Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-12-02
Killed by q Mustang.

| IL was clear moonlight night when, al
ter hard days ''drive," and the herd OF
wild horses had been penned. that the cow
boys stripped their tired ponies of saddles
and brides, and staked them out TO Craze
on the thick mesquit grass which fringed
the bank of the San Bernardo.
After this duty had been attended TO-,
! the cooking utensils were brought forth,
and soon the coffee pot was singing mu-
sical little song, and leg Of fresh calf
ribs spluttering before the fire. The re.
past, though rough, was made enjoyable
| by an appetite which only violent exercise
and pore air can give, and after the boys
had eaten until it became necessary to un-
| Dnckle their six-shooter belts, blankets
were spread under the breaches of gigan.
tic 1--we oak which seemed TO stand guard
over the broad expanse of prairie, and
they settled down for quiet smoke,
ii tell you what, boys" said Ned Cur
tis, who was one of the hardest riders and
best poker players west OF the Brazos, us
he Lit cigarette, ''we are going TO handle
some pretty rough mustangs tomorrow,
and if any of you fellows want TO show
your fancy riding you had better be fixing
your flank girts and rolls, because there
are some unbranded four years old in that
bunch, who are going to make you hum
like churn-dasher, and you'll have to
fork 'em deep to stay in the saddle. There
is one in the pen that is perfect picture
Of the mustang mare that sent Bill Hall TO
the angels"
WASN'T he some galOot from the old
States Z" inquired one of the boys, turning
over on his blanket.
Yes" replied Ned, she was a long
tow-headed chap, greener than an August
persimmon, with legs on him shaped like
a PAIR of names"
How did he happen to get killed, Ned
Did the mare tiirt him little too strong?"
Yes, that was the way of it. You see,
he had just come from Gregory, and had
never been on the back of a wild horse be-
fore in his life. but he was spunky with
all of that, and WASH scared of anything.
One day while driving out in Nueces
county, we made round up all of the
horses IN the range, and after cutting out
ali that were in the diamond p brand the
boys began throwing some down and rid
ing 'em, just to see the wild devils buck
well, Bill Hall took darn fool notion
to ride one himself and he picked out
little Roman nosed mustang mare, pure
Spanish, and wilder than cavote, and got
some of the boys TO help him throw her
down, because he didn't know any more
about handling lariat than he did about
running prayer meeting.
Wnen the saddle had been strapped on
her and Bill forked it, she was turned
loose, and the crowd stood back to see the
fun. Well, air, that plug raised her heat,
looked back, beloved a couple of times,
and then she lit into the prettiest bucklng
! ever looked at. ''Stick TO her Bill"
yelled, but the only thing he could say
was, whoa Stop her boys, darn her old
hide"
While he he'd his kuees gripped to her
sides like a wise, and his hair standing like
brush heap, the mustang stretched her
self out like a step ladder, put her head
between her front legs, and then bringing
herself together like rat-trap, she slam
med Bill Hall against the ground harder
than l ever heard a fellow hit before.
When we picked him up one ear was
jammed around TO the back of his neck
and, from the look on his face, we kcew
that he wasn't long for this world. He
fingered for day or two, and we did all
we could TO case his pain, but one morn
ing he motioned for us TO come to MIN,
and as | kneled beside his couch and took
his hand in mine he said "Boys, Pm
going to pass in my checks, but l amt
going to shlver about 1t, even If | do die
away out on prairie, with no one but
few friends arr und me. I'll have a big
broad bed to rest in, and if some day you
ride by my grave won't you get down anu
think Of me awhile?'
"Well, sir, the boys-the ornary cusses,
were crying like women, and felt terribly
| shaken myself, but we all promised that
we would, and then he raised himself a
little, and in faint voice SAID: Ned,
want you to write to my mother and tell
her that wasn't very dutiful son, but
loved her just the same"
Med, lie muttered so faint | could
hardly hear him, ''don't tell my folks when
you write that [ was slid into Heaven by a
ID mustang, and with that his head
fell back, his grasp on my hand relaxed,
and Bill Hall was on this earth no more,
and when | thought how his mother would
| grieve it made me feel weak in the knees.
We buried hiU, and Jack Jones, who
is something of a scholar because he had
chance TO 60 to school down in Bay Prai-
rie, wrote on the head-board of the grave
WILLIAM HALL.
got fall;
Killed Dead as a Slug
By Texas Plug,
BORN IN GEORGY.
1T always makes me feel bad when
think of that poor fellow, and how to-day
he sleeps on the bank of the Santa Ger
| trudes with nothing but live oak to mark
his last resting place in the bosom of the
prairie. Do any of you fellows want ! lit
| tie uraw poker tonight z"
Several did, and mid the shuffling of a
greasy pack, Bill Hall was soon forgotten
Where the Smash Was.
Reporter-"1 wish to ascertain some of
the particulars about the recent accident
on your road"
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES road2"
| Rep.-"Why your road 2"
Supt.-'I own no road"
Rep,-"Are you not the Superintendent
Of the Go-to- Blazes. Smash and Crash Rail
| rOad?"
Supt.-"T am. Why didn't you ask
that btfore?"
Rep.-''Well, now about the accident. ~
Sup.-"What accident"
1