Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1902-09-18
THE LAST BUFFALO HUNT.


THE LAST BUFFALO HUNT.
The bill providing an appropriation
Of SIS, 900 for the protection and pres
ervatlon of the American bison, or
buffalo, is now law. This was part
of the original bill drawn up and pro-
posed by Buffalo" Jones, of Topeka,
Kan, providing for an appropriation
of $4,000 for fencing and restocking
portion of the Yellowstone Park
with buffalo. 1t also called for the
establishment of an experimental sta
ton for cross breeding various animals
of different genera, with view to OBJ
tanning breeds of sheep, goats and cat
tie capable of enduring the Western
winters without shelter or feeding.
This experimentation part Of the
bill was killed and the $4,000 was
cut down to $4,000, but even in the
shape that it finally passed it will re-
suit in a great deal Of good and in the
protection of big game in the Yellow
stone
Colonel Jones arrived in the city
last Saturday, and when seen bya re-
porter soon after the passage Of his
bill he stated that he was the happi-
est man in Washington. The bill
does not say who shall have charge Of
the work of fencing off part Of the
Yellowstone Park and caring for the
buffalo therein, but this matter has
already been settled by the Depart
ment Of the Interior inviting Colonel
Jones to take charge of the work and
by his accepting the place.
Mr.. Jones was accompanied on this
his last visit to the Capital by Mr.. A.
w. Stubbs, of Kansas City, Mo-, who
is very much interested in the enter
prise and in all efforts toward the
preservation of American game anil
mails, and who enjoys the distinction
of having attended the last great buff
falo hunt ever held in the United
States. In 1878 Mr.. Stubbs was
stationed as Indian interpreter under
Agent John D. Miles, at the Chey-
enne and Arapahoe agency, in the In
dian Territory. The Cheyennes had,
some time previous to this date-SeP-
tember, 1878-been in rebellion, and
were then prisoners Of war, and were
not allowed to leave the reservation
but when the news reached the agen-
cy that large herd of buffalo had
been seen on the plains some 100 miles
to the west of that point the Indians
were go eager for big hunt that
Agent Miles was finally prevailed up
on to telegraph to the War Depart
ment for permission. This request
being granted, hurried preparations
were made for the chase by the In
dians, who were as happy as a lot of
boys out skating. The story of how
the hunt was conducted and its re-
suits Mr.. Stubbs relates as follows:
THE hunting party that left the
agency the day after Mr.. Miles re-
ceived word from the War Depart
ment that the Indians might take the
hunt numbered about 400. There
were 90 Cheyenne bucks, Is Arapa-
hoe bucks and 800 squaws, all mount
ed on swift-footed Indian ponies. The
men, of course, did the hunting and
the killing, while the squaws went
along to do the skinning and cutting
up the meat, and such other drudgery
as their lords and masters considered
beneath their dignity. 1 was detailed
by Mr.. Miles to accompany the party
as their guardian ard protector, and
to see TO it that the settlers did not
mistake or misunderstood their mis-
sion and give them trouble, for in or
der to reach the buffalo we had to
pass through section Of Kansas that,
for Western country for that day and
time, was fairly well populated.
took with me six cavalrymen, big
army wagon, driver and cook.
81 had list Of the names Of the In
dians that formed the hunting party
that had to turn into the War De-
partment, along with my report,
when we returned, and one OF the
first things that had to be done just
before we started was to read and
check off this roll, each and every In
dian in the party answering as his
name was called. Although the In
dians numbered only 4O5, they took
with them 1000 ponies to carry the
meat which they expected to kill back
to the reservation, and in order also
to have fresh horses when they reached
the hunting grounds, and, in addition