The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-05
YOUNG SIOUX SEE
BISON FIRST TINE

Deadwood, S. D., Jan. 5.--Ffalf a
hundred Sioux Indians from the Pine
Ridge Indian reservation were in
Deadwood on their way to the Wind
Cave National park. to see the small
herd of buffalo which has Just reach
o1 the Black Hills from the New York
Geological park, as a gift from the
American Bison society.
Those of the Indians who are edu-
Gated look upon it as a great joke that
"a state which never saw a buffalo ex-
cept in captivity should send a herd
of the animals to a portion of the
country where once they roamed by
the million, but all of the red men
bunch of shaggy, hump-back animals
which were formerly meat and bread
and clothing and habitat to their tribe.
Some Of the Indians wore blankets
and lonG hair, and to them the sight
Of buffalo was a vision Of the long
ago. Others were dressed in civil
led clothes, and some even wore col
lars and ties. To them the buffalo was
a curiosity. They had heard the old
men and old women of the tribe tell
of the glory of the DAYS of the buffa-
10, but few of them had ever seen one
of the animals. :
Cody Buffalo Killer.
Fifty years ago this winter, when
the first transcontinental railroad was
being constructed from the Missouri
to the mountains, the only fresh meat
provided for the thousands of laborers
was secured from the buffalo. Bill
Cody was employed by the railroad
contractors to keep their camps pro-
lvided with this, and In that
secured the soubriquet of Buffalo Bill.
Sc numerous We're. they that often
the laborers We're not able to work for
several lays at a time while the great
herd was crossing the grade. In those
days the Indians killed the buffalo for
meat, used the skin for the purpose of
making clothing and bedding, and
tanned the hides for their tents.
Now, the importation of a little herd
OF fourteen from a state 1000 miles
distant has created a perfect fever OF
excitement among Indians and has
caused them to travel a hundred miles
on foot, on pony and in wagon, to se-
cure their first glimpse for the young
er members and their last look for
the older members of the tribe.
Wind cave National park is in the
southern end Of the Black Hills and at
an elevation of over 5000 feet. The
Wind cave is the largest cave in the
country. Biologists and scientists have
arrived at h conclusion that the cave
is an extinct geyser.
Afyear g the American Biscon So
ciety proposed to the government tina
the society would provide a herd of
hfteen buffalo if the government would
declare the park a buffalo range and
would provide maintenance for the
animals. The. government accepted the
PROPOSITION n fenced in the big park
to prevent the buffalo from ~straying
away into the interior OF the Black
Hills.
Last summer the New York
geological society provided a herd of
fourteen full blood buffalo-seven
males and as many females-for
transportation to the new buffalo
range.
The animals, filling two large express
ears, were shipped from New York on
No. Is, and arrived at the terminal of
the railroad a few days later Each
buffalo was Kept in a crate from the
time of being loaded in New York, but
as they came through on passenger
train time they were in their cages but
a few days.
Four National Buffalo Ranges.
Arriving at Hot Springs, thew were
loaded on trucks and hauled the six
miles to the range. where they were
Ifreed. And for the first time n.aln1ost
half a century the short curly buffalo
grass was being nipped BY the animals
from whence is derived its name.
The government now has four nd.
Itional buffalo ranges-the Yellowstone
in Yellowstone park; the Wichita. IN
Oklahoma; the F~lathead. In the Fiat
head valley of Montana, and the wind
cave, in South Dakota. The Flathead
herd consists OF ninety-six anirnaIs
the Wichita herd of forty-two and file
q. Wind cave of fourteen. In addition ca
these there are several herds in caug
ltiyltNs