The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-04-07
a TERRIBLE STAMPEDE
HUNDREDS OF BEASTS DRIVEN re
DEATH BY HUNGER AND COLD.

HUNDREDS OF BEASTS DRIVEN To-
DEATH BY HUNGER AND COLD.
A Graphic Description OF . Most Terrible
scsne.-savsd By superburnan Enorts--
Starving Cattle Make Desperate Efforts
to Get something to Eat.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 28-Recent
estimates of the loss of cattle last win
ter run the number up 10 250,O00, and
examples are numerous where OUT OF n
herd oft2,000, three score or less were
alive in the spring. This was l.. nj.
Strawbrldge's experiences, while G. w.
Crumbs saved but 100 out OF 10000.
s.. q. benson and Frank Miller, OF Sac
ramento lost between 5000 and 1000,
valued at 100000, while others lost so
many breeding animals that this sum-
mer some ranchers branded 1000 to
1900 calves where for several Seasons
past they were in the habit of branding
from 10000 to $4,000.
John Bradley was another heavy
loser and had an experience with some
of his cattle that he will never forget.
One night in January last 5000 of his
close to the headquarters of the ranch,
where there were between 500 and 1000
bales of hay stacked together in one
huge pile, and enclosed by q nigh and
strong board fence, made a wild stam-
pede, and took complete possessiontof
the hay. During the day they were
given a small quantity Of it, the idea
being to keep them from utter starya-
ton and make the hay last as long as
possible. Men armed with sticks iand
pitchfOrks were stationed alongside of
the fence to more completely guard the
proyender, it being anticipated that in
their hunger the animals woulds make
an onslaught on the fence to get at the
coveted food.
Darkness came on, and it was bitter
cold. The night was clear and the
snow deep on the ground, and ever and
anon sharp. piercing winds would mer-
in 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 wind
increased in fury. 1t became a hurri-
cane, with the thermometer below zero.
The men on guard In their bundle Of
clothes were painfully cold; the cattle
presented grim aspects. in one great
Shiyering 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 a vain attempt to get away
from the cruel wind, struggled wildly,
rushing forward and fighting to GUST
took alarm and began moving toward
the hay. Suddenly with one accord
they beloved loud and long, as If in
stlnct told them death was near, and
then in a 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-
Dled on top just as the hungry herd
made its mad charge. 49,. -
1t was a grand and terrible scene as
the cattle rushed up to the fence, those
nm the front having their brains dashed
out and Others being trampled to death
by those charging on behind. The
fence gave way, n around and up the
pile of hay the herd moved on, 80 close
ly packed together that some behind
were forced upon the backs OF those in
front, while here and there were large
piles Of dead animals, from the top of
which cattle stood frantically grabbing
their food, only the next moment to be
sayagely attacked by others for II fav-
ored place.
For an hour the guards on top, with
bated breath and frightened looks
watched this weird sight, and then
yells for help, as the cattle pushed one
another close up to the top, made Brad
ley and others, who had run out of the
house when the cattle beloved think
ing that the guards were being mangled
beneath the hoofs of the engaged beasts.
For two hours they lab0red to drive
the cattle back to rescue the guards and
finally succeeded in getting an opening
for them to escape, but the cattle fin
ished the hay pile, and a week later all
were dead from cold and hunger.
Which arc the Heathen?
P~ITTsBURG, March 29.-Chinamen of
Pittsburg, contrary to the general belief
in regard to their burials, do not send
their dead to China, but w a neat lot
in Uniondale cemetery, in which they
are entered. This afternoon one OF their
number, Jen Sen, was buried with every
rite and observance attending Chinese
obsequies. Jen Sen was a high Mason,
and a long procession Of Celestials fol-
lowed the remains to the grave.
Here a most ~disgraceful scene ensued,
brought about by some fifteen hundred
C%aucasians, who had trampled over the
graves, torn down the %shrubbery and
jostled the timid mourners in order to
crafty their curiosity. The Chinese
reyently placed burning joss sticks,
perfumed paper and printed prayers be.
side the grave, only to have them almost
snatched out Of their hands by the excit-
ed mob. They also wrapped small coins
in paper and scattered them on and in
the grave, but the boys and men snatch
ed them UP and fought fiercely for the
possession of the curious mOmentoes.
Cat calls, jeers, and bowls from the vul-
gar crowd added to the shameless scene.
The era Double Tax.
The Western Rural says it seems
hardly necessary t. write for farmers
on the evils of the saloon. No one
pretends to deny the general charge
that the saloon is q bad thing. it is
our purpose to speak briefly of this ma
tional curse to the farmers as a class.
The licensed saloons in the towns and
villages of this country impose o
double and underhand form OF taxa
ton upon the farmers hat would not
lie tolerated under any other name.
Towns license saloons to help pay their
own expenses. They build sidwalks,
pay policemen, build jails and become
extravaganza in proportion as the in
come from saloons increases. The
farmers, or their sons and laborers,
help to maintain the saloons, and lose
their efficiency. and often their farms.
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