The Ely miner., 1932-10-28


wv ninety-three years, it not only
SJE5E0 marked the passing of one of
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llATiS#SHl the most interesting figures of
IES1sei eia9%xsI the Old West but it also seemed
lH&NES&S4SIT likely to spell the doom of the
IBEAK@1S..Rl largest herd of buffalo In the
lg&EM%4ZN1)l United States-more than 200
in number but only a pitiful
remnant of the millions which had once roamed
the Great Plains. For the famous Goodnight
herd Of buffalo in Texas had passed into other
hands and there were sensational rumors af1oat
that the new owners were planning big game
hunt where Eastern sportsmen (upon payment
of a big fee) would be allowed to enjoy the
thrills of an old-time buffalo chase.
Immediately storm of protest against the de-
struction Of the Goodnight buffalo herd arose
among Texans and the legislature passed bill
authorizing the state game and fish commission
to purchase the buffalo. provided suitable place
for keeping them could be obtained. But no ap-
preparation forthcoming for the project and
1t was not until a syndicate. headed by A. G.
Nicholson of Dallas formed to take over
the buffalo and part of the Goodnight estate
and to finance the project of maintaining the
herd intact that its preservation assured.
No finer monument could be erected to the
memory of Col. Charles Goodnight, 'the Father
of the Texas Panhandle" and his wife, Mary
Dyer Goodnight. than the preservation of this
rearguard of the Numbering herds" of long
ago. In fact, the existence of this particular
herd Is due largely to the efforts of "Aunt
Mary" Goodnight, as she was lovingly known in
the Texas Panhandle. Back in the late seventies
this pioneer woman, witnessing the ruthless
slaughter of the buffalo by hide hunters, real
lied that 1t only question of time until
the great shaggy beasts would be extinct. She
began talking to "Uncle Charley" about captur-
ing a few of the calves and starting herd Of
their own
So in June, 1879, Colonel Goodnight roped
two buffalo calves and gave them to his wife.
She was much interested in the little brown fell
lows, greatly delighted at the alacrity with
which they learned to drink milk and was
prised at their appetites which seemed to be
Unsuitable, one of her pets requiring much
as three gallons day. Two years later neigh
boring ranchman captured two full-grown buff
falo and presented them to Mrs. Goodnight and
three calves also added to her little group,
the present of her brother. From this beginning
came the great herd of nearly $50 today. On the
"game refuge" which the Goodnights established
on their ranch were also started herds Of elk,
deer and antelope, but they never thrived as
did the buffalo.
1t was the Goodnight ranch also that q
new animal was created-the catalo, produced by
crossing buffalo with Aberdeen Angus cattle.
This hybrid, according to Colonel Goodnight,
was harder than range CATTLE thrived on less
food, was immune from all disease. did not
stampede so easily drift with storms and
had other advantages which made 1t a more
valuable type of beef animal for the plains. He,
found an enthusiastic disciple in the work In
the person of the late Buffalo" Jones and at
time 1t seemed likely that their expert
ments In producing the catalo might have a
revolutionary effect upon the cattle industry
of this country.
Although Texas claims Col. Charles Good
night of her greatest men, he a
native Of another state, Illinois. He was born
there March 5, 1886, just three days after Texas
declared her independence from Mexico so his
history paralleled her history. His parents
moved to Texas in 1916, the year Texas entered
the Union, and young Goodnight grew up a
pioneer of the Lone Star state with its hard
ships part of his everyday life.
By the time he was nineteen he decided that
he knew Texas pretty well and was about ready
to move farther west to newer country
California. With young companion, and
team and few horses, they started on the
long trek west. But by the time they had gone
a few hundred miles into West Texas they de-
cided that the state was large enough for them.
So Goodnight went back to Palo Pinto county
where he ranched and supported his widowed
mother. During the Civil he served with
the Texas Rangers, fighting mostly Indians.
Mexicans and cattle thieves.
AFTER tne war, Cnere was no cattle market.
The plains swarmed with herds and cattle
could be bought credit. Goodnight saw the
necessity of finding a western market. So
did some others, but the young plainsman,
then thirty, differed from the rest In that he de-
termned to find it. There was already one up
at Abilene Kan, where many of the cattle
men took their herds to sell, but Goodnight
saw greater opportunity up In New Mexico,
Colorado and Wyoming, where there were
Tndi
to pay well for 1t.
The drawback in the scheme was that between
the Panhandle and this promising territory lay
a great expanse of desert and territory inhab-
tied by Comanche Indians ready to pounce upon
invaders and drive off the cattle Without heavy
protection. no herd could get through. Goodnight
knew that as well as any of his neghbors and
he laid the plan before them. He knew the
country. and mapped out a route by which he
hoped to trail his animals up into Colorado.
But the other cowmen had troubles Of their