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Below we publish a number of extracts from the Western papers about the article published in Collier’s Weekly recently giving a detailed story of the escape of the buffalo from the park here:
“Collier’s” is the name of a United States weekly publication which honors the Dominion with publishing what they call a “Canadian edition.” The jurisdiction of the title usually consists in the insertion of a page of editorials, excellently written by a well know Canadian journalist, dealing with matters of interest to Canadians.
In a recent issue, however, the author has accepted as correct a despatch eminating from Calgary and announcing the destruction of the fences about the buffalo park, and the escape of the inmates. He recounted the supposed calamity in the following way, “The Canadian National Buffalo Park at Wainwright was destroyed by a prairie fire which raged throughout the first week of October.
“The fences and enclosures which marked the limits of the preserve were burned from around their captives and 800 escaped. A large number of the elk also fled with the buffalo and many of the animals were killed. Driven northward from the flames, the advance became a stampede and they dashed away with impetus of frenzy. The possibility of rounding them up once more appears remote, and even if this could be done, there would be enormous difficulty in holding them together until a new corral could be built. The damage wrought by the fire to the entire region in which the corral was situated will mount into the millions.”
To this graphic description of a national calamity there is only one objection. It had no foundation in fact. The fences of the park were not destroyed and the bison did not escape and break for the northern wilds in irrestible stampede, to be seen no more. At last reports they were living contentedly and waxing fat on the luxuriant grasses of the Wainwright park, any foolish desire for change effectually discouraged by a formidable fence and any danger from prairie fire averted by a properly proportioned fire-guard.
Nor will the damage wrought by fire in that, or in all the districts of the province, be likely to reach the million mark or come measurably near it. The premises granted, the picture is well drawn, but it is safer to work one’s imagination on a basis of assured fact.—Edmonton Bulletin
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Collier’s Weekly, in its latest issue, tells a weird and lurid stroy about the destruction of the Canadian Buffalo, which it learns were destroyed in the latest prairie fire which visited that district.
And concerning the report there is absolutely no truth. It is all fake. The fact that not a single post about the park was touched by fire, that not a single spark went inside the fence, that not a single buffalo of any kind or description escaped or saw a fire, indicates to what an extent the truth has been tampered with.
It is unfortunate that a paper so widely read as Collier’s would not secure the truth before publishing abroad such an outrageous untruth.—Calgary Albertan
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How does it happen that if there is a dirty half brick to throw at the West the Eastern newspapers are so anxious to throw it? The latest is the ghost stroy about the buffalo park being destroyed by fire, which was published by Collier’s.—Calgary News