St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-31
THE PHANTOM COWBOY.
A Large Red Spot on the Rider:
Left Breast That Looked Like

A Large Red Spot on the Riders
Left Breast That Looked Like
Blood.
Richfield (Kan.) Special to Ft. Worth Ca
zette.
There is much comment am ong the
cowboys of the Morse outfit, who is
elose-herding his cattle near this town
A branch of what is known as the Old
Dodge City trail runs through Richfield.
Owing to the government orders regard
ing the removal of cattle from the Cher
okee strip, several large herds have re-
Gently been brought from there into
Southwestern Kansas, one of the
punches being owned by Thomas r.
Morse. IL contains between $500 and
1900 head, and he employs twenty cow
boys to close-herd it. His cattle were
driven from the strip few weeks ago,
and are being held preparatory to being
sent to market.
The first night after the cattle were
brought near this town several hundred
OF the cattle were stampeded. The five
cowboys on the night watch noticed
connection among the steers, and, think
ing that thieves were among them,
sounded the alarm by firing theil revol-
yerS, and the whole camp turned out
and soon had the cattle rounded up
again. Nothing was seen that would
Indicate that thieves were around, but
the boys were told to keep a sharp look
out.
For several nights afterward, at pre-
clseiy the same time, the cattle would
stampede. 1t was noticed that the
trouble was always in certain portion
of the range, and it was watched close
ly, but nothing could be seen which
would cause the stampede. 1t was de-
termined to place the whole number of
cowboys around the herd, with orders
to ride directly toward any steers
that seemed to be uneasy. Along
about midnight some steers off in
the southeast part of the bunch
began to below and paw the earth. and
soon broke and ran. The cowboys were
right with them, and as they followed
the frightened animals two of the bows,
Ed Hall and Jim Carney, rode directly
into the midst of the bunch. While
thus engaged they claim to have seen a
sight which almost stampeded them.
Following closely upon the rear OF the
frightened steers was a phantom cow
boy riding a pony horse and whirling a
long whip. The ghostly rider was going
with awful speed, and passed so closely
TO the cowboys that they said they could
but they could see right through him. He
was dressed in the regulation garments
Of the cowboy. with large sombrero.
Two revolvers were at his belt and his
horse ives decked out in a highly o.na-
mental saddle and bride. Hall declares
that there was large red spot on the
riders left breast which looked like
blood.
The herd was with great difficulty
rounded up after the phantom rider had
disappeared. The next day consulta-
ton was held, and the cowboys were
anxious to drive away from the spot.
Camp was broken and the cattle driven
about ten miles further north. Since
the change there have been no more WIS.,
itations from the ghostly cowboy. About
ten years ago cowboy named George
Carson was shot through the heart by
cattle thief while riding over the ground
on which the cattle were herded. The
thief came to stampede the herd, and
Carson rode after him, getting his death
wound. Those who believe the story
told by the cowboys think that the
phantom rider is the disembodied spirit
of Carson following the profession in
which he took SO much delight.