Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-04-14
GAUNT SCENERY.
One Hundred aud SeVenty-flTe Nile'
Ofnead Cattle seen from Car
Window.

4 las Animas. Col. letter Of a recent
date SAYS: The region II country from
Dodge city 10 Las Animas crossed by the
Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad,
a distance Of l75 miles, is a great cattle
graveyard. The road runs along the
north hank of the Arkansas from Dodge
to Granada. the first station IN Colorado,
where il crosses the north side. Ii is
ia sight Of the river nearly all the time,
aud from the car windows can be seen
thousands of dead cattle. Many are lying
close 10 the track, but back as far ms the
eve can reach the plains and elevations
are strewn with carcasses, thus belying
the stories told by not few that the only
cattle that had died are those which
had been killed by the cars. To be sure,
many have gone that way, but only a
small proportion of the whole. As |
nave heretofore explained, the cattle be-
longing on the northern ranges have
irifted in upon the Arkansas, where
they have been stopped by thousands,
and perishcd from the combined effects
of cold. and hunger and thirst. Thous
nds were in sight as we passed, and as
many herds were close to the track. /
was enabled to see their condition. They
we're scattered about, trying to pick up a
little nOurshment from the ground,
which is now bare in places, but with
Indifferent success. Some are in better
condition than others, but great major
lty of those encountered along the rout
ire nothing but living skeletons that
sway and stagger with weakness when
hey walk. Their ribs stick out like bar
rel hoops. and some of the dead ones that
have been skinned show scarcely meat
enough to make plate Of soup from.
The men who are employing their
time travelling about gathering up the
hides would save money driving the
living cattle into the watts and picking
the bones out afterward. They are so
thin and weak that they can scarcely
stand, and when they lie down they can
hardly muster strength enough to get up
again. When it is remembered that
these cattle will have to pass through a
trying season of two months yet before
they can get enough to eat, it will be seen
that their chances of surviving are slim
| indeed. The cattle | saw are those from
the north, and from what | have learne
since my last letter, I am confident my
estimate of the number that have drifted
| in, viz: 200, is rather below than
| above the estimate. I do not believe
that more than 10000 or $4,000 have
crossed the river. A few have gone back
into the ranges, where food is plentier,
but by far the largest proportion still hug
the river, and of this number the NOR
tality can not be less than so per cent,
and it is apt to he - per cent. Fully &c
per cent. have died already, and when
the "heel fly" comes to worry what are
left the death list will be increased enor.
mouslv.
There are now dead cattle for the en-
tire distance between Dodge City and
Las Animas, but fer miles together they
literally cover the prairies and line the
banks of the Arkansas, which here oozes
sluggishly along under rotten blanket of
ice through an unsightly gap in the
naked face of nature. The banks are
seldom more than three feet high, and
from the Kansas line it has never been
known to overflow, while in the late
summer its bed is drv as the Sahara. A
more dreary spectacle can not be imagined
than a trip across the country affords the
tourist at this season of the year. 1t is
q scene of death and desolation. 1t is
bad enough in summer, but indefinitely
worse in winter. There are now more
dead animals in sight within few miles
on either side of Lakin, station mid
way between Dodge City and Las Ami
mas, than any other spot, and inquiry at
that point developed the fact that at least
fort.five thousand cattle had been crowd
ed in and around the town during the
prevalence or the storm two weeks ago.
A few thousand had been driven across
on the ice, which was then quite strong,
and hur d beyond the sand-hills to
more hospitable pastures on the Cimaron
and it's tributaries, but the larger per
cent. fingered on the north side, and
their gaunt frames ornament the land
scape for miles.
--S-a-S------
Teach Your Bows.