Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-03-03
a Long Tramp.
sA-Inyx-pHzn


On Sunday last there arrived in our city
the worst used up specimen Of q Texan cattle
driver we ever saw. His name is Thomas
twelve hundred and twenty five miles, on
foot. The following is history Of his awful
tramp through wild Indian country in the
dead of winter:
He left Buford in tho latter part of October
without dollar in money. His desire was
to reach Texas. When he started out on his
long journey the weather was very pleasant,
and the weather prophets at that place pre-
dcted very mild and open winter. He ao-
certcd their predictions, and began lis jour
ncy for the States.
After travelling two hundred miles fear
full snow storm overlook him, and he became
bcwildercd and nearly pcrishcd in tho storm,
which continued for two days. When the
storm ceased he oamo from his shcltcr-a hole in
an embankmcnt-7and started back for Bu-
ford.
But after going about one mile he stopped
and argued the question with himself, whether
it was better to die like coward on his re-
treat, or 90 on and die likes hero. This question,
he says, was difficult one to decide. lie
knew the route back to Buford, and also
knew that he was midway between Buford
and Rice, but he was uncertain of the route
to the latter place, and yet tho inducements
to keep OH wciu strong, for at liicc he had a
friend, and at Buford lie had none. On the
whole, he considered the question evenly bal :
{anced, and to decide his course he resorted
to the child's method Of setting up a stick to
fall as it would, determined to pursue tho
direction it should point He set up the
stick, and balanced it on its end as we'll as ho
could 1t stood still for few seconds, as if
partaking of the mans doubt, and then fell
toward the States. Accepting the decision,
he started on for Fort Rice.
Tho understanding was an awful ono, and
he had but little hopes of over making that
place alive and he had not had mouthfu
to eat in 4S hours. Together with his fasting
and the effects of his exposure to the storm
he found himself weak, and not as brave as
he was wont so be. To die he considered
would be privilege, and he vas several
times tempted to shoot himself. But when
itcame to the point his courage wouldn't stick,
and hope would again assume control of his
mind, and, and he would continue his weary
splodding. .s
., On the second day after the storm, as night
was approaching, .ho sought some place Of
shelter to remain until morning, and thus
discovered hole in an embankment, short
distsnce from the road upon which he was
travelling, Ho determined to rest there for
the night. AS he was crawling into the
aperture on his hands and knees he put his
hands upon the cold face of a dead Indian
who lay near the mouth of the hole. At
first he was startled, and thought to leave,
!. but on second thought ho concluded that, as
he was not afraid Of e live Indian, he surely
wasn't afraid Of a lead Indian. Accordingly
he began to- drag tho defunct brave from the
hole TO make room for himself.
sss8O On reaehing the outside of the cave with
the dead Indian, he discovered a deep wound
so,ial oil tho left side Of tho body below the ribs,
w,,icfhe concluded was caused by tho Horn
81 81 buffalo, aud from the effects Of which the
lig brave must have died. This opinion was