The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-13
CATTLE IN A STAMPEDE.
WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A HERD
RUN AWAY ON THE PRAiRIES.

/ for hours IN the
! "Fellers, they cir goin' to run tonight"
| Old Joe, the speaker, turned IN his saddle
and began to scan the horizon. As he
caught sight of cloud no larger than your
| hand that was just beginning to show it
| self away to the northwest, he repeated the
| prophecy, and added, AN | don't think
we'll have any kick a-comin' about the
! dust termorrer, either"
The time was in the seventies, the 10
cality, No Mans Land, and we were on the
| old Dodge trail, with 1850 beeves, bound
| for Ogalalla. The herd had been put up
some seeks before on the BRACES. At Red
river crossing we had picked up bunch
| that had been lost out of q previous drove
belonging TO the same company. These
steers were placed IN our herd against the
| advice of old joe They air ole STAN
peders, and they'll Spite the whole herd
Let them wait for one OF them dogie outfits
behind US"
At supper that evening but little was
said; even the cooks yarns, told in MS in
initable style, fell lat. Every few minutes
our foreman would cast uneasy glances at
the great black clouds that were slowly
, rising in the northwest. Instead of picket
ing the horses, as was the custom, the ami
mails were saddied and tied TO the wagon,
or to bushes close by.
The first guard had hardly 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 the sheet down and thanked
the Lord that ne was cook. The wrangler
found place under the coupling pole that
suited his complexion, while the riders I'M
strapped their little ''hot roll" on the
ground and piled in without removing even
boots and spurs.
OMNIBUS SIGNS.
For some reason was restless and I'M
able to sleep, All the slumber produing
receipts were tried in vain. 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. and then fell TO
watching the lightning and trying to judge
how far it was off by seeing how many /
could count before | heard the thunder
that followed every flash.
After q while, growing weary of this,
turned toward the fire. BY it sat one of
the guards slipping strong coffee between
whiffs at his cigarette. The rattle of the
chains on his spurs and bit as his horse
logged along told the whereabouts of an
other, while the wild Spanish song that
f1oated from the far side of the bed ground
indicated that Little Jack" in thought
at least, was with his black eyed sweet
heart on the distant Rio Grande.
closed my eyes for few minutes, and
when looked 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 lain down The thunder
had ceased for few minutes, and the boot
of an owl in the cotton wood 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 es-
long es any of 'em air up an a-grazin' but
when they air all down, and it's that quiet
you kin hear your own heart beat, then
yau wanter git ready ter ride"
i was still semi-conscious when heard
a roar like a mighty tornado and sprang
up as some one shouted:
They are gone, fellowsl They are gomez
In less than a minute every man was in
the saddle and rushing after the fleeing
herd No need to ask which way; the
trained night horses know their duty, and
are straining every nerve. The lightnipg's
play is grand, electricity is everywhere;
flames dance along the name, ball of fire
CLEANS on each ear tip, BY the flashes the
riders locate the lay of the land IA front.
HEADING THEM BACH
Soon we begin passing the drags. No
need to look after them, they'll follow,
and the real work il on ahead. Far away,
in front, above the roar of cattle and thuud-
er, the guards can be heard singing and
shouting 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 "A /
fash we see them coming, right in front
of the crazed animals, looking like ghost 4
in his long white sIicker his fiery little Z
night horse lunging aud fighting for his
head, rode Little Jack, singing. calling aud /
swearing by turns.
BY a concerted action, in which good /
luck, stout lungs and heavy quirts all play 4
important parts, the herd is thrown to- 1
gether and the milling begins Around 4
and around they 20. each animal with It's 4
head over the rump of the one just in front 4
no beginning, no end, just solid mass. +
staring, moaning, as only stampeded cattle 4
can. Balls OF fire leap from horn 10 horn /
The cowboys are seated on their horses 1
still as statues, all forming a picture that /
can't be duplicated The order Is passed (
along to Give more roon~ the riders fan 4
back, the mill" ceases, and soon IL heard /
a series OF coughs: jess clearin' their pipes
for another dash" some one says.
Now the rain begins, first slow, then in
creasing, till finally it Is coming in a driving
sheet. With the first drops the cattle tura
and begin drifting with the storm, ali the
riders getting in front and eudeayoriug 70
hold them back.
IF we kin only hold EN- till their hides
get vet b lisve we've got EN-" Old Joe
says.
But It wasn't 70 be. Something gives
them a scare and away they gol No sooner
are the leaders checked than others turn
leaders and the whole herd goes thunder
ing after them Another mill Is formed
and the same performance gone over again.
So the night wears away. The runs
grow shorter, occasionally an animal BE-
gins 70 eat The rain q over, though the
clouds stll hang heavy. The lightning
has CEASED, and TIE riders sis stiIl and mo
tionless. unable 20 see even the heads Q.
I ne horses they riese. Water stands every
where, and the cattle begin grazing "a al
directions The foreman gives orders to
ride away. as oar presenes world Gully
serve 70 sir up and scatter the herd.
Some unszGdIe. roll Up in taefr wet
blankets and sleep. Others y GIT pipes ard
cigarettes and begin watching for signs q
the coming morning. With the frzt grsy
sfresks II he east horzss are ss6cIsd and
the crew gather srozrd for orders
After bot breakfast. 6urlng which al
tell their experiences Of the night, AID Old