The Henson Journals

[39]

Saturday, May 22nd, 1909.

The rain was falling heavily when we took our departure. In the train we found ourselves next to Colonel Dudley, one of the West Point authorities. He assisted us to a safe arrival at our destination.Mr Travers, the Chaplain, met us, and drove us to the house of the superintendent, Col: Scott, by whom we were to be entertained. After lunch we motored round the place, which even under a falling rain, has an attractive aspect. At dinner several of the officers with their wives dined. All were very agreeable.

Col: Scott is exceptionally interesting. He has served among the Red Indians, in Cuba, & in the Philippines, where for 3 years he bore the sceptre of rule among the Mohammedans. He is clearly a man of parts, concerning himself in the populations with which he has come into contact. He gave me a most interesting account of the Indians, & of the buffalo. In 1877 the latter were still very numerous. He himself had seen thousands, & had witnessed their destruction. The railway brought death to the bison: when his hide was worth a dollar, he was ruthlessly slaughtered. He himself had seen 25 or 30 of the great beasts shot at once; the wind carrying away the sound of the discharges, so that beast after beast fell without arresting the notice of the herd. The wolves were numerous; & since the bison has gone, are attacking the cattle on the ranches.

---