The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-03-22
POSSE |: TRAILS
BAND0F CATTLE
THIEVES IN s. D.
One of Biggest Manhunts in
Western Section Being Con-
Quoted by Shanks
SEEK "BUFFALO GEORGE"
Cattle and Horse Loss Has Been
Tremendous During Last
Four Years
SEEK BUFFALO GEORGE

'kadoka. S. D., March 22--One OF,
the biggest manhunts in the history
OF western South Dakota is being
co llucted for Buffalo George al
legged cattle rustler and II members Of
his band. A posse, of deputy sheriffs
were reported hot on the trail of
"i5utfalo George and his band with
orders to take them dead or alive"
The hunt was being carried in the
bad Lands in the Big Bend district
Of the Missouri river and in stretches
of the Crow Creek and Lower Brule
Indian reservations. -..
The chase, according to members
of the posse, may last for weeks,as
the outlaw is taken.
Losses Enormous
Cattle and horses valued at hun
dreds of thousands of dollars have
disappeared from ranges in South Da.
kota the last four years and all OF
the losses are attributed to the de-
predations of buffalo George" and
his band. =
Three men believed to be members
of the gang, have ben arrested, and
the authorities are now attempting
to terminate finally operations of the
rustlers
'iBuffalo George" who is 60 years
old, is said to have served four year
sentence for cattle rustling and was
paroled. Since his return to the lower
Brule reservation ranchers say he has
carefully organized the business OF
rustling.
Captured members of the outlaws
band told authorities here that :'Buf-
falo George had declared he would
never be taken alive.
Served Time for RustIing
An associate Of the renegade, JACK
Sully, of a decade or more ago, VIII
liam George, knownEOn the range as
Buffalo George has served time IN the
states prison for the Offense for which
he is now sought. On parole, the out
law began almost Immediately TO
drive off unbranded stock and horses
Summoning many of his old partners,
he formed an Underground railway
which ran half way across the state
and into Nebraska where the stolen
stock was marketed in Omaha
Alleged RustIer Confesses
One of his men, in making a run or
some cattle across the ice In the Mis-.
souri, river broke through, contracted
pneumonia and in a hospital at Fort
Pierre he made out partial confes-
sion. When we'll again he was closely
questioned and the ramifications OF
the gang was laid bare. Three other
alleged members Of the gang, Dick
Stevenson, Frank Goodven and Jack
Baldwin were arrested as a result OF
these revelations and sentenced to
prison from Buffalo county. They I'M
plicated Buffalo George in their
dealings.
George issued challenge to the
state sheriff's office to get him. ana
State Sheriff John G. Shanks accepted
the dare"
Reporeed Near Murdo :,
Today in Kadoka, there gathered
Deputy Sheriff Charles Peters and
sheriffs William S. Samis of Stanley
county and J. G. Babcock OF Jones
county, with orders to Drlng oach
George dead or alive. They received
tins that George was in the vicinity
of Murdo near here. The alleged rust
ler has sworn he will not be taken.
buffalo George" has recently been
seen in the Lower Brule, where 1T
is known he has land in that district
in the neighborhood Of Presho, and IT
is believed he will be in that nelgh-
borhood. From the Lower Brule the
search will extend into the Gro"
Creek reservation and thence south
ward along the path of the under
ground railway" by means OF wh,c:1 @
the stolen cattle have been smuggled
out of the state. ..
While Buffalo George is the prln.
cipal quarry in the hunt, the other IN n
members of the gang of rustlers, stlil
at large, also are wanted. Every el,
fort will be made to prevent George
from joining his gang or mopllHlhs
tbon, for organized resistance.