BUFFALO WOOL BLANKET 



/TOL. CHAELES GOODNIGHT, of Goodnight, 

 ^^ Texas, one of the best known ]jreeclers of l^uffalo 

 and catalo in the United States, had collected from time 

 to time a quantity of buffalo wool which he reported of 

 fine quality, but rather a short staple. This wool was 

 sent to the Eeed City Woolen Mills of Eeed City, Mich., 

 and they reported that the ayooI was very fine and fluffy 

 and somewhat difficult to handle, but this was readily 

 overcome by mixing in a small amount of Karakule 

 wool Avhich did not affect the color and put just enough 

 fibre in it to hold it up for spinning. 



The cloth woven from this yarn has a fine appear- 

 ance, and the strong quality of the wool makes it very 

 desirable. Several blankets were woven for Col. Good- 

 night, and one w^as presented to the President of the 

 Bison Society. As far as known, these are the only 

 blankets of this character in existence. They are seven 

 feet long and six feet wide and Aveigh 4 lbs., 5 oz. It 

 is claimed that there is more Avarmth in buffalo avooI 

 than any other kind, and certainly soldiers stationed at 

 the frontier forts, and any one AAdio has liA^ed in the 

 northern climate and used Iniffalo OA^ercoats, knoAV that 

 no other fur so successfully Avithstood the rigors of Avin- 

 ter, and it is claimed, the early settlers affirm, that one 

 buffalo robe Avas Avarmer than four ordinary Avoollen 

 blankets. 



The Avool used Avas that shed by the animals in the 

 springtime covering a period of seA^eral years. The 

 question of hoAv to obtain the avooI from the liAdng liuf- 

 falo has not been clearly soh^ed. It has been suggested 

 by some that the buffalo ])e sheared the same as sheep, 

 but this method does not seem very T^ractical OAving to 

 the great strength and fighting ability of the animal. 

 Col. Goodnight is of the opinion that the best and safest 

 method Avould be to run the buffalo in an ordinary cattle 

 squeezer, the same as used for branding cattle. In this 

 the buffalo Avould be held securely Avithout danger to 

 itself or any one else, and the loose hair could be 



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