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
During all this time we shot antelope and coyotes whenever an
opportunity offered, and preserved the skins and skeletons of the finest
until we had obtained a very fine series of both. At this season the
pelts of these animals were in the finest possible condition, the hair
having attained its maximum length and density, and, being quite new,
had lost none of its brightness of color, either by wear or the action
of the weather. Along Sand Creek and all around the High Divide antelope
were moderately plentiful (but really scarce in comparison with their
former abundance), so much so that had we been inclined to slaughter we
could have killed a hundred head or more, instead of the twenty that we
shot as specimens and for their flesh. We have it to say that from first
to last not an antelope was killed which was not made use of to the
fullest extent.
On the 31st of October, Mr. Boyd and I discovered a buffalo cow and
yearling calf in the ravines north of the High Divide, within 3 miles of
our camp, and killed them both. The next day Private West arrived with a
six mule team from Fort Keogh, in charge of Corporal Clafer and three
men. This wagon brought us another 2,000 pounds of oats and various
commissary stores. When it started back, on November 3, we sent by it
all the skins and skeletons of buffalo, antelope, etc., which we had
collected up to that date, which made a heavy load for the six mules. On
this same day Mr. McNaney killed two young cow buffaloes in the bad
lands south of the High Divide, which brought our total number up to
fourteen.
On the night of the 3d the weather turned very cold, and on the day
following we experienced our first snow-storm. By that time the water in
the hole, which up to that time had supplied our camp, became so thick
with mud and filth that it was unendurable; and having discovered a fine
pool of pure water in the bottom of a little cañon on the southern slope
of the High Divide we moved to it forthwith. It was really the upper
spring of the main fork of the Big Porcupine, and a finer situation for
a camp does not exist in that whole region. The spot which nature made
for us was sheltered on all sides by the high walls of the cañon, within
easy reach of an inexhaustible supply of good water, and also within
reach of a fair supply of dry fire-wood, which we found half a mile
below. This became our last permanent camp, and its advantages made up
for the barrenness and discomfort of our camp on Calf Creek. Immediately
south of us, and 2 miles distant there rose a lofty conical butte about
600 feet high, which forms a very conspicuous landmark from the south.
We were told that it was visible from 40 miles down the Porcupine.
Strange to say, this valuable landmark was without a name, so far as we
could learn; so, for our own convenience, we christened it Smithsonian
Butte.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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