The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-02

had much experience with these ami
mails. He spent a year and a half try
ing a bring a herd of the oxen from
their native country, but was not al
lowed to do so, as the natives killed
the oxen during the night while Mr.
Jones and his companion slept The
that if one of the oxen ever leaves their
country the remainder of the animals
in the country will follow. 1t is said
they would rather see their children
taken from them than to allow one of
the animals to leave their country.
It's the real thing" said Mr.. Jones,
after he clambered into the express car
here yesterday and stroked the dark
glossy hair of the little animal
Buffalo" Jones and his daughter.
Miss Olive, and Miss Emma Kelly, the
first American woman to explore the
north country, were at the depot here
yesterday when the musk OK passed
through Topeka, to inspect and christen
it.
Mr. Jones and Mr. Periolat are old
friends, and at Mr.. Periolat's request
the OK was christened in honor of Miss
Olive Jones.
Miss Emma Kelly christened the OK.
A bottle of genuine champagne was
broken for her, and as she poured few
drops over its head she said: by re-
quest Of the owners. 1 christen this
musk OK Olive Jones' -
Miss Kelly was introduced by "Buf-
falo'' Jones, after he had delivered the
following speech:
1--WE are here to welcome to this fair
land an animal that promises to be
blessing to mankind. It halls from the
far frozen north and has never before
been transplanted to a sunny CLINE.
Its habitat is so remote and the
journey to it so fraught with perils that
the foot prints of the pale-face are sell
dom seen there.
TT occupied over nine months of my
valuable time to reach those deSolate
shores, and as many more to return
21lf a short time these animals
were as numerous as the sands by the
sea, but today, like the American bison,
they are almost extinct. In our coun-
try this animal will be allowed to enjoy
every "a hours, both night and day,
while in it's own native haunts, at this
season of the year for weeks at a time
they are compelled to grope their way
in total darkness. In midsummer it is
the reverse. They then can look over
and beyond the north pole and behold
the King of Day shining at midnight.
'-Such are the environments of the
And I desire to file my protest
against such a name for this grand ami
NAL, and 1 defy the keenest nostrilS of
human beings to detect the least sus-
picion of musk about the animal
have killed them of all ages and sex,
and have subsiSted entirely for weeks
at time on the flesh of the musk OK,
but have never discovered musk or any
unpleasant odor about them. Yet a re-
porter by the name of Cleveland, who
has never seen the animal, AYERS in the
Chicago Record-Herald that they are a
dirty musky animal.
whenever hear. the name musk OK
it reminds me of the George r. Peck's
version of the naming of Garden City,
Kan. He said it was named Garden be-
cause there was no garden and City be-
cause there was no city. So it is with
this misnomer 1t was called musk be-
cause of musk and OK because there
were never any such oxen.
HAD it not been for the Superstitions
of the Indians and ESquimaux of the far
north these animals would undoubtedly
today be one of our most valuable domes-
tic animals they are tough and
hearty. They subsist any kind of
provender equally as well as a Mexican
burro. The meat is excellent and robes
made from their hides are a thing of
beauty and of solid comfort in a cold cli-
mate. The natives believe If one ever
leaves their country all other animals will
follow and the Redman will perish from
the face of the earth. The natives are
set against the muSkox being taken out
of the country alive. So much so that
they would rather part with their children
than the oxen, so strong are their super
StitionS grounded.
Il hereby extend to this stranger a
right royal welcome and predict others
will join it to add joy and comfort to a
stranger in strange land And 1 pro-
nounce this animal to be what is known
as a genuine musk OK
."O1fve Jones' was captured east of the
Mackenzie river, far within the Arctic