Cheyenne

The Battle of Adobe Walls

A bit of frontier history, told to the narrator by the men who made it. EDWARD CAMPBELL LITTLE Drawings by Harvey T. Dunn The Kansas buffalo hunters invaded the Texas Panhandle and the Llano Estacado in force in the spring of 1874; in five months it is said they slew a hundred thousand bison. The deserted Adobe Walls, a station established by Spanish friars, French Canadian hunters or General Howe’s soldiers, was selected as the rendezvous for these hunters, who came from Dodge City, one hundred and seventy-five miles away.  Three ‘ business houses’ and a blacksmith shop gave token … Read more

1868

<< Previous  Next>> Central Plains Are Alive Prehistoric Man and Great Britain Mar 23 1868 Daily Colonist   The Daily Kansas Tribune Lawrence, Kansas Apr 10, 1868 Considerable excitement was created in town on Sunday, by the appearance of a herd of buffalo on the opposite side of the creek, west of the city. There was mounting in hot haste, a short run, a sure aim, and several bison fell. The sport is exciting in the extreme, and, when once indulged in, an opportunity to repeat the dose is never missed. — Hays City Advance   The Emporia Weekly News  Emporia, Kansas … Read more

1875

<< Previous  Next>> The Decline of the Buffalo.  Chicago Daily Tribune Chicago , Illinois Jan 2 1875  BUFFALO ROCK This was formally a part of the main north bluff, from which it became detached during some great natural convulsion, perhaps in the Glacial or Draft epoch. The rock is St. Peter’s Sandstone, overlaid with a thin bed of good coal, and above the usual Drift series. It’s surface covers some 80 acres. The canal and the railroad run through the deep natural cut between it and the main bluff. It is a prominent landmark, and is interesting as being the … Read more

Cheyenne

/ …..In the early 1870s, Colonel Edward W. Wynkoop urged that the slaughter must be terminated, because it is one of the greatest grievances the Indians have and, to my personal knowledge, frequently has been their strongest incentive to declare war. Little Robe, the Cheyenne chief who recently visited Washington, at one time remarked to me after I had censured him for allowing his young men to kill a white farmer’s ox: ‘Your people make big talk, and sometimes make war, if an Indian kills a white man’s ox to keep his wife and children from starving. What do you … Read more

1916

<< Previous  Next>> / The Daily Deadwood Pioneer Times Deadwood South Dakota June 2, 1916 (extract) At Wind Cave National park the government has set aside a big game preserve. Here is one of the largest herds of bison in the country, and many elk and antelope. Adjoining the government preserve is a state preserve set aside by South Dakota. The state preserve consists of more than 40,000 acres and contains a larger herd of bison and more elk and antelope than the government preserve. / The Pittsburgh Press Pittsburgh Pennsylvania June 18, 1916 “Pawnee Bill,” Soon to Exhibit Here, … Read more

1800’s

<< Previous  Next>> Plains Bison Mysteries That Remain Part I:  The Buffalo Population and Why It Crashed By Gene Gade President, Vore Buffalo Jump Foundation Volumes have been written about buffalo. Most emphasis has been placed on the historic period, immediately after the use of the Vore Buffalo Jump stopped (about 1800) through the era of Anglo American expansion into the Plains to the near-extinction of bison some 80 years later. How Many Buffalo Were There? Estimates of bison numbers vary from 30 to 75 million. 50,000,000 to 60,000,000 are the most common numbers cited as total buffalo population in … Read more

1894

<< Previous  Next>> 1894 The Times Philadelphia June 10, 1894 Eating Dog With Indians AN UNCONSCIOUS PARTICIPANT IN A REDSKINS’ FEAST SOME SAVAGE DELICACIES The Indian and the Pig Are About on a Par in Their Appetites for Food Some Palin Truths About the Noble and Nasty Aborigine. “How Koohla? Ho-ho-ha-he-e-e-!” “How Koohla?” These were thus salutations that passed between Red Jacket, the famous Ute chief and myself one noontime, as I rode down the valley toward Rico, on my way from Silverton. The old fellow was seated by a campfire while his two squaws were preparing the noonday meal. … Read more

1886

<< Previous  Next>> 1886 Bison History Buffalo Bill Wild West show c1886 Photo by Sarony~LOC   Two years ago (would be 1886) the United States government foresaw that the buffalo was about to be annihilated, and sent a special commission to secure and preserve for its museum specimens of the race. The intention was at first to capture alive a family of bison and keep them in the National park of the Yellowstone, but there were difficulties in the way. At last, it was decided to preserve specimens by the taxidermist’s art, and five superb samples are now at the … Read more