The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-19
A BUFFALO WITH SPOTS.
EHE UNIQUE ANIMAL KILLED IN
MONTANA IN THE sETENTIEs.

= Big Herd with Bedbtrd's Tnil's Hand
-Pursnit OF the Spotted BuEsio.
KIPP. Mon. April 15.-Alblnos are moro or lea.
common in all species of animals. White deer
are often killed, and this variation occurs so
frequently among the smaller quadrupeds, such
ss coons, foxes, and squirrels. a. to occasion little
remark. 1t was not so. however, with the
buffaioes; even when they covered the great
plains west OF the Mississippi q white one was
rarely seen or killed. From talks with the early
voyageurs, who came up the Missouri years and
years ago. and from the traditions that have
been handed down among the Indians. 1 can
learn Of only seven having been killed in the
country tributary to the upper Missouri during
the hfty years preceding the extinction OF this
noble animal. When we consider tho vast ex-
tent of this territory, and that in these fifty
years several millions OF bu fIaloes were killed
by the Indians and whites who occupied IT. we
can realize how rare white bufraloes were.
The Indians, always superstitious. firmly be-
hevcd that the white bufFalocs were the especial
property OF the sun. When they killed one they
took none Of the meat except the tongue; this
was carefully dried, tho skin was beautifully
tanned. and Mt the next medicine lodge, as the
whites term their annual religious festival.
these were presented to the sun with many
prayers and applications. With the other
offerings of the people, consisting of valuable
furs and rich wearing apparel, they were tied to
the centre pole of the lodge and left to the mercy
OF the elements. All these various offerings,
though left in a deserted lodge, were safe so far
as tho Indians were concerned; even a war party
from n hostile tribe would pass by in fear and
reverence for the sacred place. But 1t was not
90 with the white trapper or voyageur, and the
riaing OF these medicine lodges has caused
blo1dshcd more than once In the history of the
West. The albino bufraloes. so far as / can
learn. were a cream yellow. not white. thus diff
fcrior materially from the albinodeor and other
animals. which are always pure white.
BIT i. alblno buTaloes were uncommon
rpor cd ones were still more rare. In fact, l
dui't believe there ever was one seen like
She one 1 helped kill in the '7os, an account of
which may prove interesting.
AT that time we had a trading post on the
Missouri River, some thirty miles above the
mourn of tho Musselsholl. Game of all kinds
WIZ plenty, and we were kept pretty busy bar
teitug with tho Indians for their robes and furs.
Enrly in Der. learning that n party of
BiacHf"tt were going out to Big Crooked Creek.
shout twenty miles south. to hunt a few days. l
rolled up my bedding. filed a sack with provi-
Sons. ard Joined them. The chief, Redbird's
Tail. ordered his wives to carry my baggage on
their tat k lorses and invited me to be mis- guest
during the hunt. For this l was thankful, as
would not DO Obliged to load down my horse, a
very fast buffalo runner, though rather delicate.
We reached our camping ground some time be-
fore dark. and In a little while the woInen had
the lodges up and everything comfortably fixed
Tor the night. During the day a number Of the
mon Ind hunted to the right and left of our limo
OF march. SO that evening the camp was we'll
supplied with fresh meat. and there was much
feasiing and joking until the fuel gave out and
we were obliged to retire.
Early the next morning the boys drove in the
horses. and. each one roping and saddling his
favorlte animal. we started out, some twenty or
more turning up the creek. and the rest of us,
fifteen In all, striking off southeast toward the
Mrsselshell. We saw some scattering punches
of bulraloes and antelopes as soon as we left the
creek. but what we wanted was to run a large
he'd; 80 we kept on and climbed the first butte
W. cane To-. in order to have a good look at the
81. ding country. Reaching the top we
r, rough the gnarled and stunted pines
". covered the butte. and there, just below
u. w;., a herd of four or Ave hundred buffaloes,
Sol. e grazing, some lying down. while a lot of
that was not all: between us ana the Mussel-
Shell. and to the south and west as far as the
sinai. fairy Covering the nrairie. We wspe on
the north edge OF the great body which ranged
Tho Indians at once began to unsaddle their
horses and strip down for the run. for they
account OF lessening the weight, but also he
cause a saddle Is, unsafe In case OF fall. l was
MeNiran saddle. But i was always lucky, and
never met with any serious uiishap;
AID We rushed out from the pines, straight
down the hill. and were fairly on the edge Of
ihey lid realize the enemy was upon them. they
punched ard went of at full speed. Here was
5s',le I j; 4 was ;asu s.s'}s% Rsat;, The tn f Snanasr : .ea
and tossing shaggy hair. tho sharp crack Of the
rite; he tremenaons thud; as as some on 81 great wst nsG 9st
spirin.. ono forgot the badger holes and the
Tnsl"uts, the danger OF a fall, or the chance OF
fat animal he could reach. | killed three very
qn;rk!y. and ,-en TOOK after a two,year;
swift animsl. and my horse strained every nerve
shot she lodged quickly TO The right and turned
back something very unusual for an unwounded
horse stopped short. in order to tul and follow
Der, and. taken uMawares went flying oyer
pos ton. i received such a jar that l thought
my neck must have telrscoped and that my
heal wa. resting on my shoulders, For u lew
minutes | was dizzy and faint. but soon recov-
ering. | mounted my horse. which had stopped
f Ss that / could not hope to catch up. 50 /
went back to the last buffalo l had killed and
sat ITwn for a quiet to smGE ss. tho Indians rctpro-
Eng. stopping, here and there to mark the ami
mails each he'd KILLED. and occasionally arguing
IS Ia the ownership OF a certain carcass. The
trail was dotted with the dark shaggy carcasses;
AMI hero and there n %forlorn animal was still
standing, too badly wounded to move, or slowly
bleeding to death. And nov the women ap,,
prarcd over the brow of the hill. riding and
drivirg the JACK animals. and the work OF skin.
nlnL ard bItChrring commenced. Potnting out
m three b~uifatues to Reibird's Tails women.
and telling them TO do wha; they pleased with
them. rode back to camp to interview some
NOR. fat roast ribs and a pot of tea.
Late in the afternoon the hunters began 10
TO ro.urn reported that in the herd they had run
wu II large COW, spotted with white. This was
news, in1ecl; and as the others came IN and
told oft, | mad out thHtthey certainly had seen
such an animal. Some said that the head was
viii e: others that there was also a white spot
on Tia" iHnk, AMI still others that the head and
tail only were White. All agreed that the animal
VIA swiiter than any other one of the herd, ana
NCry cute: for as soon as the chase started, II
pushed up luto the densest part ofthe herd, and
dulrrt about out of reach.
news, Rnd the whole evening was spent IN die
cussIng plans for capturing tho animal. From
all accounts. the herd had not run more thau
nNe mllrs after the chase was over. and when
iast seen IL was moving and grazing slowly