Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-02-21
eUFFALoEs ON THE MARCH.
When the Line of a Great Herd and
Of a Body of Troops Crossed.

sUFFALoEs ON THE MARCH.
When the Line Of Great Herd and
Of Body of Troops Crossed.
The immensity Of the buffalo herds
in this region was beyond computation.
One day south of the Arkansas, be-
tween Wichita and Camp Supply, they
were so numerous that they crowded
the marching columns of the Nine
teenth Kansas so dangerously close
that companies were detailed to wheel
out In front and fire volleys into the
charging Masses" said William D.
Street of Decatur county, at a meet
Ing Of the Kansas Historical society.
But it was not until I came to the
northwestern frontier that beheld the
main herd. One night in June, 1850,
company D. Second battalion, Ka'
state militia, then out on a scouting
expedition to protect the frontier set
Elements, camped on Buffalo creek.
where Jewell city is now located. All
night long the guards reported hear
ing the roar of the buffalo herd, and
in the stiffness of the bright morning.
1t sounded more like distant thunder
than anything else 1t could be compar-
ed with. 1t was the tramping Of the
mighty herd and the moaning Of the
bulls.
Just west Of Jewell City is a high
point Of bluff that projects south Of
the main range of hills between Buff
falo and Brown creeks, now known,
we believe, as Scarborough's Peak.
When the camp was broken the scouts
were sent in advance to reconnoiter
from the bluff to ascertain, II possi-
BILE, whether the column were In the
proximity Of any prowling Indians.
They advanced with great care, scan
ming the country far and near. After
time they signaled the command to
advance by way Of the bluff and await
ed our approach. When we reached
the top Of the bluff what bewildering
scene awaited our anxious gaze!
To the northwest, toward the head Of
the Limestone, for about IL or Is
miles, west across that valley to Oak
creek about the same distance, away to
the southwest to the forks of the Solo
mon, past where Cawker City Is now
located, about 25 miles south to the
Solomon river, and southeast toward
where Beloit is now situated, say Is
or 20 miles, and away across the Solo
mon river as far as the field glasses
would carry the vision toward the Blue
Hills, there was a moving, black mass
Of buffalo, all travelling to the north
west at the rate of about one or two
miles an hour.
1.-The northeast side Of the line was
about a mile from US; all other sides,
beginning and ending, were underlined.
They were moving deliberately and
undisturbed, which told US that no In
dams were in the vicinity. ''lss----' s.s-
I'VE marched down and into them.
A few shots were fired. The herd
opened as we passed through and clos
ed up behind US, white those to the
windward ran away. That night we
camped behind sheltered bend and
bluff Of one of the branches Of the
Limestone. The advance had killed
several fine animals. which were dress
ed and loaded into the wagons for our
meat rations.
All night the buffalo were passing
with a continual roar. Guards were
doubled and every precaution taken to
prevent them from running over the
camp. The next morning we turned
our course, marching north toward
White Rock creek, and about noon
passed out Of the herd. Looking back
from the high bluffs we gazed long at
that black mass still moving north
west.
Many times has the question come
to my mind. How many buffaloes
were in that herd. And the answer
no one could tell. The herd was not
less than 20 miles in width-we never
saw the other side-at least go miles
in length and maybe much longer-two
counties of buffaloes. There might
nave DteH lUU,UVV VI 1bVVVBoVV Va &NN'
100000. I don't know. In the cowboy
days in western Kansas we saw 1000
head Of cattle in one roundup.
After gazing at them a few mo-
ments our thoughts turned to that buf-
falo herd. For a comparison imagine
a large pail of wafer; take from 1t or
add to it a drop and there you have 1t.
Seven thousand head Of cattle was not
a drop in the bucket as compared with
that herd of buffalo.
Seeing them a person would have
said there would be plenty Of buffalo a
hundred years to come, or even longer.
Just think that ten years later there
was hardly buffalo on the continent!
That vast herd and the many other
herds had ben exterminated by tn"
ruthless slaughter of the hide hunters.
who left the meat to rot on the plan
as food for the coyotes and carrion
crows, taking only the hides which
were hauled away in wagons to the
Union Pacific. railroad and shipped
east in train loads."-Topeka, KAN,
Capital