Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-11-21
A STAMPEDE OF CATTLE
. WILD RACE IN THE DARKNESS
WITH a HERD OF 1900.

WITH a HERD OF 1900.
~ Tenderfoot's Thrilling Experience on
the Plains of Now Mexico-Ridins al
Breakneck Speed and Only Half Clad.
The Horse Instinct Tested.
After weeks of rounding up" Quitting
ont" 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 "boss" rode into camp, consulted
with his foreman, and eight men, includ-
ing the writer, were chosen to drive the
snortng, believing herd to Springer. N. M,
assistance 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 decided disposition
1Yto run, and instead Of walking our horses
q around the herd we were compelled to
travel at q sharp trot. This continued until
b 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.
H ALARM.
We had scarcely turned nto our blan.
kets, fully dressed, as usual, with the OK
ception of u boots, when a rumble and
shaking of the ground was heard, mingled
with hoarse shouts.
lneyre runnlng!' yelled the foreman,
Jumping from his blankets. Mount
-I Yn011nft avarv cno ~ roy,f ~ r,,~-;-,A ~ L..
horse as he spoke, which wa picketed a
short distance away.
Not waiting to don boots the writer
sprang to his horse, vaulted into the sad
die n tore off after the foreman, the
Pickering light of the camp fire, fast being
extinguished by the rain, revealing the re-
manning 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 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.
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 well try to stopthe torrent Of Niagara,
The wild race was unslackened, and, from
traditions, l knew that a misstep Of nv
horse sufficient to throw me or his fall
meant that / would be cut to pieces by the
sharp hoofs of the cattle.
Then an unexpected event occurred. The
4 herd divided into two sections, one of
sH Dhioh T xvoo %h1 ro1o laoJ.- - y.
other portion galloped off at right angles,
led by my two companions. For a few
II minutes ] could hear their shouts, then
they grew fainter and fainter, and were
finally lost in the gallop of hoofs around
~ me-.
On we Numbered. My throat was raw
and swollen from shouting, and my
"siicker" had fallen from my hand. The
rain had ceased, but l was wet to the skin
and .numbed by the cool air. | thought
the sound OF hoofs was not so d%eafening,
aLsaas the cloud blew away so hat l could
see q 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 1,700f Riding off a few yards
listened, but could hear no sound of nv
companions. Becoming conscious of Il Sc
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 1t, but now the pain was intense. !
plucked such as ! 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.
l~essness of the undertaking.
=l 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 run. Knowing the instinct of
horses, | dropped the bride reins inc suf-
III fered him to go where he would.
He promptly wheeled around and start
i ed off on a slow trot, which he kept up for
about fifteen minutes. | knew we were
3g camped on the bank of the river, and sup.
posed that he would go in that direction,
but wishing to test his instinct | turned
him from his chosen course, and to my 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 just as
willingly,
gave up in despair then, and concluded
TO keep him moving until daylight, when
knew Icould find the river. On he trotted,
while l began to curse the fate that ever
led me to become a COW puncher. After
riding, | should Judge. an hour | was de-
lighted to find myself on the river bank;
" but then a new question arose, Was tho
camp before me or behind mel Again l
tested the horse. He would go up or down,
Just as pleased l peered through tho
darkness trying to look for anything that
might serve as a guide, when afar Off in
the distance l saw a faint light which grew
Il to q tiny blaze and then died out. Where
there was a light there must be life, and
with renewed hope l galloped off in that
@S direction, and about ten minutes later had
I 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
81 myself, had chased the cattle until they
scattered, and had spent the night in q
{ vain search for camp. Daylight found