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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 24, 1921)
Pendleton, Orego-t, . j.J ' ' Li'Jt -Jm' , September 24, 1021 PiERHOfi'iESOFllil GREAT HERDS OF BUFFALO THAT ROAMED 1ST BECAME EXTINCT WHEN THE RAILROAD CAME- Small Herds Survived But the Great Day of the Bison Ended in 1878; Roosevelt Had Some Experience at Buffalo Hunting; J!. Orcffoniaa Ronft'd-tfp Souvenir-Edition. 1 , Art)!. . BtW On night tha used to be. common in Ihe days of the Uld West before tho fr.ml line outpis of the frontiers men end pioneers had brought about, conditions thsl caused Its extinction was vast herds of buffalo, who in unbelievable numbers roSmod over mountain and plain. Cp until the "seventies the bison were very plentiful, and It was not un til sei'erni year later that (boy were j very nearly exlermlnalcd. The build-j Inr of the Cnlon Pacific Hallway was (he signal that started the slaughter of the animal, all of them nlong the road being slain won after the project was oompleted. This divided the herds Into two groups, the southern and the northern. The former were practical ly all killed by 1S78, and the latter not until 18S3. Of course there were small herds -Which survived, but they were alive only because of their wariness which had been sharpened by the Quest of homers for hides and meat. Some were killed after this time, and the story of the hunt is as thrilling as any that have been written in the history of American sport annals. Theodore Roosevelt was one of these men who found buffalo after they were nearly extinct. His story of a hunt was writ ten by the ex-president and is as fol lows; In the fall of 1SS9 I heard that a very few hfron were still left around the head of Wisdom River. Hither t'went and hunted faithfully; there was plenty of same of other kind, but of bison not a trace did we see, Never theless a few day later that same year I came across those Rreat wild cattle at a time when I had no Idea of seeing them. In Idaho Mountains It was, as nearly as we, could tell, inj Idaho, lust .south ef; Vhe Montana boundary line, and some !5 miles west Of the line of Wyoming-. We were camped ' high - among-the mountains, with a small pack-ira!n. On the day In question we had gone out to find moose, hut had seen no sign of them, and had then begun to climb over the higher peaks with an Idea of getting sheep. The old hunter who. was with me was, very fortunately, suffering from rheumatism, and he therefore carried a long staff Instead of his rifle; I say fortunately, for if he had carried his rifle K would have been impossible to' stop his firing at such game as bi son, nor would he have spared the cows and calves. About the middle of the afternoon we crossed a low rocky ridge, above the timber line, and saw at our feet I Vins' Mother Returns to Screen . vis 4 1 x 0 I . , 0 - NN -CM -::'? Am v$t dig over the game pass 'from some ne's'iborlng valley, and after drinking and feeding had moved Into tho pine forest to find some spot for their noon tide rest. It was n very still day, npd there (ny Intenintloinl News Service) , NEW YORK. An army of o, inllll1 on rats, driven from thoir homos be neath the eld wooden wharves of low er Manhattan by -the, advent of the wore nearly three hours of Uaylliiht 'concrete pier, has met its collective left. Without a word my silent com- I doom In the cold waters of the Hud- panion, who had been sen nulng tne'son and East rivers. whole country with hawk-eyed eager- Cleo nidgley left the screen four years ago to nwrry James T7. Horne, a director. She haa remained away playing the real life role of mother to twins, but returns to reel iif as a villainess ' he Woman In the Case." . beauty. Its walls were formed by steep mountains. At its upper end lay a small lake, bordered on one side by a meadow of emerald green. The lake's other side marked the edge of the frowning pine forest which filled the rest of the valley, and hung high on the sides of the gorge which form ed its outlet. Beyond the lake the ground rose in a pass evidently much frequented by game in bygone days, their trails lying along it in thick zig zags, each'gradually fading out after a few hundred yards, and then start ing again in a different place, as game trails so often seem to do. . Ktson Hoof-Mark . j We bent our steps toward these j ha. sin or round valley of singular trails, and no sooner had we reached the first than the old hunter bent over it with a sharp exelamatfon of wonder. There in the dust were the unmistak able hoof-marks of a small band of bison, apparently but a few hour old. They were headed toward the lake. There had been half a dozen animals In the party; one a big bull, and two calves. Immediately turned and follow ed the trail.. It led down to the lit tle lake, where the beasts had spread and grazed on the tender,- green blades and had drunk their fill.' The foot prints then came together again, show ing where the aninniut had gathered and walked off in single file to the forest. Evidently they had come to the pool In the early morning, walk ri ess, besides scrutinizing the slwns on his hands and kneos, took the trail, motioning me to follow. In a moment we entered tho woods, Nreathlng a sigh of relief ns we did so; for while in the meadow we could never tell that the buffalo might not see us, if they hap pened to be lying in some place with a commanding lookout. Hunter Shown Skill The old hunter was thoroughly roused, and he showed himself a very skilful tracker. We were much favor ed by the character of the forest, which was rather open, and In most places free from undergrowth and down timber. As in most Rocky Mountain forests the timber was small, not only as compared to the giant trees of the groves of the Pacific Coast, but as compared to tha forests of the Northeast. The ground was covered with pine needles and noft moss, so It wns not difficult to walk noiselessly. Once or twice wnen I trod on a small dry twig, or let the nails In- my shoes slink slightly against a stone, the hunter turned to me with a frown of angry Impatience; but ns he.' walked slowly,-continually halting to look ahead, ns well as stooping-over to examine the trail. I did not. find It very difficult to move silently. I kept a little behind him and to one side, save when he crouch ed to take advantage of some piece of j cover," and I icrept in- bin footsteps. - did not look at the trull nt all, but kept watching ahead, hoping n any minute to see game; ' It was not very1 long before we struck-their-day beds, which were made on-a knoll, where the foresf was open and where there was much down timber.- After leaving the day beds the animata had at first fed separately around the grassy base and s'den of the knoll, and had then made off in their .millions of rodents remain to be van- usual single file, going, straight to a qulshed by the builders of concrete small pool in tne torest. After arm. -piers. According to Health Comnils A rat will soon be in rarity along Gotham's waterfront. JHorders of hiuvh and low-cast rodents from every land on earth have infested New York's seawall for decades. With tho advent of modern construction health offici al foresee, the passing of the bubonic plague peril and the elimination of tha most Ignominious of disease car riers. Pity the New York waterfront rat, homeless and friendless. Not that we would suggest a drive to relieve their increasing sorrows. Hut a tinge of pity would not be out of place in view of the old residence that the rat has enjoyed beneath the keypoaid ' of Manhattan's shore-line. Eventually what Is left of this breed will have lost social standing among the punier In land hordes that are satisfied to in fest stables, ld tenements ; and. to frolic beneath kitchen- floors. " Rats From Everywhere. The New York rat is different from his brethren. He Is comopolitan to begin with. They have no Illue ltook among them, It Is true, but had they one It Is certain - many famous rats would 'be enrolled therein. Huge ro dents from the -arematlc wharves of far Sumatra, pirate giants from, the Chelsea piers, quaint rats from Run Francisco's picturesque waterfront, to whlnh they came, perhaps ' from, fur Ceylon or'tho dimly-lighted whurves of Shanghai.- Rats from' Juvu and Edinburgh,- rats, from .Calcutta, Rom bay and Colon, more rata from Per nambuco and Stockholm ail ' these grace, or disgrace, the thousand alleys beneath the wooden, flattery wharves. Rut only one army of an esttmuted million rats has so far. permanently disbanded. Armies of many, more r-sl-lj,.; .. iiii ji .nil-uui ja - r- : f j f i- a '. '';. . i ... , .... , ; ... , v If rVJ; j . t ..... . i f iVrr.--, ; ,.. TT:? ', - , ' " ' : . r t u v ..j ;,, Ing they had left this pool, and travel ed . down toward the gorge at the mottth'of the basin, the. trail- leading along the sides of the steep hill, which were dotted - by green glades; while the roar of -the cataracts by which th stream- was broken ascended from be low, Here we moved with redoubled 1 caution, for the sign had grown very sioner Dr. Royal Copeland, the eva cuation and eternal .retreat of the wa terfront rat is a necessity and an end to bo brought about at-tha earliest possible date. Ken it. .is asseverated that the greatest potential peril . to the- lives of New York's seven million, and for that matter, the lives of. all who dwell -within the borders of the fresh and the animals had- once more inai ion. Is the peril of the great white Tiff aes V of PENDLETON, OREGON Member Federal Reserve System. Does a General Banking Business, such as receiv ing deposits subject to check, and issuing of demand and time-certificates of deposit Sells domestic and foreign-drafts, and travellers checks. - Opens savings accounts for small or large amounts on which liberal interest is paid Acts as executor, administrator, guardian or trustee. Accepts escrow agreements. Has for rent boxes in Safe Deposit Vault for the safekeeping of securities and valuables. Makes loans on improved farm lands. CAPITAL AND SURPLUS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS j scattered and- begun feeding. When the trail led across the glades we us ually skirted them so as to keep in the timber. Herd Ii.-xverel At last, on nearlng the edge of one of these, glades we saw plague. ' The germ of this terrible dis ease, is borne bv the rat flea, 1'lers Harbor DIsoaM. Inasmuch, as Manhattan Island fs entirely surrounded by piers, few of Copeland's movement .which are rodent free, llr, ! among- the young trees on- the other -admonition is considered timely by ! side, not fifty yards away. Peering jmany physicians. : ! through the safe shelter yielded by) The modern concrete pier, or rather ' some-, th'ick - evergreen bushes, we . the method of coustruc'tng the con- speedily ma out three bison, a cow, crete pier, will be responsible for the a calf, and a yearling, grazing greedily J passing of the dread carriers, accord on the other side of the glade, under. Ing to. Pock Commissioner Murrav Of i tiff (if m 'the fringing timber; all with their '. heads up hill. Soon another cow and ; calf stepped out after them. I did not 1 wish to shoot,- waiting for the appear- a nee of the big bull I knew was qe j conipanying them. j So for several minutes I watched the great, clumsy, shaggy boasts, as all unconscious they grazed In the open ' glade. Behind them rose tho dark ' pines. At the left of the Rlade the , ground felt away to form the side of a f chasm; down in its depths tha cata racts foamed 'and thundered; beyond, the huge mountuins towered, their crests- crimsoned by the sinking sun, f Mixed with the eager excitement of i the hunter was a certain half melan- j : t holy feeling as I gazea -on tnese mson. themselves part of the last remnant if I a doomed, and nearly vanished race. ' Few, indeed, nro the men whe- now Shave, or ever more shall - have, the i chance of seeing the mightiest of Am- ericaiv beasts, in all his wild vigor, sur rounded by the tremendous desolation of tea-far-off mountain home. The bull Appcarx At last, when, I had begun to grow,: ' very anxious , lest the others- should take, alarm, the. bull likewise appear i ed on the edtre of the glade, and stood with outstretched hotul, scratching his ' throat aghlnst a young; tree, which shook violently. I aimed low, behind the shoulder, and piiUed .the trigger, At the. crack -of the rifle all the bison without the momentary halt 1 1 terror ttruck surprise. to common amonj game, turned-and raced off at. head lonj speed. The friBge of. young pines beyond 1 and below the glad-.' cracked and swayed ns If a whirlwind wore passing, and in another moment they reached the- top of a very steep Incline, thickly strewn with boulders j and dead timi;er. uown mis iney plunged with reckless speed; their . surefoetednes was a imrvel in such seemingly unwiedly tjcasts. , A eolumb. of - dust- obscured their, passage, and under.lts cover they disappeared in the forest; but the trail of the bull was marked by splashes of frothy blood. and we followed it at' a troti Fifty I rards below the border of the forest we found the stark black- body stretch ed motionless. He was a. splendid old bull, still in' his full vigor, with largu sharp horns, and heavy mane and glossy coat; .and f.feK the most exult ing, pride as I handled and examined him ; . for- I had . procured ' a trophy such as can fall henceforth to few hunters Indeed, Camp. In Hie Wild. It was too late to -dress the beast that evening; so, after taking out the tongue and cutting off enough meat for supper and breakfast, we scrambl .ed down to near the torrent, and after Koine search found a good spot for camping. Hot, and dusty from tho day's hard tramp, I undressed and took a plunge in -the stream, the Icy water making me gasp. Then, having built a slight lean-to of brush, and dragged together enough dead timber to burn all night, we cut long aider twigs, SiU down before some embers raked apart, and grilled and ate out buffalo meat with the utmost relish. Night had fallen; a cold wind bled up the valley, tho torrent roared as It: I . . .. , ..,A . . u , , t anA .1 rna'nrH nnp wnriit as we strove to talk over our adven-j tures and success; while the flame of the fire flickered and danced, llghtln;! up with continual vivid flashes the (loom of the forest round about, Hurlbert. Rata reach their prospect ive homes beneath the floors of old- PENDLETON CLEANING WORKS; - - i- ). D. FELU Prop. leaning Pressing Repairing Men's Suits, ladies' Suits, Dresses andjancy Gowns Furs, Gloves, Waists, Etc. Has Cleaned and Blocked , Only TliWouglily Equipped Plant in Pendleton i 206. East Ala Street Telephone 169 fashioned piers by way oj supports nailed to the wooden pile to keep them In place. These X imports arc the Hlalrwny'or runways 01 tha rats, which jump overboard fromhe whips and swim a few feet under tie piers to their future abode. Rut a lit cannot climb a concrete pier, becaiin X sup ports are not necessary between the " concrete piles. Modern pier experts declare that had the builders of the old ' wooden 1 wharves deliberately planned to pro vide homes for the cosmopolitan rats and their prolific broods they eouldnf have done better by the rats. f JAMES JOHNS, Pres.! , C. II. MARSH, Secy. ' . jj II' Cnnital fi nflO (Wi llfv II - l ; . ,- . B ( : I II! ill : , . , it &l in m ' i , - t - v. ' i rust ill' ' - V I,: . lMiif? L L . i - - - U. . -II R i 1 . . - 'I II I i I: , i -, '41 rf 1 HlnThll flM CO.' j; l mmm mm mmw v mmr m www f 1' I I I ." umC0RP0RATED; ! A ' i -: Loans: " : " ' jii- Insurance Boiids " ;.. l:-: ; ' : ; Real Estate ? t rf-v lr r- -ll T lw rt 1 1 1 sVT1 1 11 XT W W If ' Main sndCfliiitr Strfiefs MLETON. OREGON Jl- 1 ' ' : '. Molt II . . . . '..',. M -ft Hill. ' . ' , 14' 1 1 MM., ,M WrffeLL.'L --J...J.Lit ..JliJI-il. 1-.IU i l II -.'v.' 1 I It