The Portland daily press., 1895-04-27

as the Roc and the Dodo-An Interest,"
ing Paper on the Subject by Major C.
III. Boyd.
General Francis FessenGen las loaned to
the Portland Society of Natural history
magnifice ntly mounted head of the wild
American buffalo and it has been placed on
exhibition at the museum OF the socie'y.
The deterioration of this animal in captiyi-
ty and its almost total extinction
in the wild state makes this
specimen of great value as those
competent to judge pronounce it one of the
hest specimens that it would have been pos
sible to obtain. At a recent meeting of the
society Major Charles Il. Boyd of this city
read an interesting paper on the extinction
OF this animal and as it contains man yEfao is
of interest regarding the ruthless slaughter
by which this noble animal was driven off
the face Of tile earth, We give the larger
portion of it below.
After giving few remarks on tine origin
and scientific classi fcation of the buffa 10 Mr.
Royd said that in the United States have
lived two species of this hinge ruminant.
one absolutely extinct and known only by
its fossil remains, and Bison Americanus
tine Buffalo, now practically extinct as
wild animal. In giving the limits in this
country within which the Buffalo has been
fond, Mr.. Boyd stated that in early times
t lad been found as far east as Washington
id. C.
The young Bison enters upon his earthly
career in tie early summer and usually
a,one-as twins are rare. He is clothed in
much lighter co or the first year of his life.
from that which covers him in adult life,
AT this line his pelage is a Thick growth
of long wavy hair, of a sandy or yellow
color in striking contrast with the
darxer colors of the head. He is at ma turity
in about years. During bis early life he
is easily domesticatef.
AS to the numbers existing but few
years since, l cannot do better than quote
from Col. r. !. Dodge, U. s. A.
I'm May 1871 drove in light wagon from
Fort cara to Ft.Larned tPawnee Co. Kansas)
on the Arkanses-34 miles. At least 90 miles
of this distance was through one immense
herd, then on their Journey north. The
whole country appeared one great mass of
buffalo moving slowly nerthwar1: and it
was only when actually among them that
it could be ascertained that the apparently
solid mass was an agglomeration OF innuni-
cradle small herds, of from so 10 200 ami
mails. This great herd averaged 10 to 20 in
dividuals to the acre. and was from my oh
servation not less than rs miles wide. From
the reports of hunters it was days IN pass
ing given point OF not less than so miles
Deep
"On the general principles governing such
migrations it is almost certain the mass adj
vanced tho form of Il wedge. and deducting
rs from the parallellograin, due to this forma-
lion. the actual number of buffabloes in
this Oh great herd WAS 4,C00.00i which is
more likely to be below than above the
truth"
The Rev. MI. Belmont tsee choClcrofts
Indians, ", page 1853 once counted 22S
bufTaloes, Fart of herd feeding on a sin
gle acre. Of course, had they stampeded'.
tn ere would be many counted in that
space. The Captain of steam boat belong
ing TO the @. NJ. Dept, engaged in carrying
supplies 10 the military posts on the Vel
lowsi one, told lie in the early los when !
west that his boat was compelled to
go to tie banks while the herd was crossing
for "a hours.
The method of slaughter was first by
running. This was the favorite method
of he Indian. Possessing only weapon of
short range. fhe arrow aud spear, lie was
compelled to kill at close quarters. His
buffalo-horse was especially trained to put
him aside ths quarry selected, when
the dash was made into the lerd and the
melee began. The white-man followed suit;
the method being manly, sportsman like,
and well spiced with danger,attIacted many
victories. His Duffalo-hcrse responding at
the supreme moment of the dash into the
herd, to touch of the knee, for hand and
eye are both required then for weapons. The
horse is also to look out for accidents of
ground as well as possible charge" of the
wounded bull. But tile greater danger
arises from difficulty in seeing the ground
always rough and often perforated with 60
pher-holes, SO great may be the dust and
confusion. Mr.. Ross Red River Settlement
D. 256) thus narrates of an onslaught of
some 400 men UPON herd. The ground was
rocky and full of badger holes, a3 horses and
riders were down in a moment; one horse
gored by bull. was killed On the spot;
two men were disab led by the fall;
one ider broke his shoulder:
and another lost a hand by burst
ing of gun and third
rider was strucl on he knee
by hall These accidents were not consid-
cred numerous. considering the results-l375
buffaloes. Col. Dodge thinks six men were
killed by falling horses, to one by charge of
tie bull. In these oldeD times were 20 men
TO kill 1000 butfaloes during the season BY
running: it was considered large kill
The Indians produced several other meth
oGs of hunting this animal in impou nding,
driving herd over cliffs, still hunting sneak
ing into the herd disguised as an animal,
and killing with arrow. et3. Their short
bow used for the buffalo hunt possessing the
wonderful power of throwing an arrow COM
pletely through the animal. But later on
when the mad warfare for robes began,
these ethods were too slow for the greedy
pot-hunters. This cause the cold blooded
butchery of the still-hunt. the deadljest of
all buffalo slaughter. About it WAS none
of the excitement of the chase OF spice of
danger, but only creediness to down SO
many head" each day. The phenomenal
stupidity of the buffalo and the treeless
prairie home affording no cover, enabled
thesa men to accomplished SO much in SO
short time. a single butcher, with long