The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-29
BUFFALO WITH SPOTS
The Unique Animal Killed in Montana
in the Seventies.
SUPERSTITIONS OF INDIANS
A Glorious Run After a Big Herd
With hedbirds's 4 airs Band
Pursuit of the -potted
Buffalo.

Kipp., Mont, correspondence of III,
New York Sun: Albinos are NOR
UT less common in all species n
animals. White deer are often killed
ana this variation occurs so freouentI,
among the smaller quadrupeds. sucI
as coons, foxes and squirrels, as to oc.
caslon little remark 1t was mot SO
however, with the buffaloes: even wbay
Mney covered the great plains west OF
the mississippi a white one was rarel,
seen or killed. From talks with the
early Voyageurs, who came I'D the
Mlssouria years and years ago. and
from the traditions that have been
hanoeo down among the Indians, /
can learn of only seven having been
killed in the country tributary to the
upper Missouri during the SO years pre-
ceulng the extinction of this noble ami
uidi. When we consider the vast ex-
tent or this territory, and that i'm these
on years several millions of buffaIoes
were Killed by the Indians and whites.
VINO occupied ii, we can realize how,
rare white buffaloes were.
The Indians, always ssupersstitious
nrmly believed that the white buffa-
Toes were the especial property of the
sun. When they killed one they took
none of the meat except the tongue.
this was carefully dried, the skin was
beautifully tanned, and at the nta,rt
their annual religious festival. these
were presented to the sun with many
prayers and Supplications. With the
ooher offerings of the people, consisting
or valuable furs and rich wearing an
parei. they were tied to the center pole
VI the iooge and left to the mercy of
the elements. All these various offer
lngs, though left in a deserted lodge.
were safe so far as the Indians We're
concerned; even a war party from n
hostile tribe would pass by in fear and
reverence for the sacred place. But
IL was not so with the white trapper or
Voyageur, and the rifiing of these
medicine lodges has caused bloodshed
more than once in the history of the
west. The albino buffaloes, so far as
can learn, were a cream yellow not
wnrte, thus differing materially from
ohe albino deer and other animals.
which are always pure white
But II albino buffaloes were uncom-
mon spotted ones were still more rare.
In fact, don't believe there ever was
one seen like the one / helped kill in
the IOs, an account of which may
prove interesting
AT that time we had a trading post
on the Missouri river, some 80 miles
above the mouth of the Musselsthell.
Game of all kinds was plenty, and we
were kept pretty busy bartering with
the Indians for their robes and furs.
Early in December, learning that a |
party of Blackfeet were going out to |
Big Crooked creek, about 20 miles |
south, TO hunt few days, rolled up |
my bedding, filled a sack with provis- |
ions, and Joined them. The CHIEF |
Redbird's Tail, ordered his wives TO |
carry my baggage on their pack horses
ana invited me to be his guest during
the hunt. For this l was thankful as
would not be obliged to load down my
morse, very fast buffalo runner,
though rather delicate. We reached our
camping ground some time before
dark, and in a little while the women
had the lodges up and everything COM
fortably fixed for the night During
the day a number of 1.-The men had
hunted TO the right and left of our
line of march, so that evening the
camp was well supplied with fresh
meat, and there was much feasting 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 rop-
ng and saddling his favorite animal.
we started out, some 20 or more turn |
ng up the creek, and the rest of us.
. In all. striking off southeast toward
he MuSSelshell. We saw some scat |
ering punches of buffaloes and ante
opes as soon as we left the creek. but
what we wanted was to run a large |
lerd; so we kept on and climbed the ,
irst butte we came 10 in order to have ,
good look at the surrounding coun- :
ry. Reaching the top we rode through !
he gnarled and stunted pines which ,
covered the butte, and there, lust be- :
ow us, was a herd of four or five hum :
red bunaloes, some grazing some :
wing down, while a lot of calves were !
omping and playing about But tina. ;
Vas not all; between us and the Mus !,
elshell, and to the south and west as :
ar as the eye could reach, were other :,
erds, large and small. fairly covering :
he prairie. We were on the north edge .
the great body which ranged be- =
ween the Yellowstone and the Mis- :
ouri. =
The Indians at once began to unsad. =
lie their horses and strip down for the y
IN, for they always go into the chase II
not only on account of les >,
aning the weight, but also because a .
addle is unsafe in case of a fall p
as never good rider. however, so n
uck to my Mexican saddle. BUT / | >,
rs always lucky. and never met with | .,
ny serious mishap. :,
When all were ready the word was :,
ven, and we rushed out from the \,
mes straight down the hill. and were =,
irly on the edge of the herd before W
ley started to run. But when they hi
d realize the enemy was upon them "a
ey punched and went off at full Ie
'eed Here was fun. Here was ex- n,
tement erhe thunder and rattle of q III
ousand hoofs, the flashing eyes and br
ssing shaggy hair. the sharp crack sh
the rifles, the tremendous thud as | al
me great beast you had shot crashed br
the ground, were inspiring. One for he
I the badger holes and the washouts br
e danger of a fall or the chance of | te
ing CORDED. and simply rode and shot
cry fat animal he could reach. ] up
led three very quickly. and then took M
ter a 2-year-old COW which had a WI
autiful coat OF dark glossy hair She ca