Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-02-20
iSTAMPEDED STEERS.
a WILD RACE WITH a HERD OF
FEEN1IED CATTLE.
In the Darkness of Might the ZOO
Animals Start Away on a
bIad GaIlop-A Dan
gerons Pursuit..


ting out,n banding and marketing, we
had gotten together 100 head of the
finest steers to be found on tho banks of
the muddy Pecos, in New Mexico. Two
days later the "boss" rode into camp,
consulted with his foreman, aud eight
men, including the writer, were chosen
to drive the snorting, believing herd to
Springer, N. H., o distance of $50 miles.
The evening of the sixth day was
cloudy and cool, aud indications of IN
approaching storm were visible. The
writer was on first guard. The
cattle were restless, showing decided
disposition to run, and instead of walk
ing our horses around the herd we were
compelled to travel at a sharp trot.
Daylight faded out and pitchy darkness
| succeeded. Tho cattle were indistin-
guishable OF dozen PAGES, and fire.
quently we were compelled to pull up
short to avoid colliding with steer or
with each other. This continued until
the arrival OF tho second guard, when
the increased forces succeeded in quiet
ing them somewhat, and tho writer and
his mate started for camp guided by tho
light of the camp fire, which shono like
star on little elevation about half
milo away.
We had scarcely turned into our blan-
kets, fully dressed as usual, with tho ex-
| ception of our boots, when the rain COM
menced to fall, in drops at first, but
steadily increasing to downpour. Blan-
kets wero drawn over heads and grunts
of displeasure were heard on every side,
when o rumble and shaking of the
ground was heard, mingled with hoarse
shouts.
"They'ro runningl" yelled the fore
man, jumping from his blankets.
"Mount! mountl every one of you," run
ing to his horse as no spoke, which was
picketed short distance away.
Not waiting to don boots, the writor
sprang to his horse, vaulted into the sad
die, and toro of after the foreman, the
fiickcring light of the camp FIRE, fast be-
ing extinguished by the rain, revealing
tho remaining men hurricdly preparing
to follow.
Guided by tho thunder OF hoofs the
herd was soon overtaken, and, in obedi-
ence to tho foroman's yells, 1 strove to
"get in front of en-" I could family
discern in the darkness line of below
ing, snorting beasts, and urging "Nigger
Baby" to his utmost reached the end of
tho line and there found two of tho boys
galloping in the lead, shouting and wav-
ing their oil coats or ''slickers" and try
ing to stop the hcadlong fight.
Tho confusion of the scene was indie
scribablc. Tho terrified shorts of the
cattle wcro almost drowned by the clash
ing of horns, thunder of tho hoofs and
shouts Of tho men. My oilcoat was
strapped to my saddle, not having had
time to unfasten it. I tore at tho leath-
er straps, succeeded in looscning them,
and turning in my saddle shook it before
The leaders, adding my shouts to the din
around me.
AS well try to stop the torrent sos Nj
agara. The wild race was unslackened,
and, from traditions, knew thar a mis-
step of my horse sufficient to throw me,
or his fall, meant that would be cut to
pieces by the sharp hoofs of the cattle.
Then IN unexpected event occurred.
Tho herd divided into two sections, one
of which / was the sole leader of, while
tho other portion galloped off at right
angles, led by my two companions. For
few minutes I 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
"slicker" had fallen from my hand. The
rain had ceased, but 1 was wet to the
skin and numbed by the cool air. ]
thought the sound of hoofs was not SC
deafening, and Us the clouds blew away
SO that could see few yards in front
of me found that was leading about a
dozen steers that had become separated
from the herd. I had just made this dis.
covery when they slackened speed and
finally stopped, painting and quiveriug,
all the run knocked out of them. Oi
what use was handful of steers out Of
17002 Riding off a few yards listened
but could hear no sound of my compan
ions. Becoming conscious of severe
pain in my left foot reached down anc
found that was literally pincushione6
with the sharp needles of cactus, hav.
ing ridden through bed of the prickl,
stuff, my foot unprotected by boots
In the excitement of the run had mo-
felt it, but now the pain was intense.
plucked such as 1 could aud then DELHI
Grated what was best to do. MY lont
dozen steers had wandered away, and
made no effort to overtake them, know
ing the uselessness of the undertaking.
Here was o predicament. In the
middle of the prairie, shoeless and
shivering with cold, not knowing il
what direction to go to reach camp ant
my horse blown with his fearful run
Knowing the instinct of horses dropped
the bride reins and suffered him to g,
where he would.
He promptly wheeled around ant
started off on slow trot, which he KEEP
up for about fifteen minutes. know
we were camped on the bank OF the rive
and supposed he would go in that di