The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-07-20

W. >s'Ns1
A PORTION OF THE HERD
should unite in strong effort to save
the last few hundreds of the finest
animals which ever trod their soil.
Nevertheless, such an attempt is inter.
esting, and If successful. should not be
unfavorable to the cause of the buf.
falo.
To attempt the rearing of buffalo
calves by hand, to study their habits
day by day, and later to attempt to
break them to the yoke, has been the
dream of the writer ever since he
came, year ago, to live within sight
of Corbin Park, N. H., in which il con-
fined the largest herd of bison in the
world. No one but he can know with
what longings he used to lie for hours
behind rocks or trees, or hidden in
the foundations or ruined buildings,
watching the movements of sundry
tawny youngsters as they punched
little heads, or, in the occasional mad
stampedes, held their places in the fly
iAx herd, feet as polo ponies and sure
footed as goats. At times l was al
most tempted to dash out from my
hiding place and try to capture one in
my arms. but moments reflection
was enough to show me the absurdity
of the thought. In the first place, one
might as we'll try to capture a jack
rabbit; in the second place, if one sue
ceeded in catching it, a creased bob
cat would be easier to hold, and even
If one could hold it, the probability Of
being killed by the mother was SO
strong that it amounted to dead GER
tainty.
BY and by came April, and with II
the first of the buffalo calves, and, as
| desired to make complete pictorial
as we'll as q written record of the ex-
pertinent, journeyed to the buffalo
yards, ten miles across Croydon noun
tain, to photograph the calves before
they were taken from their mothers
Now, it has been my experience that
with the exception of certain elderly
bulls, which seem to have grown mo.
rose, possibly from living too much by
themselves, most buffaloes are peace
ably disposed, save only at the time
when the calves are young. Then, the
rows are savage demons or protecting
angels, according to the point of view
But from whatever point of view one
looks at them, they demand the abso.
lutte respect of every visitor who would
inspect or photograph the babies.
AS entered the tree-dotted yard
where the COWS and their little calves
were quartered. had two assistants
a magazine editor from New York, in
search of the simple life, and good
..Bill" Morrison, Scotchman, who has
spent Is years Of his life handling
the "Corbin" buffaloes. The COWS lost
little time in showing their mettle, and
the first photograph l got was one OF
my friend the editor, perched we'll up
in a tree where, like sensible fellow
that he was, he remained until hos
tilities were over. Morrison did what
he could to drive the cows to points
where they might be photographed, but
they were in no humor to be driven
and several times he had to sprint to
friendly trees and fences. At last ]
saw q fair chance for picture, and,
camera in hand. went out for shot.
The COW was standing with her tawny
calf peeping from beneath her hairy
neck, and stepped carefully toward
her, focusing as went. She was look
ing right at me with flashing eyes, all
the while paving the earth, and occa-
sionally letting out a hoarse gru1t
with such force that it shook her body
from end to end. continued to adj
vance, aware of an occasional warning
word from Morrison, but anxious to
get a fair-sized image before releasing
the shutter. But never got that pic
ture, for the cow put her head to the
ground, and knew exactly what that
meant. reached a certain tree before
SHE did, and the next instant we were
all playing tag around the trunk of it.
Fortunately, the calf decided not to
follow, and with parting snort, the
CIV went off to join him.
ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES.
Impartial
"Mr ccafterton nrides himself on he.