The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-03
ON A STAMPEDE.
Soeno on tho Old Dodge Trail, In
No Mans Land, in the
Seventies.
trouble with the Herd Caused by
q Bunch Of Old Stam-
peders.
~ Pitch-Rain, Lightning and
Thunder.

"Fellers, they air goin' to run tonight
Al he uttered this prophecy the old tails
man eyed a big dun brute that walked on
alono for a few steps threw his muzzle TO-
ward the north and after q few preliminar.
sniffs gave the long, low, peculiar hal
moan, half below that old COW hands hav'
learned means foul weather ahead. Hav-
ing thus sounded the warning, as it were
tho animal turned back and was soon los
in the mighty herd that was %nervousll
cropping the rich grass that grew fetlocl
high.
Old joe. the speaker, turned in his sad
die and began to scan the horizon. As he
caught sight of a cloud no larger than your
hand that was inst beginning to show. it.
self away to the northwest, he repeated the
prophecy. and added: AN l don't think
we'll have any kick a-comin' about tho dust
termorrer, either"
The time was in the seventies, the local
ity, No Mans Land, and we were on the old
Dodge trail, with 1850 beeves, bound
for Ogalalla. The herd had been put
up some six weeks before on the
Brazos. At Red river crossing we had
picked up a bunch that had been lost out
OF a previous drove belonging to the same
company. These steers were placed in our
herd against the advice of old Joe. They
air old stampeders, and they'll Spite the
whole herd. Let them wait for one Of them
dogie outfits behind u.s."
When it came to cattle. and especially
trail cattle, the old man was an authority.
Among the ''kids'' his word on any subject
pertaining to stock was accepted as gospel.
However, tho foreman determined to risk
il, and in they went. The addition had
been made only a few days when a change
began to be noticed. The veriest tender
loot could see that the herd was growing
uneasy and restless. Instead Of grazing
OF the trail, they would ramble in punches.
II a herder attempted to hold them up they
would either stop and stare at him or else
turn and travel to the further side. Where
we formerly watered in any creek or
fair-sized pond, it now required a river
or lake.
Most of us looked for trouble any night,
while the few doubters vera silenced bv the
colored horse wranRler, who expressed his
views as follows:
"Uv cose dey is gwine ter run, for ole Joe
done sed it, and he's rep is at stake; an
dey is gwine ter run Of de old man haster
Git down ermong 'em some night wild de
slicker."
At supper that evening but little was said;
even the cooks yarns, told in his inimita-
Bile style, fell fat. Every few minutes our
foreman would cast uneasy glances at the
great black clouds that were slowly rising
in the northwest. Instead of picketing the
saddled M tied to the wagon, OF to bushes
close by.
The hpst guard had scarcely more than
taken charge when the rest OF the outfit
prepared to roll in. The cook, after tying a
lantern to the tongue. climbed in the wagon,
tied sheet down thanked the Lord
he was a sock. The wrangler found a place
under the coupling pole that suited his
complexion, while the riders unstrapped
their little "hot rolr' on the ground and
piled in without removing even their boots
ana spurs.
For some reason I was restless and nm
able to sleep. All the slumber producing
receipts were tried in vain. I lay on my
back and watched the clouds obscure star
after star until the whole heavens were hid.
/ counted the number of rounds the guards
were making, then fell to Watching the
lightning and trying to judge how far it was
off by seeing how many l could count before
I heard the thunder that followed every
Il ash.
After awhile, growing weary of this, I
turned toward the Ere, by it sat one of the
guards slipping strong coffee between whifs
az 11S CllGI6btE. Liz Va bLS AblllS
on his spurs and bit as his horse logged
along told the whereabouts of another, while
the wild Spanish song that Hoate1 from tie
far side of the bed ground indicated that
Little Jack" in thoughts at least, was
with his blsck-eyed sweetheart on the
distant Rio Grande.
Chased my eyes for a few minutes, and
when | locked again the guard had left the
fire, Little Jacks song was finished, and
the only song from the bed ground was the
deep breathing of some animal that had
just laid down. The thunder had ceased
for q few minutes, and the boot of an owl
in the distant cottonwood made the dark
ness still darker and the night more dreary.
AS / dozed off Old Joe's words kept ring
ing in my head: ''There amt no danger ca
long es any of 'em air up an a-grazin', but
when they air oil down. an it's that quiet
you kin hear your own heart beat, then you
wantsr git ready ter ride"
! was still semi-conscious when / heard a
roar like a mighty tornado, and sprang up
as some one shouted:
"They are gone. fellows. They are gone!'
In less than a minute every man wac in
the saddle and rushing after the fleaing
herd. No need to ask which way; the
are straining every nerve. Tho lightning's
play Is grand; electricity is everywhere;
flames dance along the name, a ball of fire
CLEANS on each ear tip. BY the flashes the
riders locate the lay of the land in front.
Soon We begin passing the drags. No
need to look after them; they'll follow, and
the real work ia IN ahead, Far away in
front, above the roar of cattle and thunder
the guards can be heard singing and shout
ing to the maddened herd. As We dash on
the sounds appear to be coming more and
more from the left; the leaders are being
pressed around, and soon by q flash we see
them coming; right in front of the crazed
animals. looking like a ghost in his long
white slicker, his fiery little night horse
lunging and fighting for his head, rode
Little Jack, singing, calling and swearing
by turns.
BY a concerted action, in which good luck,
stout lungs and heavy quirts all play i'm
portant parts. the herd Is thrown together
and the milling begins. around and around
70. each animal with its head over the
of the one just in froIt-no begin
ming. no end, Just a solid mass, staring,
moaning, as only stampeded cattle can.
cowboys are seated on their horses still as
The order ia passed along to
give more room!'' the riders fall back, the
mill" ceases, and soon is heard a series of
Jess clearin' their pipes for an
other dash," some one says.
Now the rain begins. first slow, then in
creasinc, till finally it is coming in a driv-
ing sheet. With the first drops the cattle
Iusn and begin drifting with the storm, all
Tho riders getting in front and endeayorinp
10 hold them back.
If We KIN only hold 'em till their hides
wet / b'lieve we've got 'em," Old Joe