The Southern herald., 1886-03-13
6TRUCK a &c dAME.
How the Cowboys Amused Theme
selves During Gold Spell
Remarkable variety Of Ssws from ~
SNOW Buried Ranches Capital
ists Find Smart Luneh-coun-
ter Man in = Frontier Town.
TDenver t0Ol.) special \. 7. san.I


communication with their foFemen and
bosses kept the wires hot for few days.
It was feared that the losses by reason q
the cold weather would be very great, but
nobody was prepared for such reports as
were received from a few ranches. One
capitalist, Mr.. Durell, who prides himself
on his ability to ascertain by wire every
morning and evening exactly how matters
stand on the ranch, received d telegraInO on
the day that the storm began, notifying
him that the biggest blizzard ever expert
enced in the West was raging and that
while his cattle were all right there wers
reports that those of several other owners
near by were in a terrible condition. Put
ting the message in his pocket the owner
sailed forth to commiserate with his
neighbors, and when be found them he
communicated the news only TO belaughed
at, and messages were shown to him say
ing that things were all right with every
body's cattle except his own.
Thinking on these things the cattle man
meandered back to his office and sent this
message to his foreman at Las Animas;
Reports up here as to condition Of range
sources that our stock bad shape Tele-
graph full particulars.
He received no answer that day nor tho
next, and, as the wires were down, nobody
had any information to convey. On tho
third day, the weather being terribly cold,
but the storm having subsidized, the follow
ing kilograms were placed on the desk Of
the capitalist:
Snow ten feet deep all over the range.
Wind blowing horns off Of cattle. Coldest
ever seen. Have two men frozen and six
others out. Cattle all o. K.
Been out all morning. Had horse frozen.
Found things first class.
Never saw cattle stand IL better. In flno
condition to begin with. Don't worry abOut
our stock. Understand that McHenry win
have loss of forty per cent. y
Getting colder. Froze liquor In boys jugs
last night. Some of Henderson's stock COM
mltting suicide on railroad track
The capitalist sent his congratulations, !
instructing the boss to spare neither pains
nor expense to keep everything in as good
shape as possible, and asked for frequent
reports until the storm was over Then,
going over to McHenry's Office, Mr.. DureI
read this from the foreman Of that gentle-
mans ranch:
Never seen anything like this since was
| in the Big Horn range. Thermometer out az
sight, and everything froze stiff. More'n two
| hundred of our COWS blown off their feet
last night, but helped them up myself. Not
head lost yet. Durell and Henderson
losing big.
A comparison of notes led to confer
ence Of several of the gentlemen having
property interests in the southeastern part
Of the Territory, and an agreement that
McHenry should go down to Las Animas
and report on the situation. He left
quietly, and nothing was heard Of him for
two days. At length Durell received .
telegram saying; aE
Can't find any sign of boys. None been
here in q week or more. Afraid they are
frozen to death. 6
This information caused everybody TO
regret the suspicious that had been cher
ished and all hands Joined in q dispatch to
McHenry instructing him to reward the
lads faithfully il found. That afternoon
each received two or three kilograms from
his foreman in about the same strain as
those above quoted, and, going over TO
McHenry's office, it was found that the
kilograms were still coming to him also. A
further consultation ended In the trans
mission of telegram to McHenry inform
ing him that the dispatches were still COM
ing, and that he had better make pretty
close examination Of the telegraph Office
and the town. In reply to this came these
few words:
Have struck the biggest poker game ever
played.
Just what this meant nobody knew. Nc
Henry was known to enjoy hand al
poker once in while, and as 1t was feared
that he might have been led of, Durell
concluded to go down to the front and find
out what the situation was. The second
day after his departure Henderson,
received dispatch from him saying;
True about poker game.
That set Henderson to thinking, and
the more he thought the madder he grew
Then he telegraphed McHenry, Durell and
his boss in the savagest way he knew how
for particulars, fumed around for awhile,
looked at his watch, saw that be had
time to catch the train, and started himself
, for Las Animas.
, On reaching Las Animas, McHenry 20
first could find no stockmen, and he
feared that the boys had been and stin
. were having terrible time out on the
range. After he had autographed soms-
thing home to that effect, he looked the
town over, and, on receiving q hint
' found his way into hall, where about
all the cattlemen in that region had gath
a cred to speculate on the value Of their
|. cards. The audience and the players grew
In numbers as the severity Of weather in-
J. creased, and so great was the interest
' that an enterprising restaurant man
: opened upa lunch counter In the room
/ so that no adjournment was necessary
|. When one man stepped out another took
/. his place, and the side bets were lively
{ all the time. AcHenry found all Of his
4 men, as well as those Of his friends,
. there, and came near getting mad at iEst,
' but was persuaded to try his luck.
r When Durell appeared and announeea
o that all the owners were coming down, i
!. was decided that II was time 10 quit, and
i the game broke up after having run day
\ and night for eleven days. By the time
o Henderson arrived all hands had scat
tered. .s A