Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-05-10
20 Million Buffalo Once Provided Good Living for American
Indians Slaughter Starts and Plains Were White With Bones

most Of them fell victims TO their pur-
suers and the ground would soon be
strewn with dead bodies. Then for days
the women would be busy gathering
the meat, hides and other fruits Of the
few hours hunt.
one of the picturesque types of the
early days on the plains was the white
buffalo hunter At first these men used
to hunt buffalo on horseback, much
after the manner Of the Indians, US
ing. however, -barreled, muzZle-
loading guns and carrying in their
hands the ramrods used to press home
the powder and ball after each shot
had been fired. Later, when the ex-
termination of the species was proceed
ing in full swing, "still-hunting" was
practiced. This was simple, effective
method Of slaughter. The hunter would
crawl from the leeward to within sure
rifle shot without being discovered.
Then, choosing the best concealment
the ground afforded, he would begin
the work of destruction by firing at
the nearest animal The buffalo, see
ing nothing and hearing only the re-
port, would usually remain quiet in
wonderment. Presently the wounded
animal would fall and the others,
smelling its blood, would gather round
and try to make it rise or else go on
grazing, evidently thinking that. their
had lain down to rest.
Meanwhile the hunters, rifle would be
busy. Shot after shot would bring
down victim after victim until the
whole band had been killed.
Hard Animal to XIII
The buffalo was hard animal to
kill. A ball upon its shaggy head or
neck was DETECTED as though from
oanoply of steel. Wounds In the rear
Of the body we're seldom fatal. 1t was
1nly in the region of the heart that
q bullet was sure, and the Indians
and white hunters always aimed to
strike there.
In the spring of the year, when the
ce was going out, great numbers Of
he animals were drowned in the Mis-
,ouri river while trying to cross. In |
iome years their bodies floated down |
he stream in such numbers as TO
-ender the air almost uncomfortable to
boat crews and passengers on their
way up the river. Indians liked this |
lind Of buffalo meat better than any
,ther and would tow carcaSseS ashore
o be cut UP.
Today there is a buffalo herd In a |
eServe on the southwestern part OF
he Flathead Indian reservation and
herd in Yellowstone park. There Is
lso a herd in Canada.
The herd in the National Bison re-
erve have found a home in country
f romance and much historical in
crest. Here the Flathead Indians have
welt since encroaching civilization
eat them back from their once tree
uniting grounds. Every gulch and ridge
ears a name preserving fragment
f tradition In a tongue that ever
aachas tha world in IesseninQ whispers
The Indian, especially the old man,
cells a warm and loving interest in
he buffalo, for the fate Of his race
nd of the bison are akin. Both now
oe. the white man. Had 1t not been
Or the comparatively recent activity
4 establishing the two herds amid
uitable surroundings for propagation,
he buffalo would in q very few years
ave departed from the face of the
arth with the DISTINGUISHING Indian
nd would live only In the history and
tradition of the western frontiers that
ave also gone forever.