, 1896-08-11
LAST OF THE BUFFALO.
UPWARDS OF SIX MILLIONS
SLAUGHTERED IN THREE
YEARS.
Head, of Which Wyoming Has Just
Twenty-Six-How the Slaughter
Was Carried on for the Hides OF
the Animals.

~ SNoh, " " Al ~
of the buffalo in the old days. has in
terested himself in the question of pre-
venting their determination, and has
dom what he could to bring the matter
to the attention Of congress. unfortu-
nately all attempts at legislation for
the prevention of this animal. says a
correspondent OF the New York Times,
have been in vain, and the result is up
ward of 5000. 900 were slaughtered in
an incredibly short space OF time
nearly 1000, 900 killed in three years
until now there are not over 1000 OF
these animals running wild in North
America. Such a wanton destruction
of a valuable beast, purely and dis,inc-
lively American in its character. is I'M
~precedented in the history of the world.
HERDS ON THE PLAINS.
A volume could be filled with the
records of plainsmen and pioneers who
penetrated this vast region in the early
party OF the century. and who were as
founded by the number of buffa'os they
observed. Col. Dodge described a herd
which he saw on the Arkansas river.
According to his recorded observations
the herd extended along the river for a
distance of 25 miles, which was in
reality the width of the vast process
sion that was moving north and back
from the road as far as the eye could
reach on both sides. At a low estimate
the ground visible from the road where
Col. Dodge was driving. which was cov-
cred by the herd, extended for a mile.
This would give a strip of country two
miles wide and Is miles long, or a total
Of so square miles covered with buffa-
Ices, averaging at Col. Dodge's estl-
mate from Is to 20 to the acre. BY the
lesser number, Is, it is found that The
number actually seen on that day by
Col. Dodge was in the neighborhood CT
$50. 900. If the advance herd had been
at all points so miles in length, as 1t
places, by 25 miles in width, and still
averaging Is head to the acre, it would
have contained the enormous number
of 10, 900. 900 head.
BUCKING TRAINS.
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
railroad was. 1871 and 1872, in process
Of construction and nowhere could the
pecuhiarities Of the buffalo be bette,
studied than from its trains. II a herd
was on the north side of the track it
would stand stupidity gazing. without a
symptom OF alarm, although the loco
motive passed within 100 yards: but II
the buffaloes were on the south side Of
the track. even though a distance of
one or two miles from it, the passage OF
the train set the whole herd in the wild
est commotion, and at full speed, utter
ly regardless Of consequences, 1t would
make for the track. II the train hap
pened to be not in the path of the buffa-
10 1t crossed the track and stopped sat
isfied, but il the train was in its way
each individual buffalo went at it with
the desperation Of despair, plunging
against or between locomotive and
cars, just as its blind madness CHANGED
to direct it. Numbers were killed, but
greater numbers still pressed on to
stop and stare as soon as the obstruc-
ton had been passed. Alter having
trains thrown off the track twice in one
week. conductors learned to have re-
spect for the idiosyncrasies OF the
buffalo.
GREW WARY TOO LATE.
If in the earlier days before the
buffalo's almost complete extermlna-
ton. the people had realized the i'm
mense money value OF the great herd
as It existed in 1870. the slaughter could
probably have been stopped. At that
time 500, 900 head OF bulls. young and
old. could have been killed every year
for a score Of years without appreci-
ably diminishing the size of the herd.
At Mr.. Hornaday's estimate these
could easily have been made to yielc
various products, worth IS each. as fol,
lows: Robe. $3.50; tongue. rs cents,
meat of hind quarters, 81; bones. horns
and boots. 25 cents: total IS. And the
amount annually added to the wealth
of the United States would have been
not less than $500. 900 on all the robes
taken for The market, say 200. 900. The
government could have collected q tax
Of so cents each, which would have
yielded q sum doubly sufficient to have
maintained a force Of mounted police
| fully competent 10 enforce the laws
regulating the slaughter. The Ameri-
| can people, 1t seems. have not yet
learned to spend money for the protec-
! ton of valuable game. and by the time
they have learned 1t. there will be DO
game to protect.
WHAT ARE LEFT.
The hunting season, which began in
| October, 1882. and ended in February.
1883, finished the slaughter Of the great
northern herd and left 1t a few small
bands Of straggIers. numbering only .
few Thousands Of individuals all told.