The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-10-24
CATTLE IN
The Reckless Daring of Cowboys with q
Big Contract on Hand.

The marketing of its beef is the sole
source from which flows revenue to a
ranch. and the collection and gather
ing misunderstanding beeves is The
most scientific part of ranch work
engages September, October, Novcm-
Der and q part of December of each
year. The beef herds, aggrosating
1000 to 5000 head of cattle each, in
charge of an outfit of about ten men,
including the 'boss" and cook, betake
themselves TO a convenient shipping
point. sometimes 200 to 800 miles dis
tant. This excursion is slow. and by
virtue of the strength and spirit of
the cattle. as we'll us the stormy season
of the year, not unfraught with danger.
Stampedes are the rule rather than the
reverse, and sometimes are very ex-
pensive in their cost from loss and in
jured cattle. To this trip are usually
assigned the most skilled aud comps-
tent of the men.
In former days the drive from Texas,
north through the Indian Territory.
had Il special hazard. The indian was
there, abundant and full of thrift. Nor
was it the aboriginal intent to permit
II herd to wind its valuable length
acros this domain without tribute.
The method of tax collection in vogue
with these officials of savage revenue
was simple and complete. Some dark
aud quiet night the sleepy riders out
on herd would be astounded by the
spectacle of every one of their horned
wards s%pringing to his feet. and paus.
ing but one brief second to get the
general direction, go scampering into
the gloom with great fervor. The
cause was easily found. An Indian
had crawled up on an unguarded flank
aud tapped n blanket. A most eff
fective Hap, indeed. that pulled into
sudden motion $3.50. 900 worth of beef
by one small breath.
The sequel of a stampede is the re-
collection of the herd. From the first
jump Of the first steer the cowboy, as
dauntiess MS a Cossaek and blindly
true to his trust, goes with the herd.
No mat ever takes n mote dangerous
jaunt. The night as dark as Egypt:
the country new and unknown; per-
haps at any second to go leaping from
a precipice or crashing tip against a
wall bf rock; cattle. tetrot-mad,
charging on all sides, the certain re-
suit of Il fall being Il crushing by the
%galloping l,oofs of the herd. Still this
American Arab never hults nor waivers,
but with rein held high and loose. and
spurs bloody to the boot. whirls his
half broken broncho through at thirty
miles an hour.
How cattle and men end n stampede
alive is II of the mysteries of the
craft, but they do. As showing these
trips not altogether lacked in safety I
might add l never knew a cowboy to
achieve ten years of service without re-
calling one broken limb ut least and
sometimes two or three.
The purpose of the rider. in n STAN
pede is. by lying well up and forward
on one ar the other side Of the herd. to
urn or stop the cattle. This, ever if
successful, is slow, and is bound to in
volve a ten mile run Mt 1east. By that
time one cause or another has more or
less split the herd into punches and
many of the cattle are lost. The next
few days and sometimes weeks are de-
voted to securing the country and
rounding up the herd again. Here is
where the recreant native who caused
the whole trouble gets in his dusky
work. He presents himself ut Your
camp and pleasantly protfers his ser.
vices to help collect the renegades Mt a
dollar a head. AS you are sure Tic has
hidden d bunch or so up some canyon
where no white iran can find them.
you subdue your six-shooter', which
leaps and throbs in its scabbarl to kill
him off. and hire him. The poor In
dian, with his fellows. frequently makes
several hundred dollars out of II stam-
pede and saves four Or five of you1l. best
steers for personal beef-steak besides.
Kansas City Star.