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Buffalo Park received its first consignment of the former monarchs of the plain Sunday morning when a special train of 23 cars, containing 323 buffalo arrived here at 6.00 o’clock.
These buffalo were from Elk Park near Lamont, Alta., being the portion of the Pablo herd from Montana, purchased by the Dominion government in 1907.
Superintendent of Dominion Parks, Howard Douglas, and Supt. Ellis of the Buffalo Park were in charge of the shipment.
Spectators began to arrive at an early hour and by the time unloading started at eight o’clock, a large number were presetn at the corral one mile from town.
A chute had been built leading from the cars to the corral nearby, from which another chute, 100 feet wide be three-quaters of a mile long led to the new home of monarchs of the plains.
No great difficulty was experienced in driving the buffalo from the cars, although at times a bull would start to put up a fight.
When the animals reached the corral they at once started feeding in a most unconcerned manner and paid no attention to their surrounding until driven towards the entrance of the park chute by the cowboys. They would approach in a wary manner, but as soon as passed they all started on the easy tireless lope, characteristic of the buffalo, which they would maintain until they reached their new home in the park.
As car after car was emptied in record time, the banks of the many little lakes which abound throughout the monster 2,000 acres in the north end of the park, became dotted with small bunches of buffalo feeding among the luxuriant grasses.
By the time the last car had been emptied a well-worn buffalo trail could be seen leading from end to end of the chute and it was an interesting sight to see the buffalo follow this without deviating from it.
Half way down the chute was a small hill and when they reached this they stopped and surveyed the surrounding country from it.
Occasionally a little excitement would be created by a fight between a couple of bulls, who would charge head-on at each other, but these were of short duration, owing to the exhaustion of the bulls after their long railroad journey and the confinement to the cars.
A picturesque touch was given to the scene by the presence of a large number of Indians who were gathered around the unloading platform to see the buffalo, which their forefathers were partly responsible for driving from the prairie.
Not a sound was heard from the buffalo as they were driven from the cars, but when in the corrals, an old bull’s head would go down, his tail up, and with flashing eye he would dash round and round the corral until he found the entrance to the chute, down which he would dash at breakneck speed.
The buffalo made no attempt to break through the fence having discovered the futility of this while confined in Elk Park.
About noon a heavy rainstorm sprang up and the buffalo could be seen in the distance seeking the shelter of the bluffs.
The animals were in good condition after the hard winter and only two died on the journey from Lamont.
This herd will be held in the monster corral of 2,000 acres in the north end of the park, until the balance of the Pablo herd arrives from Montana in early July. The object in retaining them in this corral is to enable tourist to obtain a view of the animals.
It is expected there will be be great excitement when the next bunch arrives from Montana , as they are the outlaws of the Pablo herd and are extremely wild.
Supt. Douglas expressed satisfaction at the excellent way in which the buffalo stood the long journey.
Ed. Ellis made the trip through the park Wednesday and found the buffalo scattered throughout it in small bunches, although in the southwest corner there was one bunch of over 180. The buffalo are a very shaggy looking lot at present, as they are shedding their winter coats.
They can be seen at any time and visitors may drive through the park if accompanied by a responsible guide.
It is expected there will be over 300 buffalo in the shipment from Montana, and when the other bunch is brought from Banff in the fall, over 700 buffalo will be confined in the park here, being the largest herd in the world.