Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-10-31
"A STAMPEDE OF CATTLE
A WILD RACE IN THE DARKNESS
WITH A HERD OF 1,7Oo.

A Tenderfoot's Thrilling Experience on
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 LOO head of the finest
steers to be found on the banks of the
muddy Pecos, in New Mexico Two days
later the "hoss" rode into camp, consulted
with his foreman, n 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 decideddisposition
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 q
little elevation about a half mile away.
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. "Mountl
mount every one 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 o~vertaken, and in obedience to
the foreman's yell l strove to 'get in front
of 'em."
The confusion of the scene was lndescrib-
able. The terrified shorts Of the cattle
were almost drowned by the clashing of
horns, thunder of the hoofs and shouts of
the men. My 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, / knew that a misstep of nv
horse sufficient to throw me or his fall
meant that | would be cut to pieces by tie
sharp hoofs of the cattle.
Then an unexpected event occurred. The
herd divided into two sections, one of
which 1 was the sole leader of, while the
other portion galloped off at right angles,
led by my two companions. For a few
minutes ] could heal their shouts. then
they grew fainter and fainter, and were
finally lost in the gallop Of boots 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 | was wet to the skin
and nunabed by the cool air 1 thought
the sound of hoofs was not so d%eafening,
and as the clouds blew away so that | could
see u few yards in front of me I found that
/ 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 of
steers out of 1,70OP Riding off a few yards
! listened, hut could hear no sound of nv
companions. Becoming conscious of a Sc
we're pain in my left foot | reached down
and found that l was literally pincush-
Toned with the sharp needles of a cactus.
having ridden through Il 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 no
effort to overtake them. knowing the use
lessness of the undertaking.
THE HORSE FAILED HIM.
Here was u predicament. In the middle
OF the prairie, shoeless and shivering with
cold, not knowing in what direction to 70
to reach camp, and my horse blown with
his fearful run. Knowing the instinct Of
horses, | dropped the bride reins and sui.
fered him to 20 where he would.
He promptly wheeled around and start
ed off on a slow trot, which he kept up for
about fifteen minutes. | knew we were
camped on the bank of the river, and sur.
posed that he would go in that direction.
but wishing to test his instinct | turned
him from his chosen course, and to nv dis
may he 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 lust as
willingly.
lgave up in despair then. and concluded
to keep him moving until daylight, when
knew ! could find the river. On he trotted,
while l began to curse the fate that ever
led me to become a COW puncher. After
riding, l should Judge, al hour / was de-.
lighted to find myself ON the river bank:
but then a new question arose, Was the
camp before me or behind me? Again /
tested the horse. He would go up or down,
Just III pleased. 1 peered through the
darkness trying to look for anything that
, might serve as a guide, when afar of in
the distance l saw a faint light which grew
to a tiny blaze and then died out, Where
there was a light there must be life. and
with renewed hope ! galloped off in that
direction, and about ten minutes later had
the satisfaction of seeing the canvas top of
the mess wagon looming up before me.
We were the only two of the outfit who
reached camp that night. The others, like
myself, had chased the cattle until thew
scattered. and had spent the night in a
vain search for camp. Daylight found
many of them travelling in AZ, entirely on.
posite direction, and one nearly ten miles
from his destination.
Messengers were dispatched to II ranch
". ~~-~-- ALL 49,