The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-07-21
THE AMERICAN BISON.
How the Great Herd Vanished in %
Years.

AAVW Aht AAG0A @&Na4
Years.
Owing to the limited amount Of fire.
arms. powder and lead which reached the
Indians and a few peIt hunters in Texas,
Kansas and eastern Colorado and the
Indian territory, Wyoming, Nebraska,
Montana, Idaho and Dakota territory
during the civil war. from 1861
to 1865, the herds Of hutfaloes
increased greatly, and their number was
estimated in January, 1886 at over ;,
100000 In the late autumn these great
animals migrated in easy stages from
the British possessions in the North,
feeding on the rich grasses even as far
south as Texas, aud embracing in their
grazing grounds the country from the
eastern watershed Of the Rocky noun
tains on the west to the Missouri and
Republican rivers on the east.
The streams in this area run from
northwest to southeast at an average Of
IL to is miles apart, 50 that the buffalo
was easily in reach Of water in his tray
els north and south, and the trails Of
these immense herds were 50 deep anil
weil defined that it is only within the
last few years that they have become
obIiterated. Hundreds Of thousands
found nourishing grasses and shelter
during the winter months along the
foothills and valleys Of the Arkansas,
Red, Canadian and Cimarron rivers and
their tributaries In the spring after
the SHOWS melted these immense herds
grazed northward again. ] give ar iif
lustrati0n OF The number 81 blfaloes
seen ia one day between 5 q. m. and
5 p M, during the Indian campaign Of
1868 and 1869 BY Gen. Sheridan and his
staff. The General halted the command
On the top Of 4 divide near the Cana
dian river As all dismounted for
short rest Cen Sheridan call out,
How many buffalo have you seen TO-
daysv Each person handed to For
sythe bis estimate. General Custer and
Buffalo Bill fthe latter was one of our
best and most reliable scouts) also made
an estimate The number OF bufFaloes
seen IS estimated by our party Of 10
officers. including General Sheridan and
Scout Cody. Buffalo Bill was 243D00
These herds were constantly ON the
move and several times our pack trains
had to be halted to let them rush by.
We had that day and the day previous
heavy skirmishes with the Indians,
which had greatly disturbed the buffa
Ices and kept them on the Move about
us. Think 4of these hundreds On thous
ands of bniialoes within view during
only one days march, and today I do
not believe there are in the United
States 100 buffaloes III their natural
state
In 1883, when governor Of Montana.
wrote to tie governors Of Wyoming.
Idaho and Dakota asking them to meet
me az Helena for the purpose Of confer
ring as to the best means for the pre-.
servation Of the large game Of the NORTH
west, AZ that time fast disappearing
caused by the wanton slaughter by not
only the pot hunters but social sports
men. God forbid Tint such term
should be applied 10 these butchers, who
shot buffalo, elk, deer, antelope. bighorn
sheep and mountain goats ~ the hun.
dreds and left their careasses to rot 81
Be eaten by wolves and other animals.
Soon after the meeting 81 the GOV
ernors stringent laws for the protection
Ct game We're passed hy the Legisla
lures Of the northwestern states ana
territories, aud IN the spring Of 1883
called the attention Of the secretary
ct the interior and the Senate commit
tee on territories Ia the killing of
large game in the Yellowstone park,
where in one winter over 5000 Elk has
been slaughtered for their hides and
horns. Afterwards at my request.
company Of cavalry was stationed in Csc
park to protect the game and natural
wonders. Unless some immediate ar
ton IS taken % protect the few ante
lope bighurn sheep, mountain goats and
elk ~ short time they will be EXTERN.
mated. New York Sun.