Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-25
THE LAST REMNANT.
Fifteen Fun Grown Bison and Seven
Calves Corraiied by Texas Cowboys.

Fifteen Fun Grown Bison and Seven
Calves CorraiIed by Texas Cowboys
c. j. Jones, of Garden City, Kan., bet
ter known throughout the southwest as
Buffalo Jones, who started with
party of seven last April to capture alive
the only remaining herd of buffalo on the
plains Ct Texas, has successfully accom-
plished his purpose, and the shaggy haired
captlves are now made acquainted with
civilization and the comforts OF well
kept ranch few miles from Garden
City. In starting out to capture the ami
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, but he
found upon arrival there that the number
had been greatly overestimated. 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 destruction the small herd.
The story of the hunt and the manner
of capturing them has been told from
time to time by dispatches brought by
the carrier pigeons sent with the party.
A total Of fifteen old buffaloes and seven
calves were secured and have been care
fully watched by Lee Howard and 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
mesticated 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 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 1900 acres, well wooded and
watered. with abundant ranges on every
side. 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 the characteristics
Of the wild animal to withstand
the storms of winter. The domestic
cattle, when a blizzard comes, turn
their backs to it and soon become ex-
hausted. The buffalo cross breeds face
the storm and come out of it as well as
ever They need less attention, grow
fat and thrive on the ranges that the do
nestle cattle desert, and altogether pre-
sent field Of enterprise that offers large
profit. The meat is firm and juicy, and
the average weight of the dressed carcass
is over 200 pounds. The price in any
market is double that of the best ordinary
beef. The hide Of the cross breed is also
a 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.. Jones discovered near Winnipeg
warden of the penitentiary, but it is not
being run ON SO large scale. This ranch
is situated about sixty miles southeast
from Winnipeg, and on recent visit
Mr.. Jones found that the greatest sue
cess was being had by Mr.. Bedson in
cross breeding. He has no 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 entizely on
the prairie grasses, summer and winter,
paving up the roots in winter and need
ing no care. Mr. Bedson is not making
much effort as yet to market his stock,
and is getting only eighteen cents
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 many
more next year. Mr.. Jones offered his
rival in the business no less than $500
apiece for the twenty-five head $12.500
in all, but the offer was refused with a
laugh Evidently Mr.. Bedson knows he
has good thing. He even refused to
put price on them.
On the Garden City ranch there will
be placed one hundred head Of Galloway
cows, sturdy breed, 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 nutritive qualities of a
juicy buffalo steak with the firmness and
tenderness of the best stall fed OK.
While in the north, Mr.. Jones heard
that few miles out Of Emerson, Mani
toba, there were some moose deer and he
at once made arrangements to try, and
capture young one to add to his stock
of wild animals, and in his endeavor he
was entirely successful, bringing back
with him a male moose calf about six
weeks old, which he will place on the
Garden City ranch.-Chicago Times.