The Extermination of the American BisonHornaday, William T. (William Temple)
History
The Extermination of the American Bison
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple)
American bison; Wildlife conservation -- United States -- Sources
"There are undoubtedly buffalo within 50 or 60 miles of here, two having
been killed out of a band of eighteen some ten days since by cowboys,
and another band of four seen near there. I hear from cattlemen of their
being seen every year north and northeast of here."
This band was seen once in 1888. In February, 1889, Hon. Joseph M.
Carey, member of Congress from Wyoming, received a letter informing him
that this band of buffaloes, consisting of twenty-six head, had been
seen grazing in the Red Desert of Wyoming, and that the Indians were
preparing to attack it. At Judge Carey's request the Indian Bureau
issued orders which it was hoped would prevent the slaughter. So, until
further developments, we have the pleasure of recording the presence of
twenty-six wild buffaloes in southern Wyoming.
There are no buffaloes whatever in the vicinity of the Yellowstone Park,
either in Wyoming, Montana, or Idaho, save what wander out of that
reservation, and when any do, they are speedily killed.
There is a rumor that there are ten or twelve mountain buffaloes still
on foot in Colorado, in a region called Lost Park, and, while it lacks
confirmation, we gladly accept it as a fact. In 1888 Mr. C. B. Cory, of
Boston, saw in Denver, Colorado, eight fresh buffalo skins, which it was
said had come from the region named above. In 1885 there was a herd of
about forty "mountain buffalo" near South Park, and although some of the
number may still survive, the indications are that the total number of
wild buffaloes in Colorado does not exceed twenty individuals.
In Texas a miserable remnant of the great southern herd still remains in
the "Pan-handle country," between the two forks of the Canadian River.
In 1886 about two hundred head survived, which number by the summer of
1887 had been reduced to one hundred, or less. In the hunting season of
1887-'88 a ranchman named Lee Howard fitted out and led a strong party
into the haunts of the survivors, and killed fifty-two of them. In May,
1888, Mr. C. J. Jones again visited this region for the purpose of
capturing buffaloes alive. His party found, from first to last,
thirty-seven buffaloes, of which they captured eighteen head, eleven
adult cows and seven calves; the greatest feat ever accomplished in
buffalo-hunting. It is highly probable that Mr. Jones and his men saw
about all the buffaloes now living in the Pan-handle country, and it
therefore seems quite certain that not over twenty-five individuals
remain. These are so few, so remote, and so difficult to reach, it is to
be hoped no one will consider them worth going after, and that they will
be left to take care of themselves. It is greatly to be regretted that
the State of Texas does not feel disposed to make a special effort for
their protection and preservation.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account