The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-02-25
GAME I'M THE YEhzOwsroxr PARK.
Bu9Ais DSIps Plsa for she Resssrvstssa Or
the Du2hlsss aaA E1ks.

-
the DuRhlsss aaA Eaks.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: I wish
to sincerely protest against one or two meas
ures for the improvement OF the Yellowstone
Park, which, II thoughtlessly carried out. are
certain to be- looked upon in the future as
mammoth mistakes. Ircfer particularly to the
idea Of supplying tho park hotels with game
which Is now rather abundant upon the noun
talns and In the valleys OF the Yellowstone.
Tho Indians have always looked upon the hiss
ing springs and tho strange recesses OF the
park with awe. and never harmed beast or fowl
that sought refuge within Its precincts. They
entertained similar superstitions In regard to
tho Black Hills and no bufYaloes or elks were
slaughtered there until the whites came. To-
day the buffalo and elk have almost entirely
disappeared. Tho buffalo Is actually thing OF
the past In great regions OF the West
where. only few years since. gigantic
herds were mot from day to day. Their
slaughter has been crinfinally large and
useless md no hand is raised to stop
tho utter extinction which threatens them.
Even their bones have been rakcd UP and
shipped East as u new source OF profit. n ten
years tho new generation Will point to solitary
specimens in travelling menugcries or HoO!0xl.
cal gardens rs the rare survivors q the noblcst
of American wild beasts; 1t Ia difficult to esti-
berg. but certainly It should be tho duty Of
some one to check their Wholesale destruction.
mot on grounds sm pnt ios
tho year. round. they xiii when their needs
ing scarcity in numbers to shoot oftener than
Is necessary; Buffalo meat s the main Do,
organized for tho special purpose OF stretching
game on the plains for the coyotes to pick after
did decade or so ago
For many years past the different animals
have instinetivoly sought places OF, refuge and
stone Park. Hero, ut least they have been safe
from from Inc Indian hunters, @nd NJ to the present
sho eo0s oS tho lifts r anS F re hs
from sight. Once out OF their stronghold and
npofn the 2pen plains their chances OF escape
opinion tho @ y OF for
indiscrimi1ate hunting in this spot should be
deplored; l say encourage tho beasts to stay
found elsewhere, they may serve the interests
q natural history as well rs crafty and instruct
s 10 esnH % Se
to-day a herd Of twenty;one head of buiral3es on
BUT rw mdn nnSh s Mhh tSs rU wa
cattle with, which they minglo. They are easy
be 70 ans eDwSnys are
even permitted to ride them. and the animals
BY all means let the march Of improvement
go on in the region OF the Yellowstone but lot
the Eunsh9t be prohibited at the, outset. It's
mains OF a great and noble charm. The park
is richer and grander than any other natural
garden in America. and II its beauties are to BIO
preserved at all they should be preserved to-
gether. Why not continue to give the beasts
the projection they have always known here.
Why. SHOULD such perfect work OF nature DO
deprived Of such n prime element OF natural
ness And why should we now cease to re-
spect tho surerstitions OF great tribes before
us. sanctifed by the faithful observance OF CEN
turtles. and which insured for tho splendid
beasts OF forest and plain the safest home they
ever knew2 w. +. CODY. BUFFALO BILL.)
NEW YORK Jan. II,