Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1889-06-08
THE slsoN's EXTINCTION.
DIR. Carver Tells How the Great Herds
Were Wiped Out.

/ were Wfped Ouf.
''As the Indians hunted them. the
race OF bison would probably have
lasted forever. but about 1866 the white
men turnea their attention TO the
shaggy monsters OF the plains Large
Eastern firms organized hunting par.
ties and paid the shooters $3.50 for
each bison where he lay dead ON the
plains. then went TO Southern Me-
braska and became a professional
hunter. The bison consisted OF two
large divisions. the one living In the
South and the other In the North.
Their only common feeding ground
was along the Republican river and It's
branches in Nebraska. The Indians
were well aware OF that fact. and
hostile tribes have had many fight
Tor that territory. II was not until
1873 that the Government put an end
10 this by sending the Pawnees South
aud the Sioux to their Northern reser-
vations. Prior to that time we had to
do all OF our hunting at the risk OF be-
ing scalped at any time.
Our fayorite gun was an army
model OF the Springfield rifle. 45-cali.
Der and loaded with ninety grains OF
powder. The whites patterned after
the Indians and hunted on horseback.
Having wagons 10 haal our game, we
did rot care TO ''circle" them as the In.
diaDs did. When herd was located
we would mount our best horses and
as quietly as possible approach the
herd from the leeward side. As soon
as they saw us the fun would begin.
Although of n low build. the bison will
make "a very interesting race with
horse for ten miles. We would press
up on the right flank OF the herd and
ride so close 10 the animals that our
guns would touch the side when fired.
The most deadly shot was to fire quar-
tering through the lungs so that tho
animal would bleed TO death. In this
way we would follow the herd as long
as our horses could stand IT, On one
OF these runs | killed ll3 bison. none
OF which we're more than 100 Yards
apart. In riding back an awful sight
was presented 10 the eye The trail
was marked by dead and dying ami
mails. An occasional big bull would
have broken back so that he could
only get mp on his fore legs. and moth
ing could look more furious than his
shaking head. with coal black eyes
glaring in death stare from his haggy
front. We received our pay for the
animals dead on the plains, and wagons
followed us up. quartered the animals |
ard shipped the saddle aud tallow 10
Eastern markets.
about 1871 the hide-hunting began.
Prior 10 this time little or no attention
was paid to the skins. but when the I
armand for them created high price /
the meat was allowed 10 rot upon tho |
plains and this magnificent race was
extinguished simply that extravagant
tastes might be satisfied With the
improvements in firearms an entirely /
different mode of hunting was adopted. /
The Springfield army gun was SUPER
ceded by Sharp 50-ealiber and
oadcd with l20 grains of powder
The hunter used his horse only in find
ng herd. This done. we would 90
% the leeward side so that the scent OF
he powder aud report would not reach
he animals. and find suitable shelter
lbont 1000 yards distant from them.
have killed them at distance of a
niie. Hunting In this way we had TO
,e very particular. and watch the herd
loosely. Like u herd OF cattle. the
'ison are always on the go and are apt
o walk out OF rifle range In n short
line. In moving. however. they al
Fays have n leader and the trick was
o Kill any one that started 10 lead the
'thers OH. By thus killing the lead
rs. We could often shoot for an hour
rom bcllnd one clump OF grass. and
'hen they had moved out Of range.
ne .skinncrs' would come up. cut the
Iide In the ordinary way for skinning.
le the animals head TO a stake, hitch
team OF horses To the hide. and jerk
on. No one will ever know what inn
lense numbers of bison were killed by
hese hide-hunters, bat 10 my certain
nowtenge threc-miIlion hides were ,
hipped from tbs banks of the French
lan river In one winter The hide
unters. by a system of fires. kept the .
ison from the streams until many OF ,
lem perished. and thousands OF Others ,
ere easily killed. Al the close OF that
inter man could go along the banks I,
the Frenchman for fifty miles by .
imply jumping from the carcass OF 1
ne bison TO that Of another Consid- I
ring facts OF this kind. Il is not sur /
rising that a small. tame herd and a
w old circus animals represent the
rsat herds which. less than a quarter :
century ago. blackened miles OF 4
rairies as "A thunder cloud darkens !
10 sky. Kansas City Times.
Athens. Ga, has man who rents =
ghis 10 court his daughters TO the isl