The Springdale news., 1889-09-13


 contrary assertion and tho statement that such storms were more or less frequent in the great valley of the Platte as early as 1910.
 On the l7th day of August, 1858 near the mouth of Pole creek, Neb.. the writer was with Government supply train going to Fort Bridger and loaded with corn. We had corraled foI our incoming" and some one hun dred and eighty heal of train cattle and mules were quietly grazing WI ile our men were taking their lunch of boiled bacon and d-tack. The fore noon had been unusually hot and op- pressive even for that season, and both cattle and train men felt tired and OK hausted The cattle had ceased to graze and by two p. m lay down, while most of the men lay beneath the shadow of the great wagons pant ing for breath and engaged in listles5 interchange of opinion upon a subject interesting to plainsmen alone.
 Suddenly there was a noticeable diff ference in the temperature, and the sweltering heat gave place to pufIs Of cool wind coming from the northeast. The sky at this time was cloudlcss and the sun shining as an August sun alone can shine brilliant as the flame of a fiery furnace-yet strange to say during the prevalence of the gusts of wind its rays of heat were scarcely perceptible. 1 was standing without the circle of cor raled wagons converslng with Har- mon, the train-master, who called my attention to the fact and saying at the same time: Bruce. the cattle must be close herded at once, for if l am not mistaken we are going to have blow and l think peelcr. Now, } mark you, he did not say a - t1 <h as we had all <6E~c1uently en- e, tered on 9x1 .As journey, and as led 6p4Yo anxious look upon his
 pes tho difference in the ex- pressions struck me. Why should a gale of wind or a blow so evidently disturb him? We had been together in many such, and as he turned away and with rapid steps entered the llne of wagons somehow l felt as though something more than common was feared by him. Harmon was an old plainsman, had trayerscd the great trails of the Santa Fe, the Republican and the Platte times without number and withal was an observant and cautious man. From an encounter with Indians to an encounter with the elements he was generally to be found on the safe side.
 had stood possibly few moments in reflection when was aroused by an evident commotion among the cattle of the herd. Many of them had risen and were moving restlessly about their heads elevated, snufing the air. and uttering low bellows sounding like the moaning of a distang storm others. stood paving theIoil in a belligerent way. but all Wre on their feet and in motion. TNn I knew dan ger was in the air, aW a sudden thick ening of the atman nhere-not haze, ou, a sins9lSar%oisture. sweltering anu not. .1sa1 Id me that l should be -'-a1aa - ,tions to meet the inn pending stC. itt il come in whatever shape 1t might. 1 was about to hasten 10 the point where my bronco stood tethered by his lariat when l heard Harmon calling me from the corral. l at once hastened to him and found the men busily engaged, under his direc- tion, in anchoring down the heavily loaded freight wagons by such means as lay in their power. | knew that ,a Harmon foresaw something more than an ordinary storm in the now hurry Ing. fleeing clouds that were driving upward from the horizon to the south west Hastily giving me a few words of warning and directions concerning the care of the herd, he detailed six men, who, under my direction. were told to mount and at all hazards hold the cattle near the corral. Il asked: Why not drive and corral the herd?" With a peculiar look he said: Bruce live steer twenty miles away is worth more to us than three dead ones in the corral.p Without any more words hastened with my six men to- ward the cattle, now moving in a rest m3ess, rapid way in a. circle, giving the
 hsrders all they wanted to do to
 By this time one-half of
 to the south Of us was
 huge masses of deep
 |ack, surging clouds.
 bling like the pillows
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