Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-18
CATTLE IN A STAMPEDE.
The Reckless Daring of Cowboys With a
Big Contract on Hand.
Kansas CITY Star


The marketing of its beef is the sole
source from which flows revenue to a
ranch. and the collection and gathering
thereof selecting beeves is the most
scientific part of ranch work-engages
September, October, November and a part
of December of each year. The beef herds,
aggregating 1900 to 5000 head of cattle
each, In charge of an outfit of about ten
men. including the boss" and cook, be-
take themselves to a convenient shipping
point, sometimes 200 to 800 miles distant.
This excursion is slow, and by virtue of
the strength ard spirit of the cattle. as
well as the stormy season of the year, not
unfraught with danger. Stampedes are
the rule rather than the reverse, and some
times are very expensive In their cost from
lost and injured cattle. To this trip are
usually assigned the most skilful and COM
petent of the men.
In former days the drive from Texas,
north through the Indian Territory, had
a special hazard. The Indian was there,
abundant and full of thrift. Nor was it
the aboriginal intent 20 permit herd to
wind It's valuable length across this do
main without tribute The method of tax
collection in vogue with these officials of
savage revenue was simple and complete.
Some dark and quiet night the sleepy
riders out on herd would be astounded by
the spectacle of every one of Their horned
wards springlng to his feet, and pausing
but one brief second to get the general
direction, 60 scampering into the gloom
with great ferver. The cause was easily
found. An Indian had crawled up on an
unguarded flank and tapped a blanket.
A most effective flap, indeed, that pufed
into sudden motion Sl50,000 worth Of
beef by its one small breath.
The sequel of stampede is the re-col-
lection of the herd. From che first jump
of the first steer the cowboy. as dauntless
as Cossack and blindly true to his trust,
goes with the herd. No man ever takes
a more dangerous jaunt The night as
dark as Egypt; the country new and I'M
known; perhaps at any second to 60 leap
ing from a precipice or crashing up
against wall of rock, cattle, terror made
charging on all sides, the certain result
of fall being a crushing by the galioping
hoofs of the herd. Still this American
Arab never hats nor wavers, 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 a stampede
alive is one of he mysteries of the craft,
but they do. As showing these trips not
altogether lacked in safety might add |
never knew a cowboy to achieve ten years
of service without recalling one broken
limb at least and sometimes two or three.
The purpose of the riders in stampede
is, by lying well up and forward ON one
or the other side of the herd, to turn or
stop the cattle. This, even if successful.
is slow, aud is bound to involve a ten mile
run at least. By that time one cause OF
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 devoted to securing the country
and -ounding up the herd again. Here
is where the recreant native who caused
the whole trouble gets in his dusky work.
He presents himself at your camp and
pleasantly proffers his services to help col
lect the renegsdes at dollar head, AS
you are almost sure he has hidden bunch
of hundred or so up some canyon where
no white man can find them, you subdue
your six-shooter, which leaps and throbs
in its scabbard to kill Kim off, and hire
him. The poor Indian, with his fellows,
frequently makes several hundred dollars
out of stampede and saves four or five
of your best steers for personal beef-steak
besides