Year: 1872

Few persons probably know how rapid.
ly the American bison is disappearing
from the Western plains. At one time
it said they were to be foune everywhere
west of Lake Champlain and the Hudson
river, but for many years they have been
extinct east of the Mississippi river. The
work of destruction, however, appears to
60 on more bravely in proportion as they
are driven into narrower limits, and it is
not unlikely that the fate of the European
bison, which once abounded 10 the woody
wilderness of Germany, northern Gaul
and neighboring parts of the Continent,
but which is now to be found alone and
rarely in the forests of Lithuania, will
soon be theirs.


Some idea Of the extent of this ruthless
slaughter may be formed from the fact
that twenty five thousand bisons were
killed during the mouth of May south of
the Kansas aud Pacific Railroad for the
sake of their hides alone, which are sold
at the paltry price of two dollars each on
delivery for shipment to the Eastern mar
kets. Add to thi, Eve thousand-a small
estimate-shot by tourists and killed by
the Indians to supply meat to the people
on the frontier, aud we have a sum total
of thirty thousand az the victims for a
single month.


Ii the bison were wild and savage ami
mal-if to kill one required any especial
skill or bravery OF nerve, there might be
some Justification for this enormous slaugh
ter. But the fact is that the bison is an
exceedingly mild dispositioned animal
His looks indicate ferocity and malignity,
but his nature does not correspond with
his appearance. Even in the breeding
season, when the common bull is frequent
ly dangerous, when the stag and the elk
attack everything that comes in their
way, and when most animals are pugna.
cious, the bison will go by on the other
side to avoid man. 1t is only when he
is wounded by blundering aim or irritat-
ed by persistent pursuit that he shows
fight enough to make hunting him enjoy
able. Besides, the Indian ponies are
trained to dodge his onset, when madden
ed beyond endurance, so that the hunter
who can manage to stick to his horse has
little to do but to sit still aud keep firing
until he makes fatal shot.


Every one remembers how Prince
Alexis, under the leadership Of General
Sheridan, participated in this "sport," to
the inteuse qualification of his royal father
and to the profit of the special correspon-
dents. 1t is doubtful, however, whether
even royal precedent can justify this
kind of SO called hunting. However this
may be in the Eastern States, the follow.
ing paragraph from the letter of an army
officer shows that in the Western States
this kind of ''sport" is estimated at its
true worth, while, at the same time, its
reference to the number of persons who
are following the Russian Princeliug's
example confirms the apprehension that
the American Bison will soon become as
fabulous an animal as the dodo:


TO shoot buffalo" seems mania. Men
come from London-cockneys, fops and
nobles-and from all parts of the republic
to enjoy what they call sport. Sport!
when DO danger is incurred and no skill
required see no more sport in shoot.
ing buffalo than in shooting an OK, nor
so much danger as there is in hunting
Texas cattle" re I.... rsr