The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-06-28

they have rushed madlN against the
corral fences, the result being death
to some and escape for others. One
COW recently exhibited astonishing
agility by clearing the 10-foot fence
of the corral in IA jump Another
surly bull, after being forced into the
cage, tore the heavy timber stall to
pieces in shis fury and, when bound
in with wire, snapped the metal as
though it We're but thread. This
animal was landed at Ravalli only
after he had been chained in a cage
BY means of a log chain Still an
other jumped through the top Of his
cage and Is still at large. The only
animal to be killed at Ravalli thus far
was a young COW, which succeeded in
slipping the moose from her neck after
being gotten into the freight car, and
rushed against the side Of the load
ing chute with such blind fury and
force that she broke her neck and fell
dead in her tracks. This animal fur
nished toothsome buffalo steaks for
the hundreds of visitors who have
been daily flocking to Ravalli to wit
ness the loading Of the animals.
Unique Methods.
AS for the methods that have
been adopted for handling the buffalo
since the escape of the herd last year,
they are unique in many respects but
have proved fairly successful. 1t was
deemed useless to attempt to drive the
herd from the bison range to Ravalli
and it was decided to construct q COR
raj at Roman in which to collect the
animals and then to haul them in
wagons from Roman to Ravall, a dis
tance of about SO miles over rough
mountain roads. TO accomplish this,
crates or, stalls just large enough to
accommodate one buffalo. and con-
structed of heavy timbers. We're built
upon wheels and provided with remoV-
able endgatos. These wagons were
backed up against the end of the load
ing chute in lines of five to 10 SO as to
form q continuous passageway to the
front cage The buffalo arc then
driven through the chute and through
the crates until there is an animal in
each crate, when the endgates are shut
and the animals are safely enclosed
and ready for hauling. Three crates
crates, or wagons, are then attached
together and a 20-horse team then
pulls the wagons from Roman to Ra-
valli. Here the animals are unloaded
into a series of corrals. the large bulls
and cows and small bulls and cows
being segregated All of these cor
rails connect by means of lanes with
a central corral, from which the load
ing chute leads to the freight car that
is to be loaded. A force of Indians
and cowboys numbering some 20 or
25 men, by dint of much maneuVerng.
force the animals into the loading cor
raj one at a time. Being partially
tanned bv their experience in the cor
raj at Roman, their close captivity
during the long ride from Roman to
Ravallia and protracted incarceration
in the pens at Ravalli, the animals
are driven into the loading chute with
comparative ease, but when they are
driven into the cars tho excitement
commences. A one inch hemp rope
Topped about post firmly planted in
the ground, and manned by dozen
strong men is the instrument which
induces the animals to enter the car
and holds them there until they can
be Grated in. This rope is provided
with a running moose, which is pre-
vented from drawing too tight by a
carefully placed knot. Two men hold
this open loop over the mouth of the
loading chute and, as the animal is
driven up into the car, his head runs
through the moose. A shout, tug by
the muscular men manning the line
a terrific struggle on the part of the
beast and the kicking. snortins, fran
tically fighting monarch of the prairie
lies raging in ignominious captivity.
Then he is released and left to vent
his fury in vain kicks at the car sides
and snorts Of rage His eXertions
cause the massive cars to tremble as
though about to collapse. and timid
spectators beat a hasty retreat to
safer distance. Ten buffalo thus
loaded into a single car fill the space;
the loaded car is moved out of the
way and another is shunted into place
Three or four cars is big days work
when there are no accidents and in
event of the latter perhaps one car
loaded is a strenuous task.
The Record.
When the loading force quit work
yesterday afternoon 17S buffalo had
been placed in the cars ready for
shipment. But Is more remain to be
hauled from Roman to the loading cor
raj. These are due to arrive about
4 o'clock this afternoon and Howard
Douglas, superintendent of the west
ern Canada national parks, who is
supervising the work of shipping the
buffalo. expects to have the remaining
animals in their cars and to have the
entire shipment of 196 started on its
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