The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-05-21

you what you do, Sarge, you slip over Z
the rancho, see who Is there and II thu
coast Is clear, strike o trade with the ole
man-sorter get him to keep the eacks fol
us, yJu know, till we call for EN-"
So with many misgivipgs l venturec
over aud found the coast clear, and the ole
Frenchman on the lookout, evidently ex
pecting a cargo 10 arrive. There WAS nc
one else there, except his old Snake squaw
whom he called his wife, 90 we soon STRUCK
a trade. l was compelled, however, 10 le
him into the secret and give him q hand
some margin to keep mum"
The -four was soon delivered and We
had $4Oin cash and a plug Of tobacco each
The money was q sort Of security for the
safe keeping OF the goods until we shoult
call for them. We soon slipped back tc
camp, and the next day 1t was amusing tt
see Finn and q certain commissary ser
geant sn.aking around camp evidently
expecting to be arrested every minute
Our consciences were seothed by the fac
that Finn and the sergeant never stole any
more -four from Uncle Sam.
Antelope hunting is fine sport, but it re
quires q vast amount OF patience and skill
to caft1re these timid animals. There were
plenty OF them running in herds all over
the plains near Julesburg, and we killed 9
great many OF them. Two or three men
would 20 in squads and take a guidon OIL
company flag along. This was used &c
draw them in range OF OUT guns. They
have q great deal OF curiosity and will ex.
anime everything strange to them. When
we come in sight Of a herd, the flagstaff ID
stuck iu the ground and we lay fiat on the
ground and await their coming-sometimee
for hours before they will be attracted by
1t. AS soon as they notice the flag, even a
mile away, they will at once commence to
move around 1t, each time bringing them
nearer, until within shooting distance,
when by u well directed fire several are
sometimes killed at once. But we some
times shot at them at long range, raising
our sights to n thousand yards, but very
seldom brought down our game.
Here we again suifereda disastrous stam-
pede which came near ~dismounting tue
whole command. We had stretched cable
or picket line along several large posts, to
which our ponies and mules were tied.
0ae morning after roll call, while breakfast
was being prepared. q small black cloud
appeared in the west, at first no larger than
a mans hand, but in ten minutes it spread
all over the face OF the heavens and before
our ''slap JACKS were fried We saw a com.
motion oil the waters up the river and soon
a hail storm was upon US. Aud such hail
We took refuge in our tents, but ina mo
ment great hail stones, as large Us goose
eggs, came down and perforated our rotten
tents like grape and canister. Wecovered
our heads with saddles and boxes or any
thing which could afford protection. For a
moment it seemed like God was angry and
had opened the batteries Of heaven upon
us. Several men who had failed to reach
shelter in time, were knocked down and
badly injured.
OF course, no horse or mule would stand
still and be- pelted 10 death and as the fury
OF thestorm increased hundreds broke their
.fastenipgs and commenced to rush fran
tically through camp, lodging, kicking and
tearing down tents, leaving the boys ex.
posed to the dreadful hail which now came
down in all its fury. Other ponies who
failed to break loose, turned their tails to
the storm and played base ball with their
heels.
Our herd had nearly all succeeded in
breaking loose and were now joined by
others belonging to trains in camp near
US. They got into a"nill" that is, they
commenced crowding each other and run
ming round and round and all pressing
toward the ceatre. The storm only lasted
a few moments aud all this occurred in
that time. But just as the storm abated
and the hail ceased to come down upon
US, the "mill" was broken by an old mule
leaving the herd and dashing away, down
the valley. He WAS instantly followed by
another, then more, and the next minute
all were sweeping down the plain and the
camp was cleared. But we only have time
to draw a long breath when we see them
circle around and come pell nell, right
down on the camp like u whirlwind.
ITO be. continually