Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-05-12
TRAINING BUFFALOES.
ar. haynes Meets Difficulties In Ex-
perimcnts with Calves.


perimcnts with Calves.
The domest,cation of the buffalo has
its exciting moments. as Ernest Harold
Baynrs. the secretary Of the American
Bison society discovered when lie at
tempted it, Onc Of the reasons which
Mr. Bayncs advances why the buffalo
should be preserved Is Its usefulness.
Not only IN the animal II source or ex
rellcnt meat and of articles of raiment.
but lie believes that II would make
desirable beast of burden. Before en-
gaging in the organization OF the So
ciety he undertook Ia demonstrate this
to himself. He determined not only TO
train buffalocs as draft animals. but 10
secure n series of photographs Illus
trating the process. The calves on
which the experiment WAS made were
secured from the fine herd on the Cor
lin estate, which Is only n few miles
from Mr.. haynes home IN New Hamp-
shire
one OF the things which Mr.. Baynes
discovered early was that buffalo moth
ers. much like other four footed moth
crs. dislike any Interference with their
of spring Mr.. haynes proposed TO pho
toglaph the calves which were TO be
the subjects of His experiment just att
ar they were horn. The picture most
distinctly photographed upon his retina
when hc attempted TO secure his pho
tographs was the image OF Il great
body charging toward him. with head
down and stubby tail aloft. twitchlng
with excitement The camera was
smashed
The transfer Of the four calves from
tile Corbin estate 10 Mcrdcn. Mr..
Eayncs' home. fifteen miles over the
mountains. was productive Of series
of luttn. contests The calves We're
TO be- transported in crates. two In
each The first match was with the
men engaged In Grating them Each
man iu turn was howled over by the
voting but energetic things before they
were incl SOD between the Stats OF the
CRATES fhe second contest vas be-
tween the two occupants In each crate.
As soon DTS the second calf had been
put m tlr two fell 10 buttlng each other
encr,ctcaily. The calves reached Mr..
Bayncs' home nj 9 O'Clock ut night.
The crates We're opened by lantern light
In barn in which II thirty foot pen
had been built The calves shot out as
II fired from Il gun and Immediately
began butting their shadows ON the
pt % bn nd fhair nnttrhlnrc
from the other crate. The light In the
lantern was Intentionally extinguished.
and Mr.. Baynes entered the pen to
make frcnls with his new charges.
He CROPPED about in the mOmentary
quictncSs for one OF the calves. but one
Of them found him first. Then all the
others got his range. and he retreated.
but not without losing his equilibrium.
When Mr.. Bayncs appeared with bot
ties OF milk. as he did nj frequent in
tcrvnls In the succeeding days. for the
calves were only three weeks old when
hc got them. they again butted him.
not as an enemy. but simply for pure
JOY.
In course of time they were fitted
with halters. then with yokes, and at
the age OF four months pair OF them
were htcheI TO Il heavy stoncboat and
driven for five miles by means OF reins
and ordinary pony bits. This pair was
finally put into harness and driven to
stoutly constructed cart. When be-
tween five and six months old the team
was exhibited nj New Hampshire ag
rlcultural fair. where II created a sen
satIon by the speed 1t displayed on the
track Mr.. Bnynes believes from his
experiments that when buffaloes are
once broken they will prove faster.
stronger and of greater endurance than
oxen. New York Tribune