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Show 12 The Magna Times, Thursday, July 5, 1990 vji m L 'v'T ' this-' 1 ?. V ' j1 & - "0 t j , 'j'h '"V .. " The bull had regained his feet, he remembers, but one leg was useless. Nonetheless, he bristled with fury; (and) made a mad lunge ... toward Catlin before crumpling under its own weight. Xvi ;, ANOTHER DEFIANT STAND It is perhaps more than a little ironic that on a sultry June day in 1876, scarcely two years after inscribing the indescribable feelings of the hunter that George Armstrong Custer ... became the hunted. Ty J, luf 4 '2 unison, we uttered the word ... buffalo! And there upon the ridgetop stood a lone bull in solitary majesty, a living legacy from another time. A herd of 500 buffalo roam free on Antelope Island, a scant ten miles, as the crow flies, from Magna. In ;f "'vww ,, fWSIiiw; ., . Millions of bison once roamed the mountains and plains of North America. This illustration is from Maximilian, Prince of Weids Travels in the Interior of North America. (Ackerman & Company, London, 1844.) Coonville CII Feather in the Wind by W. Kent Goble Magna Times Feature Writer PROLOGUE In the annals of the American West, the hunting of the buffalo, the kotea as Yagaiki 's Shoshone called them, held no equal for sheer drama and excitement. Yagaiki remembered his early childhood and the shout of buffalo ! as the huge beasts were spotted by the scouts of the Mormon wagon train. And he records that many a time I would go with Washakie to see the Indians kill the buffaloes. And, of course, there was his triumphant return to camp on the day that his arrow from the bow given him by old Morogonai brought down the first buffalo during the tumultuous moments of the hunt. Hunting the kotea, the monarchs of the plains, was the ultimate experience. It did not take long for the white man to discover the mystique of the buffalo hunt as well. From the Indians, he learned the techniques of a successjul hunt and the custom of tossing the feather. THE COURSE OF THE WIND George Catlin, erstwhile lawyer turned artist, chronicles his first buffalo hunt. Catlin abandoned a promising law career to travel amongst the plains Indians, studying their culture. He made hundreds of sketches and portraits of Indians visiting nearly fifty tribes. .At the time Yagaiki was living . amongst the Shoshone, Catlin was in South America, absorbing the fabled past of the fallen Inca, Aztec, and Mayan civilizations. But his reminiscences of the buffalo hunt are ' a' graphic verbal illustration of the incomparable exhilaration of the chase. : He writes, One of tile hunters toss- ed a feather, an invariable custom, to determine the course of the wind; then : bats and coats were taken off, sleeves 'Tolled up (as) the party mounted and approached the herd. In like manner, the Indians were accustomed to approaching the buffalo downwind ; from various directions; hunters to certain the of J;first, allowing the kill for close as as possible get before they were detected. THE LAZIEST NAG continues, The laziest nag i; Catlin them prances with an elasticity 'amongst in his step ... champing his bit ... his rears erect ... his eyes straining out of this head, and fixed on the game before him, while he trembles under the sad-'dof his rider. 71 GOOD PONY A good Indian pony was trained to chase its quany, keeping pace with the buffalo, fleetest of the slower-foote- d ' able to its prey for seemingly pursue one of was hours. Yagaikis little pinto the finest. Many times he was approached by Shoshone braves seeking to trade for the little stallion but Yagaiki refused. The pony and its rider became one during the hunt, the rider totally depen- dent upon the surefooted instincts of the animal. The least miscalculation and . le both rider and mount could be swept away and trampled in the stampede. ' A CLOUD OF DUST The instant the herd discovered its danger and wheeled about, adds no Catlin, the horses,, stretched after out them. cue, In a moment, the chase was joined, the hunters and the hunted being swept together by the excitement of the purwho-neede- d suit. Catlin recalls that he was scarcely able to tell whether I was on a buf- There, on the Little Big Horn River in Montana territory, Custer and 225 men under his command were completely wiped out by as many as 5,000 Sioux led by chiefs Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse in the greatest defeat ever inflicted upon the U.S. Army by Indian hostiles. Accounts of the battle, recounted by Indian participants, suggested that Custer fought with fUry to the end ... much as the wounded buffalo bull had done , . . giving no quarter ... and asking none. Once the hunter, he fell ... the hunted, at Custers Last in another maelstrom of Stand, smoke and blood. Sources: The Hunting of the Buffalo by Douglas E. Branch and Among the Shoshone by Elijah Nicholas Wilson. Setting out to find the buffalo ... On a memorable November day, we set out to find the buffalo ... much as and Yagaiki, my second great-unclhad more countless others once done e, than a century ago. There was a tremendous sense of anticipation and excitement as we traveled along the dusty trail that follows the east shore of the Great Salt Lake. To the west, the craggy peaks of Antelope Island stood out against the velvet blue sky ... gargoyles of stone twisted into indescribable shapes by the fury of the wind that so oft sweeps across the island. Eerie yet serene. A surreal feeling from another time . . . another century. Then, suddenly, a single exclamation escaped the lips of each one present, uttered in breathless unison ... buffalo! And there, standing in solitary majesty on the highest ridge, silhouetted against a late autumn sky was the mighty monarch of the plains ... proud, regal ... and seemingly unafraid. An old bull maintaining his defiant vigil just as others of his kind had done from time immemorial. Pioneer Valley offers classes, support groups for community Pioneer Valley Hospital, West health Citys largest falos back or my horse ... hit, and Valley care facility, offers community classes and full-servi- ce hooked, jostled about, till at length and support groups. The classes and I found myself alongside, my game, groups are available to Salt when I gave him a shot, as I passed support Lake and West Valley residents. him. I saw guns flash in several direcDo you ignore your own needs to tions about me, but I heard them not. other peoples or feel responsible meet Such was the thundering tumult of the for other peoples problems? 40 million moment. , do. For those who do, Pioneer people DISDAINING A GUN offers a course dealing Valley Hospital For the Indians, hunting with a gun with this issue called was considered the least, manly of The course will be offered Monday, Jutechniques. The most renowned hunters 16 from 6 to 9 p.m. and will run used bows and arrows, the markings on ly 20 at Pioneer their arrows and the exact placement of through Friday, July South Pioneer the shaft creating a fatal death Valley Hospital (3460 West Valley City). A free Parkway, wound for all to see while admiring orientation will be offered Wednesday, the hunters prowess. 1 1 from 7 to 8 , p.m. Cost for the Thus, it is more readily understood July is fee includes a The $50. that Yagaiki was not only boasting to program after-car- e program. For more his mother of his first kill but the accall information, curacy with which he administered the As part of our Learning to Cope with shot that brought down his prey. Problems series, a FREE lecEveryday RELATIVE A SHIRT-TAILEcalled Stress Reduction: Proven ture The Coon and Custer families will be given by Ron (sometimes spelled Gohn and Kuster) Techniques on Wednesday, July 1 1 , M.S.W. had intermarried at an early date in Hunt, 7 to 9 p.m. at Pioneer Valley from Virginia. Thus it was that Yagaiki and Ron will dip into his bag of the irrepressible soldier of fortune of Hospital. and give you some real stress tricks the U.S. seventh cavalry, General reducing tips. Space is limited, so George Armstrong Custer, were concall for reservations at d sidered to be relatives. please As part of our Soup and Salad LunTHE EXCITEMENT OF THE RACE Custer chronicles his enthusiasm for cheon series, a free lecture for women and called Build Your the buffalo hunts and the desire to probe will Performance Positive long the ardor of the moment for as in B.S. Free, long as possible before bringing the presented by Kimberly on Wednesday, July massive monarchs to their knees. communications, 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at I could have Repeatedly, he states, Pioneer Valley Hospital. The soup and placed the muzzle of my revolver salad bar is available for $2. Reservaagainst the shaggy body of the huge tions are required. For reservations or beast, and fired the weapon, yet call more information, each time would I withdraw the A Boy Scout Merit Badge class on weapon, as if to prolong the excitement aid will be offered Tuesday, July the mile after first was Mile race. of 5 to 8 p.m. at Pioneer Valley in from this way. transversed 10, Hospitals Education Center (3449 A FRIGHTFUL ANIMAL In the hunt, Catlin had managed to South 4155 West). The cost for the wound an old buffalo bull. Now, as the class is $5. Most classes require additional work outside of the classroom. fury of the chase subsided, he returnis required. To ed to finish off his kill. call register, What he found was a creature as imand beast or man A Boy Scout Merit Badge class on frightful as any posing he had ever faced. He exclaims,' I safety will be offered Monday, July 16 defy the world to produce another from 5 to 8 p.m. at Pioneer Valley animal that can look as frightful as a Hospitals Education Center (3449 huge buffalo bull, when wounded as he South 4155 West). The cost for the was, turned around for battle, and class is $5. Most classes require additional work outside of the swelling with rage ... his eyes bloodis required. To shot, and his long shaggy mane hangcall ing to the ground ... his mouth open, register, and his horrid rage hissing in streams A Boy Scout Merit Badge class on of smoke and blood! emergency preparedness will be offered BRISTLING WITH FURY Tuesday, July 17 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Obviously in awe, Catlin hesitated to Pioneer Valley Hospitals Education dispatch the majestic animal, being fillCenter (3449 South 4155 West). The ed instead with an overwhelming sense cost for this class is $7. Most classes of respect for his foe ... thus engaged require additional work outside of the in a decidedly unequal contest. is required. classroom. 13-we- ek 964-310- 9. D To register, call A refresher course on childbirth called Expecting Again will be offered on Monday, July 9, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pioneer Valley Hospital (3460 South Pioneer Parkway). Cost is $5 per cou- with Times 964-310- 9. ple. For more information, call 964-310- 9. ..Youre Having a Baby, a class that provides information about the development of a baby, nutrition, and much more for women who have just found out theyre pregnant, will be offered Wednesday, July 18 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Pioneer Valley Hospital (3460 South 4155 West). The cost for the class is $5 per couple. For further information, call 964-310- 9. Prenatal Water Fitness Classes, for women in any stage of pregnancy, are held weekly on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. A second session is held from 5: 15 to 6 p.m. The. classes are designed for pregnant women to exercise in a pool, which reduces gravitys pull on lower back muscles. Classes cost $35 per month and are held at Pioneer Valley Hospital (3460 South 4155 West). For more information, call 964-310- 9. a. list of support at Pioneer Valley Hospital (3460 South 4155 West) July 8 through 12. Support groups are proThe following is groups meeting . vided at no cost. BereavementGrief Support will meet Sunday, July 8, at 2 p.m. Alanon, for the family members of alcoholics, will meet Monday, July 9, at 7 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous will meet Tuesday, July 10, at 7 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous will meet Wednesday, July 11, at 6:30 p.m. Overeaters Anonymous will meet Thursday, July 12 at. 7 p.m. For more information regarding any support groups, call 964-310- 9. 964-310- 9. shirt-taile- Self-Estee-m 964-310- 9. 964-310- 9. clas-sroo- on 964-3109- on Pu awangtd -- Dunca(x wit ft Pz. 0. 100 CTtui i orm. arts. xa DIGNIFIED PERSONALIZES SERVICES P EG23 West Z7C3 Ssti Utdi |