Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-10-31
A THRILLING EPISODE OF THE
BRANDING SEASON.


struggles and antics Of the calf undet
its first roping and the nervou
activity OF few broncho and timiC
heifers, with an occasional motherly
old COW that is concerned about he
progeny when passing the ordeal o.
the branding iron.
While vicious and dangerous acts O.
cattle do not often materialize, sucl
was not the outcome at an annua
branding down in the Central Noun
tains district. Courage is a peculiar
quantity at times, and still it is not
necessarily less courage in a reputable
human il IN some unexpected moment
he should be overwhelmed witha shocb
Of sudden danger, whether in the COW
pen or battle field.
AS brave and slSillful pair of cow.
boys aseyer rode range will be known a.
Tony Winters and Johnny Lumpkin.
the heroes Of recent thrilling ex-
perience.
An ordinary mild hammered heifer
brute is the primary factor in this
story With her calf, she, among
other cows and calves, had been driven
a considerable distance. So long as
the drive kept the trail to her usual
watering place she eyinced neither
concern or disposition to drop out of
Tie bunch, and moved along orderly.
When it came to leaving the first trail
leading to water and head for the
corral, further on, there was at once a
general wobbling and disposition to
drop out and scatter. a few old cows
made philosophical by discipline read
lily recognized what was expected Of
them and proceeded well enough.
while many of the young COWS, not
well educated to the drive or perverse
from example, persisted in their efforts
TO break out, requiring the combined
skill and horsemanship of the three
men having the drive in hand to keep
the bunch together and in motion.
Especially was this the case respect
the orderly and mild hammered heifer
first mentioned. She would as often
as turned back alternately swith off to
the right and left, head for the near
est chapparal and bush, then run into
some abrupt gulch or scaInper ND the
steep and rocky hillsides, sweeping
around flcct-footed as an antelope TO
the back trail, until both horse and
rider became weary and patience
tried with her stolid peryerseness.
She was finally corralled with the rest
of the herd. In the pen she became
living Illustration OF fear aud vicious
ness, cyiHced in wild eyes, expanded
nostrils and sullen poise, restless
searching for loophole Of escape and
a desperate sGorting and paving The
ground when The mounted man enter
ed the enclosure,
Not much thought was given to this
only Il little more intanse
than that many other bovine mad
shown oft before without serious
finale, and branding was proceeded
with as usual, one man roping from
his horse and dragging into the side
corral or annex, another casing and
tying while third banded, ear mark
ed and castrated.
Winters, to whom had besn assigned
tke work Of branding, had occasion to
step into the main corral at the mo-
lnent the lasso had been thrown.
and which latter naturally had caused
a commotion among the cattle. AS it
they headed with rush
toward him; he gave but little atten-
tion, taking it for granted that they
would pass him to one side, as ordi-
narily they would have done. Not so,
however with our mild-mannered and |
orderly bessie, which by this time. un-
der the turmoil incident to roping,
lad become more frantic and furious |
than ever. Seeing the man on foot
rom little distance she bounded for |
aim like bull in a ring fight, with,
glowing eyes and frothing mouth,
md lowering head and lashing tail.
rony had only discovered the vicious
intent Of the mad animal when near
y upon him, and for the nonce he be-
anne completely paralyzed with sur
Prise. To use his own words: II felt
ny strength giving way, the iron in
ny hand fell to the ground, 10Y heart
eemed to stop beating, my blood
chilled and my hair seemed raising on
'Hd. With the enraged beast nearly
within touching distance l had become
j living statue, without power to move
II speak, and possessed with the horror
hat was hopeiessly in the presence
he presence of death. This, all in
less time than it takes to
elate it, ended in powerful Jerking
ensation, and / tumbled upon the
round senseless."
When after a time Consciousness had
'een restored he found himself laying
n a corner Of the corral, with his com
ades about him.. He then learned
hat Lumpkin, fortunately with rope n
eady In hand had been quick to
,oticp. b0th the npriT that bbtef hin,