New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1890-04-09
DESTRUCTION OF BISON.
An Industry that Might Have Earned
S25,OOo,OOO Annually STUPIDITY
Wiped Out-A Stern Lesson.

4
An Industry that Might Have Earaed
$25, 100000 Annually STUPIDITY
Wiped Out-A Stern Lesson.
In theesettlement of the West much
was done to which, let us hope, the
historians of the future will be little
blind. The brave and somewhat terri
bic men who crossed the Alleghanies
into a then apparently il1imitable will
derness developed and transmitted to
their children a certain disregard for
the rights of the natives, brute and hui
man, with whom they came into con-
tact which has only now begun to dis
appear. A sad aud bitter lesson had
to be learned by the Western people
before they were able to appreciate the
sentiment which should have aYailed to
make the progress Of civilization less
uncivilized. This lesson was sternly
enforced. when they suddenly realized
five years ago that of the uncounted
millions of buffalo which had roamed
the prairies at anytime prior to 1870 in
dense herds, covering acres on acres
An industry that might easily have
earned $25,O0O,000 annually to the
Northwestern and Southwestern sec
tons had been literally destroyed, and
destroyed in a way as stupid as it was
brutal. No event resulting from West
ern settlement is more shocking OF
more unfortunate than the extermina-
ton of the American bison.
In recent publication issued from
the Government Printing Office, Jer.
intendent Hornaday, of the Geological
Park, has given an exhaustive account
of this magnificent animal, certainly
the noblest ruminant that has ever trod
the earth, of his habits, his haunts, his
wicked manner of his taking off. 1t is
a highly interesting book, but it can
only be read with an eyer-increasing
sense of pain and shame. It is rea-
sonable estimate that the great south
ern herd of buffalo contained in 1870
100000 animals, and the northern
herd about twice as many. In fifteen
years all these majestic beasts have
been killed, and by methods the epi-.
tome of meanness. The Indian buff
falo chase was great sport, full of ex.
element, sufficiently touched with risk
and danger, and open to no objection
So long as the white h1nter confined
himself to the Indian methods, even
though he used a FAR deadlier and more
certain weapon, he could have made
no such impression on the species as
menaced its destruction. The chase
gave it's object at least chance of
escape. But the white hunters were
too desperately greedy to be satisfied
with honorable sport.
1t was the ''still-hunt'' that exter-
minated the buffalo. 1t was taken at
a complete disadvantage and murdered
by tens of thousands. The buffalo was
stupid. He could not understand a
rihe-shot. He was dependent, too, up
on the leader of his band, and did moth
ing except what the old COW suggested.
The terapproaching the herd to lee
ward, had only to get stand where
he was out of sight, and he could go
ahead and slaughter the cattle as fast
as he could drop cartridges into his
rifle. The buffalo would hear a noise
they could not locate, see a little puff
of white smoke they could not UNDER
stand, and would watch each other
drop to the earth without the slightest
appreciation Of the cause. In this
way few thousand hunters in dozen
years were enabled to destroy forever
an animal Of the highest economic
value to the country. To-day there
are less than 700 wild buffalo in exist
ence.
Mr.. Hornaday makes some very val
liable suggestions. He points out the
danger OF the utter extinction of the
species by crossing and in-breedings,
and urges that steps should be imme-
diately taken for the protection and
care of the little band of 200 COWS now
in the Yellowstone Park Experiments
in breeding buffalo bulls to domestic
COWS have been highly successful and
are now going on to an extent which
iustifies ti.e fear that in another score
OF years the genuine buffalo will not
exist at all. Congress should keep ever
IN view the lesson of the great crime
which has made it necessary. Sim.
liar sport has reduced the bands of
elk, moose, caribou and other big
game that was once so plentiful in our
forests, mountains and plains to a pitt
full few. It now threatens our seal
walrus and other marine and fur-bear-
ing animals. Its result is inevitable
unless Congress strikes such blow at
it as will break it up forever. Y
Tribune.
AStory About Bismarck.