Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-09

urged ON toward the pen, and any attempt
to turn aside was frustrated by other con-
federates OF the hunters. These confeder-
ates' who had been quietly hiding behind
the bushes. or dead men," would now
Jump out. waving their arms and yelling
frightfully, turning the anamals back down
the converging path leading TO the fatal
Den.
Galloped Madly Around.
Once inside. the panic-stricken bufaioes
saiioped madly around the enclosure seek
ing Tor some loop-hole OF escape but the
indian women and children on the outside
would silently hold their robes before every
chink and crack until the whole herd was
INSIDE. Then they would climb to the top
OF the fence. and being Joined by the hunt
ers who had followed closely In tho rear OF
the buffaloes the curtain rose on the mai
act. Prof Hind. who was an eyewitness
OF such hunt. thus describes the scene
In the enclosure when the Indians with
their bows and spears begin the work OF
destruction:
"A dreadful scene OF confusion ana
slaughter then begins: the oldest ana
strongest animals crush and toss the
weaker; the shouts and screams Of the ex-
cited Indians rise above the roaring OF the
bulls. the believing Of the COWS and the
piteous moaning of the calves The dying
struggles OF so many huge and powerful
animals crowded together create revolt
Ing and terrible scene, dreadful from the
NA1tSS Oh aus cruelty ana waste OF NE. nnI
with occasional displays OF wonderful
brute strength and rage. while man IN his
savage. untutored, and heated state shows
both in deed and expression how little ne
is superior to the noble beasts he SO wan
tonly and cruelty destroys"
Described by Prof Hind.
Prof. Hind visited this death trap a
week later, and thus describes Its appear
ance:
within the circular fence lay tossed In
every conceivable position over two hum
dred dead buffalo. crhe exact number was
240). From old bulls TO calves of three
months old animals Of every age were hud-
died together In all the forced attitudes Of
violent death. Some lay on their backs,
with their eyes starting from their heads.
and tongues thrust out through ciOtted
gore. Others were impaled on the horns OF
the old and strong bulls. Others again,
which had been tossed. were lying with
broken backs. two and three deep. one
little calf hung suspended on the horns or
a bull which had lmpaled II In the wild
race round and round the pound The In
dams looked upon the dreadful and sicken-
ing sight with evident delight, and told
how such and such a bull or COW had ex-
hblted feats Of wonderful strength in the
death struggle"
AS usual, much Of the flesh OF the ami
mails slaughtered by this method was
wasted by the improvident Indians. who
probably hunted 1n@fn IN TINS way iATEtAg
for the fearful excitement In which men,
women and children could take part.
Occasionally q hunt OF this kind was not
so successful from the hunters point OF
view. Some old bull would see glimpse OF
daylight through the fence OF the corral
and charging the spot with all his might,
would break clean through, and, followed
by the rest of the herd, would lead the way
to freedom.
Another Method Employed.
OF the Indian tribes for the wholesale de-
struction of buffaloes is known as "decoy-
ing and driving" A young brave. selected
for his great feetness Of foot, would dis
guise himself as a buffalo by drawing over
his body the skin of the animal. its head
with the horns upon 1t being fastened to
his own head in as lifelike a manner as
possible Thus dressed, he would place
himself between a herd of buffalo and
some precpice. such as, In certain parts OF
the west. extend along the rivers for sew
eral miles. His confederates would then
steal around In the rear OF the bunaloeS
and at a signal show themselves.
The startled animals would then flee be-
fore them, and at this stage OF the game
the disguised brave would make his run.
The buffaloes seeing what they supposed
to be a member of their own band, leading
them away from the danger IN the rear
would follow at full speed. As they near
ed the precpice the heet-footed Indian
would disappear dropping to safety down
some convenient creviee, while the galop-
Ing herd which had blindly followed him
would pour over the brink. and IN Few
moments the shore of the river, a hundred
feet below, would be strewn with the bodies
of dead and dying. Some, hopeiessly Grip
pied, with broken legs and other injuries,
would hobble off as best they could. soon
to be overtaken by the Indian hunters ana
shot or speared to death.
Strange as 1t is that with these deadly
- .aIf A.
make no impression on the vast hordes OF
buffaloes which roamed this continent IN
early times. It remained for the white
man to give the savage points IN savaSery,
and 10 wine out a noble race which con-
stituted one of the wonders OF the world.
ERNEST HAROLD BAYNES