The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-12-24
GUN lEAAA LETTER.
ROCKDGLE. MILAN Co., TEXAS,
noc.,,nhor 81 1S-r


ROCKDiLE. MILAN Co., TEXAs,l
December 20, 1873. !
We arrived here safely yesterday, and
having corralcd our herd OF six hundred
Of "cow brutcs" in the magnificent stock
pens OF the International railway to
await the arrival OF cars, into which they
will be loaded for st. Louis. We are
taking our ease as gentlemen Of leisure
for the noncc. Our herderJ have not yet
been paid of, SO that the town is COM
paratively quiet. During the drive. ]
witnessed a scene which will not soon be
effaccd from my memory, and will try
aud describe to you what a stampede OF
six hundred head of Texas cattle is like,
conscious. however, Of my inability to do
the subject justice. The day upon which
1t occurred was as bright and warm As u
June day with you; not a cloud was to
be seen. We were riding along in merry
mood, singing and shouting. with coats
on and necks barred to the breeze. The
cattle were somewhat restless, and this,
an old hcrder said, was sure precursor
ola "nortlier - we laughed the croaker to
scorn and ridlculed his predictions OF com.
ing trouble. He had his revenge. however.
when at about four o'clock in the after
noon he called our attention TO the North,
and we saw the black clouds filling up
and madly rushing across the clear blue
sky. Instantly the scripture quotation
"And the heavens shall be rolled up
like a SCROLL" dartcd through my mind.
] can compare the sight to nothing else
inky black clouds in banks apparently as
high as u three story house chased each
other with the rapidity of thought, and
In less than ten minutes the whole
heavens were overcast and the lind wa.
blowing q gale as cold as ice. We aastA,
dOnned our coats and wrapped our bla,l
kets around US in u vain endcavor t,
keep warm; 1t pierced through oul
clothes like knife and all our efforts
were useless. The variation In the tenn.
peraturs probably did not exceed twenty
degrees, but 1t was the suldenncss of il
that stunned us. We did not have much
time to think OF ourselves rs at the first
rush of the wind our cattle were of; with
heads lowered aud tails up they ran in a
believing mass toward clump Of
trees about two miles distant
seeking shelter from tho cutting blast
Then commenced u race compared to
which John Gilpins ride was nothing,
Wild cattle, wild pony aud wilder ranger
riding. The jingling of the spurs and
whoop Ia! of the herder are drowned IN
the thunder of hOOis. The brave little
pony presses on the TANKS of the fugi.
tives and singles out the leader of the
herd. The rein hangs loose; instinct and
the swaying Of its rider alone guide the
movements Of the horse. The leader
| must be reached and turned or the herd
will be scattered and lost. II he will not
sheer of when approached, the rider
draws his navy and fires at his horns II
he shoots again it will be at the head OF
heart. We follow the ranger in single
file riding close along the side of the
'"sh':ned animals, and gradually the
Inass is turneu ohs'. s..-' l.. IL ,ro..i,,
on the rear; closer and closer the mass T
recoiling upon itself; round and roun,
1t reels until, drunk with confusion, tn,
rout is stayed and the scene ends in ,
forest OF revolving horns. This Is til,
stampede" and the "mill,n terribl,
words to the hcrder when coupled viii
the darkness OF the midnight storm
tumble or single false step OF his pom,
and he would be crushed under the hoof
Of the flying herd. Sharing such dansc
and keyed up with excitement for tire,
or four months at time, no wonder that
like Jack ashore, no runs wild aud com
mits excuses when he reaches town. Moth
. ing could be- done now but ride aroun,
the herd to prevents repetition OF III
scene Just described, and we never left OF,
saddles for ten hours except onc ut
time to get bite to eat and a cup g
strong coffee or to change horse,
C when the cattle was in measure quiete1
II we pressed the cooks aud several cam