Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-10-07
as the storm came on, would get up saddle
his horse and ride for the herd to remain until
it was calm again.

A HERDER's sTEADFASTNESs TO DUTY.
A herder's life is not one of play, especially
when on the trail but have been most fa'
vorably impressed with the stability and de,
votion to their business of many of them. 1t
is a point of honor with them that the cattle
shall be we'll handled, and none lost, and they
will risk their necks at any time before they
will finch from the place of duty. Cattle
are more apt to stampede on dark, stormy
night, when there is heavy thunder, than at
any other time. Hence, the need Of all hands
on guard. When they do stampede there is
music and business. We had one stampede,
but fortunately it was checked before any
harm was done.
srAMPED1NG.
1t was just before daybreak. Only two
men were on guard, apd we never knew what
caused the scare. Suddenly there was great
roar, which awoke US in an instant. The
sensation was like thatI experienced at Cedar
Creek, when the enemy charged our line, be-
fore light, October 10th, 1864. Every one
was upon his feet in an instant and verify
believe that in 30 seconds our men, who sprang
from sound sleep, had slipped the tethers of
their horses, put the bits into their mouths,
and we're away like the wind to their work,
yelling like fends, for nothing quiets cattle
quicker when scared than to hear the human
voice. 1t was only the work of few mo-
ments for two or three of the men to rush to
the head Of the flying column, and to turn it
without attempting to stop it; then following
up the advantage, they kept bending back the
leaders till they we're running directly back
from whence they came, and in minute the
whole herd was "milling"-whirling round
and round till they finally stopped of their
own accord. Sometimes herd of beef steers
will stampede in a storm, and this is a very
serious matter, for they will run like mad in
a straight line for miles, and woe to the horse
and rider that get in their track. In this
case the herders get ahead Of them and liter:
ally "ride for their lives" till the painting herd
stops, and then they gather them up.
PUTTING THE CATTLE TO BED.
must tell you how the cattle are "bed-
ded" for the mig ght, for they are put to bed
with lust as much system and regularity as
are the babies in New York. When the fore.
man selects his camp, he being in advance OF
the herd for that purpose, he rides back, and
when the cattle reach the proper point they
are thrown off. the trail and allowed to Craze
in the direction of camp for about two hours,
or until dusk, when they are put in their lit
tie beds in this way: The "bed ground" hav.
ing been selected where the night watch can
ride entirely around the herd without cuts,
ravines or bushes to hinder their view, and
where the cattle can have good, level ground
to lie on, the head of the herd is stopped on
this ground and the rear we'll closed up, and
then the men on duty begin to ride around
the herd, turning in constantly the outer edge
toward the centre, and singing. The conse-
quence is that very soon the cattle are hud.
died close together, and very soon some OF
them lie down, and in fifteen minutes all OF
them will be lying down, almost as near to-
gether as the ground will allow, and there
they remain till morning.
TRAVELS OF THE HERD.
The cattle left the branding place on Horse
creek the 10Th of August, and reached the
rancho, $50 miles northwest, on the 9th Of Sep
tember, the COWS having travelled since leav.
ing Texas, in the Spring, about 1900 miles.
They came in good condition, and in the rich
and rank grass where they are placed are
rapidly gaining flesh and getting in order for
winter. The rancho is located on Crazy
Woman fork of Powder river, directly at the
foot of the Big Horn mountains, which are
among the grandest and most beautiful OF the
Rocky range, and about 20 miles north Of old
Fort Mckinney (ahandoned) on Powder riv-
er, and 20 miles south of new Fort McKin-
ney on Clear creek fork of Powder river.
Old Fort Reno, also abandoned, is only four
miles from old Fort Mckinney. From the
time of leaving the branding place, August
10Th, to the time of our return here, October
1st, there was no rain and the weather was
perfect for camping out Later on, when
have opportunity, l will write more concern
ing the manner of handling cattle on the
rancho, and other items which l think will
interest you.