Wichita eagle., 1886-10-22
9ai1S Eao1e
ASTORM IN TEXAS.
One oe tho Pleasures Of Shcerherder's
Life-A Bad Night Out.

Ono oe tho Pleasures of a sAeerherder's
Life-A Bad Night Out.
1t was in April, and the weather was
stormy, inky-looking clouds were spread
ing across the already leaden Sky, and
few heavy drops of rain warned me that
must hastily pen my flock Of sheep, for 1t
Is almost impossible to move them during
a heavy rain l was encamped alone on
Juniper creek and: retiring into my by7
wedge-shaped tent, closed it tightly, and
prepared for s'eep. l was very sleepy
from being disturbed the night before by
the constant barking of my dog as he
alternately chased and was chased by
wolf
The place where l was encamped was
open with no timber save mesquit trees.
Three OF these grew at the three corners
of my tent, and by the aid of them and
other trees i had cut and dragged, l
formed a wind break on the east, which
was the back OF my tent, and on the south
side. Having confidence in the wind
break thus constructed, L undressed be-
fore lying down, that l might rest more
than could if l should as caution sag
gested. lie down prepared for the worst.
The thun1er beloved, the lightning
flashed, and the rain fell in torrents, but
abo;,t two minutes after my head touched
the pillow | was sleeping soundly.
1awoile some time in the night, and
finding the water running into the tent, l
got up to open the ditch with my shovel,
and soon went to sleep again. How long
slept do not know, bat awokc 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, fell
through the strained canvass in such guam
titles that 1 reached for my oil coat and
spread it over me.
She next instant The tent was blown
down, and the storm shrieked with a mad
violence that | never before witnessed.
The wind blew in gusts, each gust coming
more lively than the last, until / felt the
mesqut brush Of nay wind break pressed
between the growing trees bearing down
upon me; and as the storm increased in
violence, it seemed that | must be swept
away.
The tent being wet, it lay fat and
smooth with the southwest corner peg
still holding. Clutching my bedding and
oil coat tightly, | braced myself firmly,
and Notwithstanding the great protection
the brush gave me, it was with the great
est difficulty that / could retain n1y posi-
ton. The almost continuous lightning
enabled me 10 see. With startling rapit-
ity the wind whipped round to the north
west, and at the same moment / bccaIne
aware that the water had oyeriiOWel my
bed, and large hail that would weigh from
three TO five ounces began to fall, one
striking me on the left leg. Ia great haste
/ snatched q thin W0olen mattress from
under the wet tent and spread it over me
for protection, my oil coat having been
torn of lne with the first change in the d.
rection OF the storm. b. this time had
become wet, and the cold north wind
chilled me thoroughly.
Fortunately the storm a6atel, and my
clothing being saved to me almost by IL
miracle, dressed with wet garments, my
teeth cEattering. One step brought me
to where my large provision box had
stood, but it was vacant, the box OF pro
visions had been blown away, and but
two pieces OF it could be found the next
day.-iom Green County (TeX.) Cor. New
York Sun.