The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-19

THREE MOUNTED COWBOYS RIDE AT A GALIop
OVER A PREcIpIcE.

fDcnver News.l
There arrived on the burlington train
last night well-known citizen of Greeley
who will probably die from the effects OF
injuries sustained i'm one OF the most har-
rowing accidents that has a place In the
his'oryet roundup sensations in the West.
The victim Is Mr.. Charles Hughitt. The
Little trenchman range, In Southwestern
Nebraska, Is perhaps one OF the most ccle-
DRAFTED cattle sections OF the country. In
that neighborhood Hughitt was one Of the
most noted among the cowboys. A college
graduate, he combined intelligence with
that rare courage which the better class OF
cowboys always display on the range. He
was more than valiant.
On the day in question the herds OF the
several stockmen were well gathered on
the brink OF a large mesa which overlooked
the Little Frenchman river. The bluff was
at least one hundred feet above the stream.
White the cattle were being cut out q steer
broke away and made dash along the
edge OF the yawnmg chasm. Beneath was
the swittly-paSsing water and sharp-jut-
ting rocks. There were one hundred and
fifty cowboys in the circle, the number
beng equally divided among three outfits.
4 representative OF each put spurs to his
horse and made the chase. Huybitt was
the foremost. Following him closely were
William Thompson and John Green. All
three circled lassoes above their heads and
dug the spur-points into their horses sides
until the blood spurted. 1t was a rivalry
OF horsemanship and herding valor. Along
the edge OF the awful precipice the mad
dened steer plunged, the three ambitious
horsemen closely pursuing and awaiting
an advantage. When about two hundred
yards away from the herd. and as the sur
rounding cowboys were about TO utter an
other yell OF announcement, a cry OF de-
structlon and death went heavenward.
The steer and horsemcn disappeared stimuli
tancOuSly.
The party rushed to the point Of look
out on the chasm only to see beneath the
mingled bodies OF dead and dying. While
t5e members stood paTalyZed on the brink,
yet irresolute as 10 what they should do,
Ilughitt was observed springing to his feet.
His horse responded to the release, and the
rider, after some difficulty, mounted. The
twain, by circuitous route, then
slowly climbed back to the mesa. Dismay-
ed by the terrible catastrophe. the cow
boys were still standing benumbed
with dread when the manned man appear
ed among them. Meanwhile a descent
was made into the canon by rescuing par
~. The steer, the cause Of the disaster, es-
capped injury. Green was found almost bu-
ried and dead. He was bruised considera-
bly, and all his limbs were found broken.
Thompson was found dead and fearfully
mutilated. The p0mmel OF his saddle had
completely disembowelled him.
1t was twenty-eight miles to Culbertson
station, and weary nights ride. The
party eScorting 1ughitt never heard q word
OF suffering from his lips. Finally he be-
gan to bleed at the lungs, and a halt was
made TO determine the extent and nature OF
his injuries. He was diSmOunted and eX-
amined Imagine the surprise of the eS-
cOrt when they found that he was MANNED
almost TO death. His collar-bone was
broken, his right arm was fractured in two
places, and from his right side there protIu-
ded two broken ribs. Add to all this the
fact that he was also internally injured,
rs evidenced by the blood vomt. and the
condition of the sufferer can be realized.
Completely worn out by the long journey,
the party arrived at Culbertson about noon
yesterday. When the station hove in sight
the sufferer revived and began to express
hopes of recovery. lie was placed on the
afternoon train arriving at the hour named.
"That is the grittiest man l ever met"
said the cowboy, in rounding of his ac-
count Of the occurrence.