The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1900-02-09

given point on its way north. From
high rock, from which points ten miles
distant could be seen in every direction,
the earth seemed to be covered with
bison To make an accurate estimate
of the numbers seen would be impossi-
bic, but Mr.. IIornaday, 10y a conserva
tive calculation, estimates that Col.
Dodge must have seen four hundred
and eighty thousand. and that the herd
COMPRISED half million buffaloes. \
train on the Kansas Pacific road in
that State in 1868 passed between the
towns of Ellsworth and Sheridan-12O
through continuous herd Of
bnfaloes. They were packed so that
the earth was black. and mere than
once the train was stopped, the surg
ing masses becoming menace to
human safety.
You cannot believe the facts rs
they existed in the days Of lS1l-12,"
said an army officer. IL was at that
time on duty in the pay department,
which made it necessary for me to
travel on tie Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe railroad. One day the train
entered large herd, which scattered
and seemed to 90 wild at the shrieking
of the whistle and the ringing of the
bell. As we went on the thicker they
became, until the very earth appeared
to be rolling mass Of humps so far as
we could see. Suddenly some of the
animals nearest us turned and Charged;
others fell in behind, and down on us
they came like an avalanche. The en-
gineer stopped the engine, let off steam
and whistled to stop them, while we
fired from the platforms and windows
with rifles and revolvcrs, but it was
like trying to stay 4 tidal wave. We
stood in the centre of the car to await
the crash. some of the men going to
the rear. On they came, the earth
trembling, and plunged heads down
into ous. Some were wedged in between
the cars, others beneath; and so great
was the crush that they toppled three
cars over and actually scrambled over
them, one buffalo becoming begged by
having his legs caught in the window.
Such accidents occurred several times,
and twice in one week were trains de-
ralled by charging buffaloes, whose
numbers it was impossible to compute.
Hunters have heard the roaring Of
butfaloes at distance OF from three to
five miles, and that the earth trcmbled
wien they charged we can we'll imagine
when tie large bulls are known to
weigh 1000 pounds, the COWS 200
pounds. The question OF interest to-
day is. how was it possible to destroy
so many animals in so short Il time and
what methods were employed? The
natural fatalities were few compared
to the enormous numbers. The COW
bison displays little affection for her
young, and many calves were lost
every year; but, all in all, the condi-
tions were extremely favorable to them,
and their increase was enormous.
Many were destroyed hy s'ampeding
over prccipiccs. In 1867 1000 buff;,-
locs, or half herd, became cntangled
in the quicksands of the Platte river.
At another time herd was lost by
breaking through the ice of Lac Qui
Plrlc, in Minncsot~. The cod winters
sometimes killed many that remained
in the far NORTH; but these dangers
were as nothing compared to man.
Man soon found that the butfalocs had
a value. The Indians slaughtered
them 10y the thousand for their skins,
bone and ior food; they killed 100
ortcntimcs to secure five, and waste
and prodigality were the rule. Yet SO
vas were their numbers that doubtless
the Indian inroals upon them had lit
tie effect so far as determination is
concern. b 1t with the white man it
was different Some wished to make
records, AMI killed for spor'; some be-
came professional buffalo butchers, to
provide the gangs Of railroad men with
meat, slaughtrring Il magnificent ami
NAL for its tongue alone. 1t has been
estimated that previous to 1870 nCar'y
thrcc-nuartcrs Of million buffalo>s
could have been killed YEAR y and the
herd kept intact; how many were killed
and wasted will never be known. Each
animal. however, had 4 value at this
time estimated 10y Hornaday at So; the
IpIP gov, llc tongue - CcltS, ulult-
luarter 81; bones. horn and hoofs, %
celts; and this was sufficient to attract
an army Of destroycrs. The hides were
the greatest feature, and one firm in
New York between 1876 and 1884 paid
the killers nearly 81 5000 or, to be
exact, So23.O1O for the robes and hides,
which represents the final extinction { f
the animal The Government never
interftred, owing to protests OF inter
es.el legislators and the neglect Of
higher officials. Another firm paid
$4,000 FOR robes and skins, and there
were scores Of private traders in the
field. The word won't out to kill every
thing in sight, and from 1876 there
was price on the head OF every buffalo
1t is a dark and disagreeable subject