Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-08-31
THE LAST REMNANT.
gifteen Full Grown Bison and Seven
Calves Corralled by Texas Cowboys.

Calves Corrailed by Texas Cowboys.
C. J. Jones, Of Garden City, Kan, bet
ter known throughout the southwest as
Buffalo" Jones, who started with a
party OF seven last April TO capture alive
the only remaining herd Of buffalo on the
plains Of Texas. has successfully accom-
plished his purpose, and the shaggy haired
captives are now made acquainted with
civilization and the comforts Of a well
kept ranch a few miles from Garden
City. In starting out to capture the mi
mails Mr.. Jones calculated that he would
find about one hundred animals roaming
over the plains between the north and
south forks Of the Canadian river, 1t he
found upon arrival there that the number
had been greatly overestinmted. There
were hardly two score all told, and these
so scattered that it was with the greatest
difficulty that he and his party Of ex-
perienced hunters corralled and saved
from destI Iction the small herd.
The story of the hunt and the manner
or capturing them has been told from
time to time by dispatches brought by
the carrier pigeons sent nth the party.
A total of fifteen old b~uffalocs and seven
calves were secured and have been care
fully watched by Lee Howard aud others
of the party, while awaiting the arrival
of the tame. herd owned by Mr.. Jones,
which was used as the guide for the wild
animals in the trip north. Mr.. Jones
shipped from his ranch thirty-two do
INVESTIGATED buffaloes and upon arriving
at the spot where the wild ones were
corralled the latter were turned loose
among the tame ones. They speedily
fraterniZed, and after a few days the
journey TO Garden City was begun. The
combined herd were driven by COWBOYS
and dogs, as the common Texas steer is,
and the whole lot safely ranched on Mr..
Jones place.
This ranch is on one of the finest graz
ing sections in southwest Kansas, cover.
ing 1000 acres. well wuudcd and
watered, with abundant ranges on every
aide. The 200 head OF cattle and sixty
one buffaloes on this ranch in winter and
summer roam over the surrounding
plains. This is where Mr.. Jones and his
colleagues, for he will organize a stock
company for the breeding Of his buffalo
cattle, intend to go into an enterprise
that eventually will revolutioniZe the
breeding of range cattle. The domestic
COW crosses with the buffalo bull admir-
ably and the product is a large, hardy
and superb meat giving animal, requir-
ing comparatively little care, living
almost entirely on the range, and
strong enough in he characteristics
of the wild animal 20 withstand
the storms Of winter. The domestic
cattle, when q blizzard comes, urn
| .heir backs TO il and soon become ex-
hausted. The buffalo cross breeds face
the storm and come out of it rs well rs
ever. They need less attention, grow
fat and thrive on the ranges that the do
nestle cattle desert, and altogether pre-
sent a field Of enterprise that offers large
profit. The meat is firm and Juicy, and
the average weight OF the dressed carcass
Is over l,20O pounds. The price in any
market is double that of the best ordinary
beef. The hide of the cross breed is also
q valuable article. 1t is a thick, smooth
skin. with the soft hair of the buffalo
covering it evenly, and can be readily
sold for $50 each.
Mr.. Joaes discovered near Winnipeg 2
similar ranch, owned by S. l.. BedsUn,
warden of the penitentiary, but it Is not
being run on so large "A scale. This ranch
is situated about sixty miles southeast
from Winnipeg, and ON a recent ylsi.
Mr. Jones found that the greatest sue
cess was beng had by Mr.. Bedson in
cross breeding. He has 10 hesitation in
pronouncing the half and three-quarter
breed cattle the best in the world for
range purposes. On the Bedson ranch
the buffalo cross cattle live entirely on
the prairie grasses, SUMMED and winter,
paving up the roots in winter aud need.
ing no care. Mr.. Bedson is not making
much effort as yet to market his stock,
and is getting only eighteen cents a
pound for such as he kills for market,
but the hides bring him $50 each for
robes He has only twenty five head
of the half breeds, but will have nany
more next year. Mr.. Jones offered MS
rival in the business no less than $500
apiece for the twenty-five head, SIC. 800
in all, but the offer was refused with a
laugh. Evidently Mr.. Bedson knows he
has a good thing. lie even refused to
put a price on them.
On the Garden City ranch there will
be placed one hundred head Of Galloway
cows, a sturdy Ira.a, which, with the
buffalo cross, produce the new cattle, and
the day is not far distant when the cpl
cures in all American cities will be able
TO indulge in the luxury Of a table meat
that combines the nutritiye qualities of {
juicy buffalo steak with the firmness and
tenderness OF the best stall fed OK,
While In the north, Mr.. Jones heard
that a few miles out Of Emerson, Mani
toba. there were some moose deer and he
at once made arrangements TO try, and
capture a young one to add TO his stock
Of wild animals, and in his endeavor be
was entirely successful, bringing back
with him a male moos calf about SIN
weeks old, which lie will place on ths