The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-18

sights HE game. After the Arst shot the herd
generally run ~ least n hundred yards. Then
they turn about and watch the struggles Of tho
dying buffalo. II the killer keeps cover, the
herd may come back and paw around the
dead body. az cattle do when they smell
blood, The killer always tries to shoot the ami
mails likely 70 lead the herd away. This ia what
IL termed holding tho herd IL requires
great experience. When the leaders fall tho
herd. seeing their bodies on the ground. fire.
1uen'ly lie down among them, and stay there
Tho Killers work completed. he signals for
tho wagon to come up, and the sknncrs draw
thelr KNIVES. Two ropes nitached TO the aNles
trail behi ind the wagon. Each terminates in n
loop. Tho loops arc placed over fore and
hind leg. the team is started, and the dead
animal turned on its back. IL is held In this
position by scotching the wagon. The SINNERS
roll up their sleeves and go to work. The hide
e peeled from the belly by man on cach side.
ming and the other for ripping The knives
are are, frequently sharpened A grindstone y
is removed il Is thrown into The wagon ' and the
SINNERS move on from carcass to carcass. until
tho " whole stand, as it is called. is skinned.
HOW THE HIDES ARE CURED.
When taken to camp tho pelts IRE laid in rows
In place known rs the hide yard" They
near the edges with an axe or a tomahawk. II not
pressed Tor time knif 70 may be used. One Of the
party then goes around with an armful Of pegs
and distributes them on tho hides. He aver
ages about sixteen pegs to the hide, The skins
are next stretched and the pegs driven into the
ground. The hides remain there until they
become as hard as flint. They are then taken
up and summed. After day or two they are
crfmpcd or folded, llcsh side in, like the leaves
OF book. Next they are piled ready for mar.
kct, Hides taken In summer are sprinklcd
with poison TO keep tho bugs out Of them.
thousands Of hides are spoiled by the rains
Frequently the wolves get at them and toar
them TO pieces. Some hunters kill the animals
all the yoar round. and even slaughter the
cows when with calf. Others condemn this
practice. and will not associate with those who
follow IT,. There are many professional terms
cripple is buffalo that has been ,woundc!
spike" H. young bull. Tho best hides arr
tanned and reserved for robes. Others ar,
made into leather Thecoarser ones are turned
into harness, being too porous for shoes.
THE MEAT HUNTERS.
Those who hunt tho bison for his meat are
| class by themselves. A hole like grave is dul
IN the ground and a hide placed therein VIZ
| leather vat. Tho hams are cut into tire,
| chunks and thrown INTO the vat They ar
| sprinkled with salt and seasoned with saltpetre
The vat Is then covered with a stin hide, and TIN
| meat thus protected from the sun. TOnguci
are picked in similar way. After the meat I
and cut into smooth pieces. These pieces ar,
strung on bear grass, and hung In rude smok'
| smoked too much. IL cures according 10 thu
| Weather. Sometimes II Is in the smoke
| house two months before 1t is marketable. !
| finds ready sale in the frontier towns. and II
| frequently sold as far south as New Orleans
HALF the fun in killing buffalo" said Ora
| ham. Is in observing their curious actions.
have stuck up hat, and seen whole her,
gather around u, and stare at Il for hours. !
pretty sure TO fall into the trap. Anything viii
stampede them. Their stupidity Is most re-
markable. A stupid "a buffalo IL common
| are more suspicious than their parents. Bull
| have shorter tails than cows; Their tails ar