Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-10-02

The bill providing an appropriation
of $4,000 for the protection OF the
American bison, or buffalo now a
lSA. his was part Of the original
bni drawn up and proposed by BUT
falo'' Jones, of Topeka, Kan, provid
ing for an appropriation of $4,000 Tor
fencing and restocking a portion OF
the Yellowstone park with buffalo. 1t
also called for the establishment OF
an experimental station for cross
breeding various animals of different
genera, with view to obtaining
breeds of sheep, goats and cattle cap
able of enduring western winters
without shelter or feeding. This ex-
pertinent station part of the bin was
killed and the 100000 was cut down
to $4,000, but even in the shape that
great deal of good and in the protec-
ton of big game in the Yellowstone.
Colonel Jones arrived in the city
reporter soon after the passage of his
bill he stated that he was the happiest
man in Washington. The bill does
not say who shall have charge of the
work of fencing off part of the Vel
lowstone park and caring for the buff
falo therein, but this matter has al
ready been settled by the department
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. Stubs, of Kansas City, Md, who
is very much interested in the enter
prise and in all efforts toward the
preservation of American game ami
mails, and who enjoys the distinction
of having attended the last great
buffalo hunt ever held in the united
States. In 1878 Mr.. Stubs, who
speaks number of Indian languages,
was stationed as Indian interpreter,
under Agent John D. Miles, at the
Cheyenne and Arapahoe agency, in
the Indian Territory. The Cheyennes
had, some time previous to this date
September, 1878, been in rebellion,
and were then prisoners of war, and
were not allowed to leave the reserva-
ton; but when the news reached the
agency that a large herd of buffalo
had been seen on the plains some 100
miles to the west of that point the
Indians were so eager for a big hunt
that Agent Miles was finally prevailed
upon to telegraph to the war depart
ment for permission. The request be-
ing granted. hurried preparations were
made for the chase by the Indians,
who were as happy as lot of boys
out skating. The story of how the
hunt was conducted and it's results
Mr.. Stubs relates as follows:
"The hunting party that left the
agency the day after Miles received
word from the war department that
the Indians might take the hunt num-
bered about 400. There were 80 Chey-
enne bucks, Is Arapahoe bucks and
300 squaws, all mounted on swift
footed Indian ponies. The men, of
course. did the hunting and the kill
ing, while the squaws went along to
do the skinning and cutting up the
meat, and such other drudgery as
their lords and masters considered be
meath their dignity. was detailed by
Mr.. Miles to accompany the party as
their guardian and protector, and to
see to it that the settlers did not mis-
take or misunderstood their mission
and give them trouble, for in order to
reach the buffalo we had to pass
through section of Kansas that, fol
western country for that day and time
wa sfairly we'll populated. took with
me six cavalrymen. big army wagon
a driver and a cook.
Il had a list of the names OF the
Indians that formed the hunting party
that had to turn into the war depart
ment, 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 Indian in the party
answering as his name was called.
Although the Indians numbered only
405. 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 to all this, they took
along what seemed to me about 1000
NANCY, wolfish Indian dogs.
According to Indian custom, the
men rode first, the squaws bringing up
the rear, and commanding the. party
were two Indians. who. although they
held no Office in the tribe, were chosen
TO direct the hunt by reason of their
reputation and skill as hunters | had
never attended a buffalo hunt of this
character before. and this custom of
electing two men to direct operations
was something new to me. | learned
that in the event an Indian killed any
game without first securing permission
to do so from these masters OF the
hunt he was forthwith stripped or all
his clothing and belongings. his horse
killed and himself driven out OF the
party for the offense that he had thus
committed. The members of an In
rloaa r1fatt RI