Mammoth in Mammoth Hot Springs in Park County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
A Most Fortunate Thing...
Photographed By Rich Pfingsten, March 23, 2009
1. A Most Fortunate Thing... Marker
Inscription.
A Most Fortunate Thing.... . Before the Army arrived in Yellowstone, the park's future was in doubt. Vandals destroyed thermal features, squatters sawed down trees and poachers decimated herds of wildlife. Perhaps the Army's greatest contribution to Yellowstone's history was bringing law and order to the park.
In the winter of 1894, soldiers caught the notorious poacher Ed Howell killing buffalo. Because no laws existed to prosecute Howell, public indignation caused Representative Lacey of Iowa to propose a bill "to protect the birds and animals in Yellowstone National Park, and to punish crimes in said park..."
The House and Senate quickly passed what became known as the Lacey Act. This and other laws enacted after Howell's capture were called by Yellowstone's Commander, Captain Anderson, "the most fortunate thing that ever happened to the park." , , Photo Captions , 1) This new guardhouse (green building, end of row) was built in 1911 and stills serves as the lockup for violators of the regulations protecting visitors and the wonders of Yellowstone National Park. , 2) Officers of the Sixth Cavalry pose with confiscated buffalo heads-probably those taken from poacher Ed Howell.
Before the Army arrived in Yellowstone, the park's future was in doubt. Vandals destroyed thermal features, squatters sawed down trees and poachers decimated herds of wildlife. Perhaps the Army's greatest contribution to Yellowstone's history was bringing law and order to the park.
In the winter of 1894, soldiers caught the notorious poacher Ed Howell killing buffalo. Because no laws existed to prosecute Howell, public indignation caused Representative Lacey of Iowa to propose a bill "to protect the birds and animals in Yellowstone National Park, and to punish crimes in said park..."
The House and Senate quickly passed what became known as the Lacey Act. This and other laws enacted after Howell's capture were called by Yellowstone's Commander, Captain Anderson, "the most fortunate thing that ever happened to the park."
Photo Captions
1) This new guardhouse (green building, end of row) was built in 1911 and stills serves as the lockup for violators of the regulations protecting visitors and the wonders of Yellowstone National Park.
2) Officers of the Sixth Cavalry pose with confiscated buffalo heads-probably those taken from poacher Ed Howell.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Military. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.
Location. Marker has been reported permanently removed.
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It was located near 44° 58.456′ N, 110° 41.909′ W. Marker was in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, in Park County. It was in Mammoth. Marker was on Officer's Row, 0.2 miles south of North Entrance Road - eastbound lanes, on the right when traveling north. The marker is next to an asphalt sidewalk. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Yellowstone National Park WY 82190, United States of America.
We have been informed that this sign or monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
More about this marker. This marker has been removed and replaced with a new marker nearby called Crime in Wonderland.
Also see . . .
Photographed By Rich Pfingsten, March 23, 2009
2. A Most Fortunate Thing... Marker
Buildings in the background are now used as homes for park workers.
Expedition Yellowstone Forest and Stream Articles. The National Park Service provides the text of a number of Forest and Stream articles relating to the capture of Ed Howell. (Submitted on September 10, 2015.)
circa 1894
3. Heads of poached bison seized by military, probably confiscated from Ed Howell
On the capture of Ed Howell:...Early the next
morning, very soon after starting out, he (Burgess) struck
an old trail of snowshoes, and following it up
stumbled upon a cache of six buffalo scalps and
six skins, from three of which the hair had been
partially removed as if for the manufacture of
rawhide. He took this plunder in and passed on
to the south until he had come near the mouth of
the Astringent Creek, where he again struck a
snowshoe trail, this time freshly made....The man was busy skinning the buffalo, and
five of these animals lay about him. Burgess
rushed upon him, and Howell was so occupied
with his work that he did not see his captor until
he was close to him. He had no time to think
about making any resistance, but threw up his
hands at once. Burgess brought him in and
reached his guard house at Fort Sheridan at about
4:30 on Wednesday, March 14. Howell is now
confined there, and will no doubt remain until
news has been received from Washington as to
what is to be done with him.... There have been at least eleven buffalo killed
and no one knows how many more. It is certain
that Howell has been in the Park several times
during the winter, and it is not very unlikely that
he may have killed a large number of these
animals. It is evident that unless something is
done at once to make poaching a crime, the
Yellowstone Park buffalo will very soon be
wholly exterminated. -- Forest and Stream, VOL. XLIL-- No. 13., March 31, 1894
This is the image used on the marker, courtesy of the National Park Service.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2011, by Rich Pfingsten of Forest Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,057 times since then and 49 times this year. Last updated on September 11, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 16, 2011, by Rich Pfingsten of Forest Hill, Maryland. 3. submitted on September 10, 2015. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
