In Buffalo Days 



the territory in which they ranged vast, they 

 held out here for some years. It was in this 

 country, and against the last survivors of this 

 southern herd, that "Buffalo Jones" made 

 his successful trips to capture calves. 



The extirpation of the northern herd was 

 longer delayed. No very terrible slaughter 

 occurred until the completion of the Northern 

 Pacific Railroad ; then, however, the same 

 scenes of butchery were enacted. Buffalo 

 were shot down by tens of thousands, their 

 hides stripped off, and the meat left to the 

 wolves. The result of the crusade was soon 

 seen, and the last buffalo were killed in the 

 Northwest near the boundary line in 1883, 

 and that year may be said to have finished 

 up the species, though some few were killed 

 in 1884 to 1885. 



After the slaughter had been begun, but 

 years before it had been accomplished, the 

 subject was brought to the attention of Con- 

 gress, and legislation looking to the preser- 

 vation of the species was urged upon that 

 body. Little general interest was taken in 

 the subject, but in 1874, after much discus- 

 sion. Congress did pass an act providing for 



'3 193 



