Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-09-17
Racing on n Narrow Plank.

A gentleman who came in on the
Northern Pacific road yesterday adds
another TO the list of startling .cowboy
stories OF the wild west" that is en-
titled to rank with any of the novel
performances OF these daredevil per-
formances - which the world has
heard herc,, fore. When the train
stopped at Mrdora. the headquarters
of the Marquis do Mores and Theodore
Roosevelt, some ten or dozen cow
boys, mounted on their typical horses
OF the plains. were cutting all kinds Of
caperS and giving 4 sort of free show
for the editicaiion and amusement of
the citizens and passengers. They
We're putting tho horses through reck-
less evolutionS and maneuvers, giving
an exhibition of equcstriani>m that as
tonshed the icnGerfcet on board the
train. The boys had just come in
from roundup, and were flush with
money, and considerably flushed with
Dakota tang.efoot The railroad
bridge which spans the Little Missouri
river at this point is ut least one hum
drod feet above the surface OF the wa
ter. To enable footmcn to cross a
narrow plank walk, not more than two
feet wide, is laid along on the ties from
shore TO shore in the confer of the
bridge 1t requircs steady nerve for
man to make the trip successfully with
out losing his balance and falling
through between the ties into the river
below, which, of course, would mean
certain death. Two of tho COWBOYS,
more reckless than their companions,
rode their horses up the track at a
rapid gait. and then, in single file,
dashed on to the bridge and made for the
other side, flying along on tho narrow
plank walk just rs if they were racing
across the prairie after an obstropcrous
bovine.
The spectators were thrilled with
horror, and expected to see the two
daring men dashed to death at every
jump tho horses made. The riders
yelled yociferously, and rode with the
same easy confidence they always dis
play when at home upon the plains.
One of them was somewhat in advance
OF the other, and the passengers were
astonlshcd and their suspense greatly
relieved when he reached the other
side safely and gave vent to a regular
yell of triumph. But his companion
was not so lucky. He was within
thirty yards of the end of the bridge
going at full speed-when his horse
stumbled. The rider was seen to sway
TO aud fro for few seconds, and to
make desperate attempt to pull the
an mai on its feet again, and then both
went down in a heap. The crowd of
iookcrS-on with one impulse gave vent
to cry of terror. and number of
people started out on the bridge to
render assistance to the unfortunate
fellow. But almost Immediately the
fallen cowboy arose. helped the horse
upon its feet in some miraculous way,
mounted. aud cleared the remaining
space with a rush, yelling like demon
aS nc Jew down the track on the other
Side, in hot pursuit of his companion,
who was almost out of sight and run
ming rs if he were trying to get out of
the way Of q cyclone. II horse or
rider was injured, neither showed
signs OF it from the distance that intex-
| vened. The cowboy must have had the
skin scraped oil his shanks al any rate.
Evidently the horse fell over on its side
on the board walk and managed to
keep its legs free from the spaces be-
tween the ties, thus saving itself from
serious injury. 1t was one OF the most
fooihar,iy feats on record. ST Idul
| Pioneer fseSS