The Portland daily press., 1901-01-12
BUFFALO MEAT.
A Dozen Bison Slaughtered 10 Satisfy
the Curiosity of Epieures.
(Chioago Record. }

Chicago Record.)
Helena, Mon, Dec. GA dozon select
ed specimens of the only remaining herd
of American bison now in captivity were
this week led to the slaughter In Helena
TO crafty the appetites of the American
public for something unusual. 1t Is not
because the meat of the buffalo is better
than beef, for even an epicure-given to
exploration In this realms of the new
would say that 1t Is not, but rather be-
cause the animal that once stopped wagon
trains for days on the plains has at last
become curiosity and because there is a
romance connected with the mention OF
his name that will never die as long as
the memory OF man runs to the era OF
the oonquering Of the West.
No farmer builds fence that will stop
the mad rush of single buffalo deter
mined to make progress, and so the pre-
cautious for the unusual event wereso an
exceptional character. The animals were
dozen of herd numbering 140 that
roams at will in the plains of the narrow
Flathesd Valley, Missoula county, Mon,
between ranges OF mountains that form a
natural barrier. They were purchased by
a Helena butcher and driven into a spec
tally constructed stockade, built as a
cul-de- sac into which the veterans of the
plains, In all innocence, wsnt to seek a
fancied refuge. Strong ropes were twined
over their horns by men trained at throw
ing the lariat, but then the trouble had
only just begun. 1t took blocks and tack
les and machinery to induce them TO en-
ter the big stable cars in waiting and the
journey to the capital began.
Out at the fair gounds, where public
exhibition was made of the slsugbtering,
q crowd OF 1000 persons gathered. The
yenturesone among the butchers thrust
their arms into the car and managed,
after many efforts, to hook q rope with
a running loop over the horns OF a fine
specimen. Ihe rope led to where a
many times through blocks to give an
ample purchase, and even then it was no
easy work. One buffalo and twenty men
strovs for the mastery, The men had
some knowledge of mech anics. They
knew that block and tackle may be slow
work, but that 1t adds 20 the power OF the
force At the ether end. On an equality
the buffalo would have had far the best
of it The superior knowlsdgs of his an
tagonist prevailed, however, and, light
ing for every inch, the splendid fellow
WAS hauled to his doom.
The chutes were made for the unload
ing OF ordinary cattle. For this occasion
they were REINFORCED with heavy timbers
and massive posts. There was a Erunway
on top. The workmen took no chanoes.
As the head or the animal was finally
drawn to where 1t could be reached with
a spear the lance fell.
Every butcher knows how 1t Is done.
There Is q sudden and q deep thrust at a
point behind the horns. AS IL he had
never been alive, the monster IL suddenly
inert. And then the huge mountain of
flesh is drawnfby other blocks and tackles
into the wagons Ia waiting.
The crowds looked on all day while the
killing went on. At times they were
moved to applause but 1t was not ap-
Dlause for the men who did the killing.
1t was rather a sort of admiration for the
splendid fight that every animal made.
There was fascination about 1t. The
butchers, with aprons dripping red, ont
the throats OF the yanquished pioneers
and men with Epitchforks full OF straw
came to cover the pools OF gore, as II to
wipe out the stains OF crime. Ii was
more than a butchery OF SO many cattle,
1t was the murder of surviving repressn-
tatives of vanishing tribe. IL was an
unequal combat, the like OF which the
old plAinsmen-and there are many such
In Montana-.never knew. 1t Is the only
time :sInce the West was open to the
plain man that the buffalo was ever laid
low without fighting chance for his life
The arrow OF the Indian and the riiia of
the hunter have given him his quietus In