Nevada County picayune., 1889-09-18
CAUGHT BY A CYCLONE.
Experience of Government
 Teamster in Nebraska
The Ny sterious Twisters Were as Terrible Thirty Years Ago as Now-The Cath srInR Storm-A Sublime Spec
 tacle The Stampede.

 tation In Southeastern and Central Kansas, the appropriate question arises Was it ever thusP' An ex- perlence of some thirty years upon the great central plains and an intimate knowledge of the country from the Yellowstone to the Staked Plains, north and south, and from the Mis- souri to the Bear River valley of Utah, entities the writer to advance an opin- ion in tho premises. Close observa- tiou oi elementary or natural condi- tions and an intimate association with them naturally leads one to certain amount of inquiry and investigation, especially when this association im- periled life and oftener pecuniary in. terest. It has been asserted by many writers and some savants that cyclonio storms are but of recent birth or crea- tion, and were comparatively un' known on the Western borders up to period of late years--say within quarter of a century. Personal ex- perience and observation induces a contrary assertion and the statement that such storms were more or less frequent In the great valley of the Platte as early as l840.
 On the l7th day of August, 1858, near the mouth of Pole creek, Neb, the writer was with a Government supply train going to Fort Bridger and loaded with corn. We had corraled for our "nooning," and some one hum dred and eighty head of train cattle and mules were quietly grazing while our men were taking their lunch Of boiled bacon and hard-tack. The fore noon had been unusually hot and op. pressive even for that season, and both cattle and train men felt tired and ex. hausted. The cattle had ceased to graze and by two ?. m lay down. while most of the men lay beneath the shadow of the great wagons pant ing for breath and engaged in listless 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 pufs oi cool wind coming from the northeast The sky at this time was cloudless and the sun shining as au August sur alone can shine-brillian as the flame of a fiery turnace-yet strange to say during the prevalence Of the @f l,A tta nf were scarcely perceptible. was standing without the circle of cor raled wagons conversing with liar mon, the train master, who called ny attention to the fact and saying at the same tirnei Bruce, tho cattle must be close herded at once, for If am net mistaken we are going to have 8 blow. and think 'peeler. Now. mark you, he did not say storm, V such as we had all frequently en- oountered op our long journey, and as 1 noticed the anxious look upon his features the difference in the ex- p-essions struck pe. Why should a gale of wind or blow" so evidently disturb himp We had been together in many such. and as he turned away and with rapid steps entered the line of wagons somehow l felt as though something more than common was feared by him Harmon was an old plalnsman. had traversed the great trails of the Sspta 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 clements ho was generally to be found on the safe side.
 had stood possibly few moments iu reflection when l was aroused by an evident commotion among the cattle of the herd. Many of them had risen and were moving restlossly about, their heads elevated, snufflng the air. and uttering low bellows-sounding like the moaning of distant storm others stood paving tho soil in a belligercnt way, but all wero on their feet and in motion. Then knew dan ger was in the air, and a sudden thick ening of the atmosphere-not haze, but singular moisture, sweltering and hot-warncd me that l should be making preparations to meet the inn pending storm, let 1t come in whatever shape 1t might. was about to hasten to the point where my bronco stood tethered by his lariat when l heard Harmon calling mo from the corral l at once hastened to him and found the men busily engaged, under his direc- :ion. in ancboring down the heavily loaded freight wagons by such means as lay in their power, l know that 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 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 l asked: Why not drive and corral the herdp' With peculiar look he said: Bruce,