The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-05-01
HIS LAST ROUNDUP.

There was a pathetic side 10 the
death of Walter Brown-that wasn't
hfs name. but one title is as good as
another ont west, and few questions as
10 6ntecedents are asked. In a way
hs died as he wanted to die-with his
boots on-bnt not in a fair fight.
Brown was murdered-murdered in
cold blood
Ii WAS on the old cattle trail running
from Texas TO Montana that / met
Brown j was .shorthornn of the
nnns& pronounced type, and Joined the
U4illit days ride from Dodge City.
Brown had seen it all, but we soon be-
c4ne good friends. He bad been a
Rold-digSer in California, a stage
driver in Arizona, a monte-dealer in
New Mexico. At the time I met him
Brown was the ideal cowboy. He was
OF the old school, a reckless, daredevil
4 rider, an expert rope-thrower, crack
pistol shot / have seen him cut down
Il 5Ack-rahbit at seventy-five yards at
frii speed-a chance shot, perhaps, but
good one.
! have seen him thrown ten feet over
\ horses head. too. and get up laugh
Ing. Brown was about 40 years old.
rs near as one could Judge. looking at
his snn-bnrned. weather-beaten face. He
was of middle height, broad shoulders
ed. and strong. His iron frame could
stand almost any amount of fatigue
seen him on his horse for twenty-five
hours out of the twenty-four for three
successive days. when cold drizzling
Il rain was falling and the cattle were
ltipually stampeding or milling"
simply grew more quiet with each
until finally. near the end of the
fsis the rain ceased and the sun once
sre showed its smiling face. he be-
nee the same jolly. rollicking spirit
- aNt 80 often kept good fellowship alive
In the camp.
! never saw Brown gloomy but once.
It was the das after ] met him, and it
was through this mood of his that /
got to know something of his past. He
had slight impeachment in his speech,
not serious, but enough 10 make some of
tstferanees sound a little ridiculous,
WAS peculiarly sensitive about
9ne night we were wrapped in our
<tkets. preparatory to catching the
ssry few hours of sleep possible. when
~ne nflhe boys, a Young fellow named
urray began initiating Browns
eeeh. Waiter said nothing in reply
the time and the rest of US thought
othing of il. The nexf morning at
reakfast Brown was moody and out
sorts El7ratiy he said:
BOYS somebody was mocking me
inst night. Now, / don't want any
tr0uhle-I've had enough-but if it
happens again some one will get hurt,
and it won't be me, either. And don't
hny Of you think don't knew who it
uas.r
He looked in significant wav at
Murray as he spoke and that young
mans eyes dropped and his face grew
red
MAif an hour later joined Brown in
work of putting the cattle on the
el and for want of something else to
say remarked:
You were a little mad while ago.
Brown
Yes. my boy,'' he replied. s-and l
am sorry ;t happened l killed man
on that account once and had to leave
California He Knocked me just as
Murray did, We quarreled and both
began shooting about the same time.
his bullet was taken out of my hip.
but there was no need of removing
mine. i went through his heart. He
was roy brother-in-iaw."
Ali trace of anger had left his face
BY this time and as he spoke the last
sentence there was touch of sadness
In his voice. He was silent a few mo-
ments and then he added:
Il left little girl years old in Cali
f6rniA and don't like to think of what
I've LOST
In an hour Brown had recovered his
usual good humor. but somehow after
that | thought it was assumed. That
night got a further insight into his
ehaIacter-a noble one. despite his wild,
lawless life. just after dark tremen-
dous thunderstorm came up. One who
has not seen a thunderstorm on the west
ern plains can have no idea of what
this means. 1t means downpour of
rain that amounts to flood and vivid
flashes of lightning. followed by peals
of thunder SO terrific and coming at
such frequent intervals as to be appall-
ing During the progress of these
storms the cattle run wild, terror
stricken. They never grow used to
them. This night was no exception.
AT the very FIRST clap of thunder the
long-hurned steers. which rounded up
for the night had just got comfortably
settled, started to their feet Then the
rain began to fall. aud a moment later
tine heavens opened every battery.
Away went the cattle and. of course.
we went after them. 1t was my first
experience. and shall never forget it.
1t was only at intervals during brief
flashes of lightning that / could see
Brown. but I'll never forget him on
that night, either. He was in his ele-
ment. Prairie-dogs had filled the
ground as full of holes as the honey
comb, and to fall while at the head
Of the fear-maddened herd was to face
death. but he seemed to court it. With
the wind blowing back the broad brim
of his sombrero and the rain beating
in his face he laughed. sang. and
shouted, riding like fend all the