The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-10-08
LAST OF THE BUFFALO.
4 MAGNIFICENT ATRIAL NOW
ALMOST EXTINCT.
The Indian and the White Ran
Joined Hands in the Slaughter Of
the Buffalo.

The Indian and the White E-aE
Joined Hands in the Slaughter Of
the Buffalo.
DR.. William +. Carver is probably
responsible for the death of more bison
than any other one man. For Il number
of wears he hunted them on the plains,
and in shooting them he developed that
wonderful skill in handling firearms
which has ma;le him the best all-round
shot in the world. To Kansas City
Times representative he told the follow
ing story of the bison, and how they
were formerly hunted by the Indians,
then by the whites:
"Before the invasion of civilization
the Indian relied almost entirely upon
the bison for his subsistence. The red
man, although daring in his attempts to
kill game, was yet the complete slave of
the medicine man. How did he rule
them? 1 will tell you. When the In
dams supply of buffalo meat began to
give out, or the season came to lay Ill
the winter 1ntions, the medicine man
was notified, and lie ordered IL buffalo
dance Ii the tribe was large one
the festivities would often last for
weeks, and all sorts of can-cans would
be inlulged in. At the close of the
feast the medicine man would gather
all kinds of herbs, roots, leaves and
grasses and retire to his tent. Exactly
wEet his process of preparing the medi-
cine was no white man has ever found
out but the faith in him was so strong
that even the most powerful chief would
not be followed by dozen braves if
the medicine was wrong. From time
to time the medicine man would come
to the door of the tent and announce to
the waiting chiefs what the mixture
indicated.
"Upon the final announcement that
the medicine was right, the whole camp
would be broken up and the tribe would
start in full force upon the hunt. 4
few sharp-sighted old scouts woald be
in the van and keep tho tribe posted as
to the location and nu:n!cr OF bison by
riding in circles of different sizes and
points of intersections. When Il suitable
herd WIS found, tie wa1riGrS would
stop, mount their il"C!itc hunting
horses ana prepare &"r the slaughter.
The bow WAS made o. hickory ood.
about four feet lom::t, covered "I;h u
paste made of the hni.cd sincYS Of Il
bison, and stiff enough to serve as 4
jumping pole. Notwithstanding this
strength, the Indian would bend the
bow almost double before sending the
arrow to the winds. 1t vas strung with
the corl which rllns from the top of 4
bison's hump to his tail, this cord being
first wrapped with small strings Of
sinews. The arrow was from thirty to
thirty-six inches in length, almost the
size of lead pencil, tipped with several
feathers and having the familiar flint
head tied on the front end. from the
head grooves arc cut i'll the arrow, 50 as
to let the blood flow freely. The great
warriors sometimes had Hrrows made of
bone, and in later days the white men
taught the Indian; - u.s. steel arrow
heads.
"Having killed rs ,:,lly bison aspossi-
BILE the hunters SEX some cDOl place for
rest and tho sqillws take charge OF the
game. They skin tie animals, cut the
flesh into strips and hang thcm il the
sun to dry. When the meit became
crisp enough to break it VAS paced III u
rawhide pouch, covered ell over with tai
low nnd put away for winter Use. In
that condition the meat Is very good to
eat, but when boiled for short time it
absorbs the water anl returns TO its for
mer size and tasscs almost like fresh
meat. The squaws also tan the hides or
dress them up to be tr..dcd. The fur
dealers would get them for L few pieces
of common jewely worth possibly 90
cents.
Gas the Indians hunted them, the
race of bison would probably hare lasted
forever, but about 1866 the white men
turned their attention to the shaggy
monsters of the plains. Large Eastern
firms organized hunting parties and
paid the shooters $3.50 for each bison
where he lay dead on the plains. 1 then
went to Southern Nebraska and became
q professional hunter. The bison con-
sisted of two large divisions, the one iv-
ing 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. Tho In
dams were we'll aware of that fact and
hostile tribes have had many fight for
that territory. It was not until 1873
that the Government put an end to this
by sending The Pawnees south and the
Sioux to their northern reservations.
Prior to that time we had to do all Of
our hunting ut the risk OF being scalpcd
at any time.
"Our favoritn e11n was an army model
of THE Springfield rifle, tJ-calibre and
loa;:cd with ninety grains OF powder.
The whites patterned after the Indians
and hunted on horseback. Having
wagons 10 haul or game, we did not
care to 'cirrIc' them rs the Indians did.
When q herd Mas located we would
mount our best horses and rs quietly rs
possible approach the herd from the lee
ward side. Is soon as they saw us the
fun would begin. Although of a low
build, the bison will make !. very inter-
csting race with horse for ten miles.
We would press up on The right flank
CT i;.r E1ri ani ride 50 close to tho ami
mails that Our guns would touch the side