The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-05
HUNTING BUFFAlOeS.
Method That Lacked the Spice Of Sport
and Was Cruel.

| L Method That Lacked the Spice Of Sport
| and Was Cruel.
| OF all the deadly methods Of buffalo
daughter, the 'still hunt" was the dead
TEST, says q writer up on the extermina-
ton of the buffalo in America. twas
destitute of nearly every element of
the buoyant spice Of danger that ac-
companied buffalo hunting on horse
back, and to-day it is considered to have
been mere butchery of the tamest and
get the most cruel kind. About it
here was none of the true excitement
| If the chase. The chase on horseback
furnished sport of superior kind.
keenly exhilarating. with an element OF
| danger, in the excitement and eager
J ness of which the horse shared with the
, rider. To be successful in this chase
required a good horse. a bold rider, q
firm seat and perfect familiarity with
weapons. Whenever the hunters dis
covered herd of buffalo, they usually
got to leeward Of it and quietly rode
forward in n body. or stretched out in
0 sl1irnish line. Usually the animals,
with a confidence due more to their
great numbers than anything else.
would allow party to approach within
from ESQ to 400 yards of their flank,
and then they would start of at a slow
trot. The hunters then put spurs 70
heir horses and dashed forward. The
fatal spot on a buffalo is IL TO IS inches
m circumference, and is situaed imme-
liately back Of the foreleg, so that
man, even IL q poor shot. keeping bi,
nerve, was almost sure to bring down
bis game at close range, seldom, /,
ever, wasting shot. The dangers. oil
course, were many. and on almost
every roundup accidents occurred, Q
few Of which every year were fatal.
But with the stili hunt ali was diff
ierent. So long as the chase was tbs
order OF the day, il ordinarily require
The united efforts of from Is TO 20 hun
ters 10 kill 1000 buEaloes In single
season, but single hunter with long
range, breechloader. who knew how n
make a sneak" and get q stand on 8
bunch" often succeeded in killing from
1000 TO 1000 in single season by bis
own unaided efforts. Capt. jerk
Bridges, Of Kausaa. who was one Of the
first TO begin the final slaughter Of the
southern herd, killed by contract liz:
buEaloes in six weeks. Dr. daylight
the still hunter called forth on foot
carrying IN bis hand his huge Sharp'i
rife. weighing from &c 20 70 pounda
with from IS 20 100 loaded cartridge
IN his two belts or bags at his Eide
From his belt hung bis ripping knife
bis skinnin1 knife and butchers steel
upon which 20 shaEpen them. The 20 !
tai weight was seldom Ies~ than -
pounds and often more. Having So
lectec a position within 100 TO go yards |!
Of lis game, although the distance va |
sometimes greater. The hunter 70.
comfortable rest for his huge rife. ADD.
al the time keeping his own presence
thoroughly hidden from view. est,.
mated the distance. carefully adjusted /
lis sights. and delibessseiy began bust
n>ss. II ths herd vas moving. The ari-
nal in the lead was the FIRST one shos-
II che herd rzs q. rexs The o,iest COW,
which WAS usually the leader. vas he
frat Ole killed Tie noise would |
stArtls the buhaloez. and Hsy would
stare a. the little cloud Of white smoke
End feel inclined ~ run but seesre
their leader hesitass. they ~oad wal:
for her. bu. zhe you'd fan 20 sbe
ground. aad the other ra<Db~rs 90 IL
herd would - O. grszi-g. The policy
q the hrzfer was Eot % srr too rap
Idly. but 90 sstezc eso-ciy 20 br.si. 49,.
nd shcSi down ar 5uffaio which a.
tempted 70 rake Oh Ore saot pr
airu+e Was r7o<ie-sfe rte - are. su,
Enfer pressure Of circumstances .wo
psr Eiss;e eozi6 be 6Eseha-xed psisI