Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 11:47 am
Pete:
You can read "The Buffalo Harvest," for free, right here:
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resourc ... uffalo.htm
This may get me in some trouble, but since you asked..
As for Frank Mayer and “The Buffalo Harvest,” I WANT to believe. I really do. I’d like to think that this wonderful man has left us with a well-written and account of his experiences. But, to put it mildly, there are some problems with “The Buffalo Harvest.” It’s not just the .45-120 issue. Kenny W. addressed that one - Mayer could have been talking about the .45-120-2 7/8 cartridge. And it’s not just the mention of antelope skin used for bullet patching, (although he clearly says “antelope buckskin” and not “intestines.”) There is no single, fatal flaw in the story. Rather, it’s little bits and pieces that don’t quite add up.
What’s the problem with “The Buffalo Harvest?” There were said to have been about 5,000 or so buffalo hunters who plied the hide trade from 1870 to 1883. Many of these hunters have left written stories, stories which can be verified and cross-checked against each other as well as other existing written records. Frank Mayer just sort of appeared out of nowhere, 60 years after the fact. Despite the fact that he worked on the buffalo range from 1872 to 1879 (he mentions “nine years of hard work and sweat” - a LONG time in that business) Frank’s name is not mentioned by any of his contemporaries in their accounts. It doesn’t show up on any of the old receipts that still exist.
A few verifiable names are ‘dropped’ in “The Buffalo Harvest,” the most notable being his bet with Bill Tilghman along with a brief mention of Billy Dixon. Isn’t it strange the Mayer doesn’t mention rubbing elbows with the Mooar brothers, “Brick” Bond, John Cook, Jim White (among dozens of others) somewhere along the trail or on the streets of Dodge City?
Some minor points, in no particular order:
“We professionals didn't run buffalo at all, but we called ourselves buffalo runners, never hunters.” Did any of the other buffalo hunters call themselves “runners?”
Frank Mayer mentions selling his hides on consignment to Wells Fargo. No mention made of Conrad & Rath, Lobenstein or other well-known hide dealers. Did any of the other hunters mention Wells Fargo? Did Wells Fargo even deal in buffalo hides?
Why didn’t he bring up Adobe Walls? Even if Frank Mayer had no part in the battle itself, wouldn’t you think he’d have at least something to say about it?
There are only a few vague mentions made of specific details such as times, places and kill numbers. Reading stories from other buffalo hunters, you’ll often see something like this: “It was early June. We camped on the north branch of the Canadian River, about 2 miles north of Dead Horse Butte . The next day I found good shooting. My efforts ended with 28 cows, 17 bulls and an even dozen kips, having expended a total of 62 cartridges.” Most hunters (myself included) seem to have this “thing” about details.
Here’s one that really bugs me. I don’t recall any other accounts of the military giving away free a ammunition to civilians. Did any of the other stories written by buffalo hunters mention free ammo, courtesy of Uncle Sam? Wouldn’t there be more than a good chance of such ammo ending up in the hands of the enemy? The Army encourage soldiers serving on the frontier to hunt on their free time. The idea was to hone riding and shooting skills. Nevertheless, the soldiers had to reimburse the army for any ammunition used.
And then there is the 20X scope. Did such a scope exist in those days? Given the sort of optics and construction available at the time, would a 20 or 30X long tube scope even be useable for hunting?
Costs: Mayer says “In those days (1871-1875) rifles were expensive, for they would cost you from $100 to $150.” This is 2 -3X the catalog price of a Sharps sporting rifle.
I’m not questioning Frank Mayer’s integrity. At the very worst he spun us all a great yarn. And it may not even be Frank Mayer’s doing. “The Buffalo Harvest” was published a few years after Mayer’s passing. It was written by Charles B. Roth, the same guy who published “Hidalgo.” That story has been carefully researched - and ripped to shreds - by historians. It turns out that the legendary horseman, Frank Hopkins, was in reality a ditch digger in Philadelphia! It’s very possible that Roth had a knack for enhancing stories. We know for sure that Frank Mayer was a real person who lived in the right time and place. Without a doubt Frank Mayer was every bit the ‘rifle crank’ he’s made out to be. There is no reason to doubt he was a crack shot and that he worked as a market hunter.
You can read "The Buffalo Harvest," for free, right here:
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resourc ... uffalo.htm
This may get me in some trouble, but since you asked..
As for Frank Mayer and “The Buffalo Harvest,” I WANT to believe. I really do. I’d like to think that this wonderful man has left us with a well-written and account of his experiences. But, to put it mildly, there are some problems with “The Buffalo Harvest.” It’s not just the .45-120 issue. Kenny W. addressed that one - Mayer could have been talking about the .45-120-2 7/8 cartridge. And it’s not just the mention of antelope skin used for bullet patching, (although he clearly says “antelope buckskin” and not “intestines.”) There is no single, fatal flaw in the story. Rather, it’s little bits and pieces that don’t quite add up.
What’s the problem with “The Buffalo Harvest?” There were said to have been about 5,000 or so buffalo hunters who plied the hide trade from 1870 to 1883. Many of these hunters have left written stories, stories which can be verified and cross-checked against each other as well as other existing written records. Frank Mayer just sort of appeared out of nowhere, 60 years after the fact. Despite the fact that he worked on the buffalo range from 1872 to 1879 (he mentions “nine years of hard work and sweat” - a LONG time in that business) Frank’s name is not mentioned by any of his contemporaries in their accounts. It doesn’t show up on any of the old receipts that still exist.
A few verifiable names are ‘dropped’ in “The Buffalo Harvest,” the most notable being his bet with Bill Tilghman along with a brief mention of Billy Dixon. Isn’t it strange the Mayer doesn’t mention rubbing elbows with the Mooar brothers, “Brick” Bond, John Cook, Jim White (among dozens of others) somewhere along the trail or on the streets of Dodge City?
Some minor points, in no particular order:
“We professionals didn't run buffalo at all, but we called ourselves buffalo runners, never hunters.” Did any of the other buffalo hunters call themselves “runners?”
Frank Mayer mentions selling his hides on consignment to Wells Fargo. No mention made of Conrad & Rath, Lobenstein or other well-known hide dealers. Did any of the other hunters mention Wells Fargo? Did Wells Fargo even deal in buffalo hides?
Why didn’t he bring up Adobe Walls? Even if Frank Mayer had no part in the battle itself, wouldn’t you think he’d have at least something to say about it?
There are only a few vague mentions made of specific details such as times, places and kill numbers. Reading stories from other buffalo hunters, you’ll often see something like this: “It was early June. We camped on the north branch of the Canadian River, about 2 miles north of Dead Horse Butte . The next day I found good shooting. My efforts ended with 28 cows, 17 bulls and an even dozen kips, having expended a total of 62 cartridges.” Most hunters (myself included) seem to have this “thing” about details.
Here’s one that really bugs me. I don’t recall any other accounts of the military giving away free a ammunition to civilians. Did any of the other stories written by buffalo hunters mention free ammo, courtesy of Uncle Sam? Wouldn’t there be more than a good chance of such ammo ending up in the hands of the enemy? The Army encourage soldiers serving on the frontier to hunt on their free time. The idea was to hone riding and shooting skills. Nevertheless, the soldiers had to reimburse the army for any ammunition used.
And then there is the 20X scope. Did such a scope exist in those days? Given the sort of optics and construction available at the time, would a 20 or 30X long tube scope even be useable for hunting?
Costs: Mayer says “In those days (1871-1875) rifles were expensive, for they would cost you from $100 to $150.” This is 2 -3X the catalog price of a Sharps sporting rifle.
I’m not questioning Frank Mayer’s integrity. At the very worst he spun us all a great yarn. And it may not even be Frank Mayer’s doing. “The Buffalo Harvest” was published a few years after Mayer’s passing. It was written by Charles B. Roth, the same guy who published “Hidalgo.” That story has been carefully researched - and ripped to shreds - by historians. It turns out that the legendary horseman, Frank Hopkins, was in reality a ditch digger in Philadelphia! It’s very possible that Roth had a knack for enhancing stories. We know for sure that Frank Mayer was a real person who lived in the right time and place. Without a doubt Frank Mayer was every bit the ‘rifle crank’ he’s made out to be. There is no reason to doubt he was a crack shot and that he worked as a market hunter.