Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-10-06
FUN IN TEXAS.
Some OF the Pleasure, or Sheep-He rdlna
in the Ionc Star State.


Tom Greene County (Tex.l Letterl
1t was in April, and the weather stormy;
inky looking clouds were spreading across
.he al eady Ieaden sky, anl few heavy
drops of rain warned me that l must
hastily pen my 11ck OF sheep, for IL is
almost imposs BILE to move them during a
heavy rain.
was encamped alone on Juniper creek
snd, retiring into my soven by seven
wedge-shnped tent, closed it tightly, aud
prepared for sleep. was very sleepy
from being disturbed the night before by
the constant barking OF my dog as he al
ternately chased and was chased by q
wolf.
The place where I was encampel was
open, with no timber save mesquite trees.
Three OF these grew at three corners of my
tent, and by the aid of them and other
trees ] had cut and dragged, formed
, wind break on the east, which was
the hack of my tent, and on tha south
side. Having confidence in the wind break
thus constructed, / undressed before
lying down, that night rest moro than
could IL should. as caution suggested, lie
down prepared for the worst. The thunder
beloved, the lightning flashed and the
rain FELL in torrents, but about two min
Etes after my head touched the pillow I
was sleeping soundly.
awoks some time In the nirht, and
finding the " ater running into the tent,
got up to open the ditch with my shovel,
and soon went to sleep gain. How long
slept do not know, but awoke to find
the wind had changed from the east to the
south, and the rain, driven with great
force against the side OF the tent, fen
through the strained canvas in such guam
titles that / reached for my oil coat and
spread 1t over me.
The next instant the tent was blown
down, and the storm shrieked with a mad
violence that / have never before wit
messed. The wind blew in gusts, each
gust coming more wildly than the last,
until L felt the mesquite bru 'h or my wind
break pressed between the growing trees
bearing down upon me; and as the storm
increased in violence, 1t seemed that ]
must be swept away.
The tent being wet, it lay fat and
smooth, with the southwest corner peg
still holding. Ciutching my bedding and
oil coat tightly, j braced myself Grmly,
and notwithstanding the great protection
the brush gave me, it was with the great
est difficulty that could retain my posi-
ton. The almost continuous lightning
enabled me to see. With startling rapidity
che wind whipped round 10 the northwest,
and at the same nome at became aware
that the water had overaowed my bed,
and large hail that would weigh from
three to five ounces began to fall, one
striking me on the leg. In great haste /
snatched n thin woollen mattress from
under the wet tent and spread it over ms
for protection, my oil coat having been
torn eff me with the first change in the di-
retion of the storm. By this time had
become wet, and the cold north vino
chilled me thoroughly.
Fortunately the storm abated, and nv
clothing being saved to me by almost a
miracle, I dressed with wet garments, my
teeth chatte; ing. One step brought me to
where my large provision box hal stood,
but 1t was vacant, the box OF provisions
had been blown away, sn1 but two pieces
Of 1t could be found the next day.