Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-10-24
A STAMPEDE OF CATTLE.
A WILD RACE IN THE DARKNESS
WITH A HERD OF 100.

the Plains Of New Mexico-Riding at
Breakneck Speed and Only Half Clad.
The Horse Instinct Tested.
After weeks of rounding up cutting
out" branding and marking we had
gotten together l,7OO head of the finest
steers to be found on the banks of the
muddy Pecos, in New Mexico. Two days
later the "boss" rode into camp, consulted
with his foreman, and eight men, includ-
ing the writer, were chosen to drive the
snorting, believing herd to Springer. N. NJ.
a distance of $50 miles.
The evening of the sixth day was cloudy
and cool, and indications of an approach.
ing storm were visible.
The writer was on first guard. The cattle
were restless, showing a decided disposition
to run, and instead of walking our horses
around the herd we were compelled to
travel at asharp trot. This continued until
the arrival of the second guard, when the
increased forces succeeded in quieting them
somewhat, and the writer and his mate
started for camp guided by the light of the
camp fire, which shone like a star on a
little elevation about a half mile away.
S" THE ALARM.
We had scarcely turned into our blan.
kets, fully dressed, as usual, with the ex-
ceptiOn OF our boots, when a rumble and
shaking of the ground was heard. mingled
with hoarse shouts.
"They're runningl" yelled the foreman,
jumping from his blankets. Mount!
mount every n of you'll" running to his
horse as he spoke, which was picketed a
short distance away.
Not waiting to don boots the writer
sprang to his horse, vaulted into the sad
die and tore off after the foreman, the
Pickering light of the camp fire, fast being
extinguished by the rain, revealing the re-
naming men hurriedly preparing to follow.
Guided by the thunder of hoofs the herd
was soon overtaken, and in obedience to
the foreman's yell I strove to ''get in front
of 'em."
The confusion of the scene was indescrib-
able. The terrified snorts of the cattle
were almost drowned by the clashing of
horns, thunder Of the hoofs and shouts of
the men. Ny oil coat was strapped to my
saddle, not having had time to unfasten it.
l tore at the leather straps, succeeded in
loosening them, and turning in my saddle
shook it before the leaders. adding my
shouts to the din around me.
As we'll try to stopthe torrent of Niagara.
The wild race was unslackened, and, from
traditions, l knew that a misstep of my
horse sufficient to throw me or his fall
meant that I would be cut to pieces by the
sharp hoofs of the cattle.
Then an unexpected event occurred. The
herd divided into two sections, one OF
which ! was the sole leader of, while the
other portion galloped off at right angles,
led by my two companions. For a few
minutes l could hear their shouts, then
they grew fainter and fainter, and were
finally lost in the gallop of hoofs around
me.
On we %thundered. My throat was raw
and swollen from shouting, and my
"slicker" had fallen from my hand. The
rain had ceased, but I was wet to the skin
and numbed by the cool air | thought
the sound Of hoofs was not so deafening,
and as the clouds blew away so that l could
see a few yards in front of me | found that
l was leading about a dozen steers that
had become separated from the herd.
had just made this discovery when they
slackened speed and finally stopped, pant
ing and quivering, all the run knocked out
of them. OF what use was a handful oil
steers out of l,7OOl Riding off a few yards
l listened, but could hear no sound of my
companions. Becoming conscious of a SO.
we're pain in my left foot | reached down
and found that ! was literally pincush
toned with the sharp needles of a cactus,
having ridden through a bed of the prickly
stuff, my foot unprotected by boots.
In the excitement of the run | had not
felt it, but now the pain was intense.
plucked such as l could and then deliber.
ated what was best to do. My lone dozen
steers had wandered away and l made nc
effort to cvertake them, knowing the use.
lessness of the undertaking.
THE HORSE FAILED HIM.
Here was a predicament. In the middle
of the prairie, shoeless and shivering with
cold, not knowing in what direction to 20
to reach camp. and my horse blown with
his fearful un. Knowing the instinct OF
horses, | dropped the bride reins and suf
fered him to go where he would.
He promptly wheeled around and start.
ed off on a slow trot, which he kept up fo1
about fifteen minutes. | knew we were
camped on the bank Of the river, and sup.
posed that be would go in that direction,
but wishing to test his instinct | turned
him from his chosen course, and to my dis.
may be complied and started off in the
new direction just as willingly. tested
him from every point of the compass, and
he seemed to go in any direction Just az
willingly.
gave up in despair then. and concluded
to keep him moving until daylight, when
knew l could find the river. On he trotted
while l began to curse the fate that evel
led me to become a COW puncher. Aftel
riding, l should judge, an hour | was de
lighted to find myself on the river bank
but then a new question arose, Was thu
camp before me or behind met Again
tested the horse. He would go up or down
just as ! pleased. 1 peered through The
darkness trying to look for anything thai
might serve as a guide, when afar off IL
the distance l saw a faint Light which grew
to a tiny blaze and then died out. Wher
there was a light there must be life, ant
with renewed hope l galloped off in tina,
direction, and about ten minutes later hai
the satisfaction of seeing the canvas top O
the mess wagon looming up before me.
We were the only two of the outfit who
reached camp that night. The others, lik'
myself, had chased the cattle until the,
scattered, and had spent the night in &
vain search for camp. Daylight fount
many Of them travelling in an entirely op
posite direction, and one nearly ten mile
from his destination.
Messengers were dispatched to a ranch
across the river and to another invent.
miles away. Men were sent to our assist