The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-11-07
CATTLE N srAMPEpE.
The Reckless Daring OF Cowboys with y
big Contract on Hand.

The marketing of its beef is the sole
source from which flows revenue TO
ranch, and the collection and gather
ing thereof--selectiug beeves is tho
most scientific part of ranch work
engages September. October Novem-
ber and part of December of each
year. The beef herds, aggregating
4. 600 to 5000 head of cattle each, Ia
charge of an outfit of about Ten men,
including the ',iiass" and cook. betake
themselves to 4 convenient shipping
point. sometimes 200 10 800 miles dis
taut. This excursion is slow. and by
virtue of the strength and spirit of
the cattle, as we'll as the stormy season
of the year. not unfrnught with danger.
Stampedes are the rule rather than the
reverse, aud sometimes are very ex-
pensiye in their cust from loss and in
jnred cattle. To this trip are usually
assigned the most skilled and compe-
tent of the men.
In former DAYS the drive from Texas.
north through the Indian Territory.
had a special hazard. The Indian was
there, abundant aud full of thrift. Nor
was it the aboriginal intent 10 permit
herd 10 wind lis valuable length
across this domain 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 springing to his feet. and paus-
/ ing but one brief second to get the
general direction. go scampering into
/ the gloom with great fervor. The
/ = l.,Iso.
had crawled up on an unguarded flank
and tapped a blanket. A most eff
fective Hap. indeed. that pulled into
| sudden motion $3.50. 600 worth of beef
by one small breath
The sequel of stampede is the re-
collection of tine herd. From the first
| Jump of the first steer the cowboy, US
4 dauntiess as Cossack and hlindly
true to his trust. goes with the herd.
No man ever takes a more dangerous
jaunt. The night as dark as Egypti
the country new and unknown; per.
haps at any second TO go leaping from
precipice or crashing up against q
wall Of rock; cattle. terror mad.
charging on all sides the certain re.
suit of fall being a crushing by the
galloping hoofs of the herd. Still this
American Arab never halts nor wavers,
but with rein held high and loose. and
| spurs bloody 10 the boot whirls his
half broken broncho through at thirty
miles an hour.
How cattle and men end a stampede
alive is one of the mysteries of the
craft, but they do. As showing These
trips not altogether lacked in safety
might add l never knew a cowboy tC
achieve ten years of service without re
calling one broken limb at least anC
sometimes two or three.
The purpose of the rider. in a STAN
pede is, by lying well up and forward
on one or the other side of the herd. tC
turn or stop the cattle. This. even i
successful. is slow, and is bound to in
yolve a ten mile run ut least. By thai
time one eanse or another has more oil
less split the herd into punches anC
| many of the cattle are lost. The mex
few days and sometimes weeks are de
voted TO securing the country and
rounding up the herd again. Here /.
where the reereant native who causeC
the whole trouble gets in his dusky
work. He presents himself at you
camp and pleasantly proffers his ser
vices 10 help collect the rsnegades at /
dollar head. ~ ,'.i ir,, sure he hai
hidden a bunch OF - up some cauyoI
where no white man can find them
YOU subdue your six-shooter, whiel
leaps and throbs ia its seabbard to xii
him of. and hire him. The poor In
dian. with his fellows. frequently make
several hundred dollars out of n STAN
pede aud saves four or five of your bes
steers for personal beef-steak besides
Kansas Citu Star.