Indians

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

1821-1830

<< Previous  Next>> 1821-1830 ACROSS THE PLAINS WAY BACK IN 1821 The Journal of a Trip of M. M. Marmaduke  From Franklin Mo to Santa Fe The  story of a trip across the plains from Franklin Mo to Santa Fe made In 1824 Is vividly told In the Journal of M M Marmaduke later lieutenant governor and governor of Missouri published in the October number of the Missouri Historical Review. Capt William Becknell made the same trip in 1821 and the Journal of his expedition was printed in the Boone’s Lick Advertiser in 1823, but even though his was not … Read more

1811-1820

<< Previous  Next>> Hide Shipments 1811-1820 Aberdeen Journal North of Scotland Aberdeen Scotland Jan 16 1811 Lots of Hides Dried buffalo hides in the hair, sound in the grain, about 20lb per hide. Dried Spanish Horse Hides in the hair, fit for tanning or covering trunks. A few dozen of Dutch Calf Skins salted, about 136lb per doz.   The Caledonian Mercury Edinburgh, Scotland Mar 25th 1811 50 buffalo hides  Missouri Gazette and Public Advertiser St Louis, MO June 27, 1811 FOR SALE The following articles, the property of the United States, now on hand. VIZ. About 200 packs of … Read more

Kickapoo

Kickapoo ceremonial dance. Gen. Sheridan was perfectly capable of conducting covert military operations while refusing to issue explicit written orders. Indeed, in 1873, he secretly ordered Colonel Mackenzie and his Fourth Cavalry to invade Mexico to crush the Kickapoos, Lipans, and Mescalero Apaches who were engaged in raids into the United States from their northern Mexican sanctuaries. sanctuaries. Sheridan issued secret spoken orders to Mackenzie in meetings held at Fort Clark and elsewhere. No record of these meetings was kept. The only source of information about what transpired is Lieutenant Robert G. Carter, Mackenzie’s adjutant. Carter did not attend the … Read more

Carrizo Comecrudo

  The proper Texan Term for Bison is “Wakate Mete’l” Bison Spirit Bison in Esto’k gna is said WAKATE( wah kaha te). Esto’k gna is the name of the people that give me my Identity. In the English and Spanish Language, we are called Carrizo/Comecrudo. We are named by those that new little about us, because of our Lifeways. We lived in “Reed” house called Wama’k, so the Spaniards used the word Carrizo. Later the after Mexico got it independence from Spain, the Mexican people called us Comecrudo or “eats raw” in English, mainly for eating man raw vegetables. Again … Read more

1902

<< Previous  Next>> / / Evening Star February 08, 1902 LAST OF THE BUFFALO Congress Asked to Establish a Great Breeding Preserve TO RAISE HALF-BREED CATTLE Congressman Curtis Wants “buffalo” Jones to Be in Charge. BIG BISON HUNTS ……A census of the full-blooded buffalo now known to exist in the United States brings the number up to about 800, though the account is not believed to be accurate. With the exception of the small herd in the National Yellowstone Park, all of these buffalo are in a greater or less degree of captivity, ranging from the small animal houses of … Read more

1901

<< Previous  Next>> The Times, Pa., Jan. 21 1901 AMERICAN BISON ……Naturalist Declare the Animals Are Increasing in Number. While it is naturally in possible to obtain figures as to the exact number of American bisons that are now alive, it is not difficult to obtain approximate figures, and from these and other data which had been recently collected, European naturalist maintain that there are more bison alive now then there have been for many years and that the number of these animals will steadily increase if only do care be taken of them, says the New York Journal. ……About … Read more

1900’s

<< Previous  Next>> / Santa Fe New Mexican Sante Fe New Mexico Feb 8 1900 To Grab the Staked Plains. “Buffalo Jones” of Kansas long ago achieved fame as the grower of buffalo upon his farm in the sunflower state, and for his theory that by a cross between the bison and the domestic cattle he could produce a hardy animal which would combine the qualities of both. But the latest scheme of the Kansas man should entitle him to rank as the great practical joker of the wide west. He conceived a plan for grabbing the staked plains in … Read more

1899

<< Previous  Next>> 1899 National Zoological Park Washington D.C. Smithsonian Institution Archives.  Image #2003-19498 /   The Morning Post North Carolina Dec 27 1899 HOW BISON PERISHED (Scientific America) One of the most extraordinary events that has characterized the last half of the present century is the extermination, the wiping out of the American bison. There is little use in restoring to invective or endeavoring to stigmatize those who are guilty of this crime, but it would be well if the acts could be held up in a bright light that those who committed them might be excoriated in the crime … Read more

1896

<< Previous  Next>> / NOW ALMOST EXTINCT / The Courier Journal KY May 10 1896 THE BISON Millions Once Roamed the Western Plains NOW ALMOST EXTINCT Interesting Interview On Buffalo Hunting With Dr. Carver Few people realize that the buffalo is almost an extinct species. There is not a single herd left, where but a few years ago thousands and sometimes even millions of the shaggy animals blackened the prairies. W. F.Carver is responsible for the death of many bison. For number of years he hunted them on the plains. In shooting them he developed in part what wonderful skill … Read more