Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-27

residence was given. Inc couneiJ VIZ
eled over was mostly high, rolling prai-
rie, with number of small streams Wild
narrow bottoms and bluff banks. ltwas
necessary to lock the wheel or wheels OF
the wagons often and then 60 into Tue
creek to unlock them. 1t made very
disagreeable days travel, having to put
on a picket guard in addition to the reg
ular guard so as to keep lookout from
the top of the high hills surrounding cur
camp.
Camp No. IL was pitched on Sunday,
May 18th. This had been one OF the most
lively and exciting days OF the trip thus
far. Time and space would not permit
full description of all the incidents.
First, there was a company from New
York CITY camped near us, and If there
was corner to be made in half hose or
cotton batting or mouse traps, those fel-
lows might put a Western man to
shame. They would gobble up
all the money the Westerner
had made in coonskins, beeswax and
plaid lineey in whole season in no
time. But when it comes to handling
mules, one Missourian has more senee
than whole train of New Workers.
The first thing l noticed was large,
forid-complexion fellow, | should Judge,
weighing about 200 pounds. He under
took to ride an unbroke mule. The
mule gave few plunges, shaking up the
rider, and then he commenced an old.
fashioned Spanish bucking, and as the
200-pound fellow was on his return
towards Mother Earth from the elevated
hn 1ntc ksx,Aar
going up to give him gentle descent
they met in mid'air, several feet from
the ground, and the concussicn was very
great, and the New Yorker was worsteC
to the extent of a broken shoulder.
The next event was when one
Of the drivers, in turning hi
wagon into the road, broke &
wheel, 60 they were in q fix. They
would probably have sat there until they
could have sent messenger to In
dependence or some other point for {
wheel; but we felt sorry for the city
chaps after one had had such bad lucl
with his mule. So We got some timber
and made some false spokes, and took {
couple of raw-hide lariats and wrapped
them in securely, and they went on theil
way.
Our road wound around the points o
hills bordering the Big Vermilion, CROSS
ing some streams and many gullies an(
deep ravines, and finally we came to tht
main stream. This was deep, with very
high banks. We had to take long ropt
and tie it around the hind axle of {
wagon, and take hitch around tree
and let the wagon down gradually. Aftel
crossing the stream, we assembled a higf
bank on to high ridge Of prairie. Here
we came up to a long train of OK teams
There being but one track, and the,
travelling at about q three .houl
gait and we at about q four-mile- an -houl
gait, it would take long time to pass
and all that time we would have to pull
over the soft ground. After trsvelipl
along behind for some time, and theil
captain showing no disposition to hole
up for few minutes to allow US to pass
we got our five wagons together ant
made rush to pass them at rapid rate
We had. not more than fairly
started before those long whips of the
bullwhackers commenced to sound, anG
if hundred pepper. box pistols had beer
turned on us it would not have mad,
more noise. In less time than it takel
to write it, thirty odd OK teams, with
three to five yoke of cattle, were going g.
breekneck speed. Our boys were sitting
up in their wagons with their lines, stage
fashion. Some of our teams had foul
mules and some six, and the boys hal
good whips and they sent the silk aftel
the leaders; but they all coon became
interested in the race, and had there
been forty Indians and q whole pack ci
wolves after them the little mules would
not have done any better running. And
if you don't think an OK can run when
he gets warmed up to it, you ought to
have been in my place and you would
soon have changed your mind. l was on
my riding mule, and as l ran alongside
of these teams old Buck and Bright and
Brindle and Spot cast glance which
seemed to say, "You think you are very
smart because you can get ahead of US
but those long-eered cattle on those
wagons shall never pass u.s." The high
ridge was passed over, ravines and
broken points we're reached, and still the
race went on; our wagons were forced
over the soft ground and had to jump
the gullies and washes, and it looked az
If everything would 60 to pieces; but the
boys held them level and said, $50 i,
mules, and you shall have good half.
days rest the first grass we find." Some
of the ox.team fellows out with theil
guns and threatened to shoot. They
were met with the word that two could
play at that game. Finally, just
as we reached the point o.
a high bluff where there was nc
show for two wagons to run side
by side, and although all our wagons
were almost to the front, and in anothe,
one-half mile We would have been ahead
in the road, we saw defeat staring US in
the face, for if the front team of cattle
reached that point first our chance waf
cut off, and we could do nothing but
hold up and see that long train file past
US. Team Major Lane was driving one
team, and when he saw the situation he
raised whoop that would have put Q
Comauche Indian to blush, and his team
sprang forward with renewed speed, and
pushed the front cattle out of the road
and his wagon dropped in ahead of the
cx wagon. Just then the off-wheel OK
broke his yoke and the wagon came to q
standstill and our other four wagons
passed over the point of the hill into the
road, ahead of the OK wagon. Such q
telescoping of wagons and oxen as was
caused by the sudden stopping of the
front wagon is not often seen, and we had
all we could do to look after our wagons.
There was f,me shooting out frUm Aev-
eral of the hubs that bid fair to consume
wagon and loading. We had little hope
OF saving the wagon the major was driv.
ing. With liberal supply of water we
got out the fire.. the oraaaa ha;no