isoned. Everybody was expected to 90 out
and zee him in all his glory, which they did,
and his wounded pride was healed.