Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-17
DOODLE In BUFFALO.
Fortunes That Are Made by Raising
and Domesticating Bisons.
AN INTERVIEW WITH c. J. JONES,
Who Has Devoted Much Time to Their
Slaughter, and to the
MORE PLEASANT TASK OF RAISING THEM
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DrsrArcH.i

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DrsrArcH.i
DENVER, August 16.-Hon. @. j. Jones,
the veteran buffalo hunter OF America, was
In Denver to-day on his way to his home in
Garden City, Kan, from Ogden, Utah,
where he recently sold one-half interest in
his buffalo herd in Kansas. He is the gen.
tleman who originated the idea of raising
the buffalo for domestic purposes, and In an
interview with DISPATCH representative
he told the following interesting story re-
garding his early days as hunter and his
pet hobby of domesticating this now almost
extinct race Of bovines. Said he:
II began hunting buffalo in 1871, at 30
cents head. All did was to shoot them
down for company, who would take the
hides to Hayes City and Ft. Wallace and
sell them. They would split the hide un-
derneath, cutting the legs little distance
down. They then cut around the neck. and
slipped it back little; then taking loop
in a rope, they would hitch one team of
horse to the hide and one to the horns, and
whipping up the horses, they would jerk of
the hide in less time than 1t takes to tell
about it.
81 have often killed from 40 to 60 buff
falo right IN their tracks. figured out a
plan of my own to corral them upon the
prairie. I made an effort to get in front of
the herd when they were travelling, so that
they would come within about 20 yards of
me in passing by. then shot the leader
THROUGH THE HEART,
dropping her dead in her tracks. The
leader was generally COW; the old bulls
were lazy and usually Jagged behind. The
herd would fall back in the direction from
which 1t came about 100 yards, stopping to
turn around and look for the danger. In q
few minutes one of the cows led out to go
around on one side or the other, and then
would drop her as I did the first. They
would again fall back a short distance and
huddle up together. After a short pause
another COW might undertake to go around
on the other side, and invariably met the
same fate as the other two. The herd, after
this, was sure to form in very close group
upon the ground where they halted after
the first shot. Buffalo never retrace their
steps but for a short distance.
"Now, they had trouble on three sides.
and on the other was the back track.
was free to shoot down as many as wanted,
provided did not fire too rapidly and give
them the alarm. Whenever one would at
tempt to lead away made sure to kill 1t,
and this taught the others that 1t was sure
death to the leaders. To be sure, it was
very cruel, but I could hear the crack of
guns on every side, and I thought I would
have my share.
81 began to realize that these animals
would soon be extinct, and turned my atten-
ton to saving the remnant. began to save
the young, to atone for my slaughter. In
1884 began to gather up the calves, which
/ found very hard to raise. At first 1 lost
30 per cent, but after little experience
could save more than 80 per cent. 1 stocked
my farm near Garden City with these calves
as rapidly as could catch them At the
close of 1884 had raised but 4, the next
year and the next 80, and so on until
had herd of about 100.
''I bought the famous Manitoba herd,
consisting of 60 full bloods and 20 crosses,
in 1887 I have sold off great many bulls
to shows and menageries at prices ranging
from $500 to 500. This year have 81 full
blooded calves.
CLOTH OF THE HAIR.
"The buffalo has fine, long coat OF hair.
which it sheds every year, and Weighing
from eight to ten pounds apiece. am saw
ing this, intending to have it made into
cloth, by way of experiment. The buffalo
grown in the North are much larger than
those OF the South, the bulls of the former
sometimes reaching weight of 500 pounds,
with magnificent heads, which are eagerly
sought by the proprietors of museums, who
are now compelled to pay from 5000 to $500
apiece for them when mounted.
"The meat of the domesticated buffalo is
as tender as the finest beef, and has q deli
cious flavor, which is characteristic. It is
not like the old, tough, run down bull
meat, which we used to get, and which was
nothing but muscle and sinews.
Buffalo calves, when caught over 8
months old, cannot be raised. The change
breaks their hearts and they give up in dis
gust. The cows are more valuable than the
bulls. Ihave sold number of full-blooded
cows to parties in Utah at prices ranging
from $500 to $500. The half-breeds are not
as good as the three-quarters or seven
eighths. The latter are splendid animals,
carrying fine coat of hair.
"With the view of perpetuating the race
Of American buffalo, and also OF establish
ing an attraction for the city, syndicate
has been organized at Ogden, Utah, with
such men as Sidney Stevens and A. H.
Swan, of Utah, G. B. Grinnell, of New
York, and several other well-known gentle
men at the back OF 1t. A geological farm
will be started and other collections made.
Negotiations for the purchase of half
interest in my herd have been going on for
some time, and were concluded last week,
difficulty in moving the animals, as had
none in bringing the Manitoba herd into
Kansas. had considerable amusement on
this trip, as the Manitoba people would
crowd around the train, and it was with diff
fculty that they could be kept off the track
when the cars started"