The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-02-25
HUNGRY CATTLE STAMPEDE.
Penned Up on a Pile of Hsy-An Hours
Thrilling Experience of Half = Dozen
RaUCh6rs.

Penned Up Pile of Hay-An Hours
Thrilling Experience OF Half Dozen
Ranchers.
Cattlemen in Nevada will remember
this year as the worst they ever exper-
fenced in their business. They were
so badly crippled by the havoc wrought
by last winters storms among the
herds that they have not yet recovered
from the loss and the business activity
of the entire State has been somewhat
hampered thereby. More on this ac-
count than any other several thousand
purchasers of land from the Central
Pacific have been given years extern
sion on their payments. Of some 1000
of these purchasers only half a dozen
made their usual annual payments.
Recent estimates of the loss of cattle
last winter run the number up to 25O.-
600, and examples are numerous where
out of herd of 1000, three score or less
were alive in the spring. This was Mr.. |.
M. Straw bridges experience. while G.
w. Crumb saved 1850 out of herd of
10000. S. c. benson and Frank Mill
ler of Sacramento lost between 5000
and 1000, valued at 800, 900, while
others lost so many breeding animals
that this summer some ranchers brand
gu 1,OOV W 4,OOO CdlNCS WACLO 4OA oOb-
eral seasons past they were in the habit
of branding from 20. 900 to 26, 600.
John Bradley was another heavy
loser, and he had an experience with
some of his cattle that he will never
| forget. One night in January last
| 5000 of his choicest, which had been
driven in close to the headquarters OF
the ranch, where they were between
500 and l, 200 bales of hay stacked to-
| gether in one huge pile. and inclosed
| by a strong and high board fence. made
wild stampede and took complete
possession of the hay. During the day
the cattle were given a small quantity
of it. the idea being to keep them from
utter starvation and make the hay
last as long as possible. Men armed
with sticks and pitchforks were sta
toned along the outside of the fence to
more completely guard the provender,
it being anticipated that in their hum
ger the animals would make an on
slaught on the fence to get at the covet-
ed food.
Darkness came on and it was bitter
cold. The night was clear, the snow
deep on the ground and ever and anon
sharp, piercing winds would merciless-
ly lash the poor dumb beasts, who, in
a solid phalanx on all four sides of the
fenced hay stood a short distance
away, shivering in their plight, looking
at the hay and watching the men on
guard.
Two hours before midnight, the
winds increased in fury. 1t became a
hurricane, with the thermometer below
zero. The men on guard in their bum
dies of clothes were painfully cold; the
cattle presented grim aspect, in one
great shivering mass, surging to and
fro, restless with pain and hunger. but
with their eyes still fixed on the big
pile of hay.
Their restlessness increased; the
swaying movement of the big mass be-
came more noticeable. The cattle
in the rear, in vain attempt to get
away from the cruel wind. struggled
wildly. rushing forward and fighting
to oust those in front, until the whole
herd took alarm and began moving to-
ward the hay. Suddenly with one ac-
cord they beloved loud and long. as
if instinct told them death was near,
and then in mad career rushed blindly
and furiously toward the fence.
The guards having no avenue of es-
cape but on top of the pile of hay,
swiftly climbed the fence and scram-
llled on top. just as the hungry herd
made its mad charge.
1t was a grand and terrible scene as
the cattle rushed up to the fence, those
in the front having their brains dashed
r out and others being trampled upon
and killed by those charging on behind.
The fence gave way. and around and
up the pile of hay the herd moved on,
so closely packed together that some
behind were forced on the backs ol
those in front. while here and there
were piles of dead animals. from the
top of which cattle stood frantically
t grabbing their food, only the next mo-
ment to be savagely attacked by others
for favored place.
! For an hour the guards on top with
l bated breath and frightened looks,
I watched this weird sight, and then
yells for help. as the cattle pushed one
4 another up close to the top. made
Bradley and others, who had run ont
of the house when the cattle beloved,
think that the guards were being man.
gled beneath the hoofs of the enraged
beasts. For two hours they labored to
drive the cattle back to rescue the
: guards. and finally succeeded in get.
l ting an opening for them to escape.
but the cattle finished the hay pile and
! a week latter all were dead from cold
and hunger,-SGn Francisco Examiner,