The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-04-09
A Terrible Stampede.

Cattlemen in Nevada will remember
this year as the worst they ever expert
enced in their business, says the Sar
Francisco Examiner. They were so badly
crippled by the havoc wrought by last
winters storms among their herds that
they have not yet recovered from the
loss, and the business activity of the
entire State has been somewhat hamper
ed thereby. More on his account than
any other several purchasers ofland from
the Central Pacific have been given a
years extension on their payments. OF
some 1000 of these purchasers only half
dozen made their usual annual pay.
ments.
Recent estimates of the loss of cattle
last winter run the number up to 100000,
and examples are numerous where out Of
a herd of 1000, three score or less were
alive in the Spring. This was L. NJ.
strawbridge's experience, while q. W.
Crumbs saved but 1,75O out of 10000 S.
@. benson and Frank Miller, of Sacra-
mento, lost between 5000 and 1000,
valued at 100000, while others lost so
many breeding animals that this summer
some ranchers branded 1000 to 1900
calves where for several seasons past they
were in the habit of branding from 1000
to $4,000.
John Bradley was another heavy loser,
and he had an experience with some of
his cattle that be 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
there we're between 500 and 1000 bales
of hay stacked together in one huge pile,
and enclosed by high and strong board
fence. made wild stampede, and took
complete possession of the hay. During
the day they were given 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 we're stationed alongside
of the fence to more completely guard
the provender, it being anticipated that
in their hunger the animals would make
an onslaught on the fence 10 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 mercileasly
lash the poor dumb beasts, who in solid
phalanx on all four sides of the fenced
hay stood short distance away, shiver.
ing in their plight, looking at the hay
and watching the men on guard.
Two hours before midnight the wind
increased in fury. 1t became 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 shiv.
ering 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 sway
ing movement Of the big mass became
more noticeable. The cattle in the rear,
in vain attempt to get away from the
cruel wind, struggled wildly, rushing for.
ward and fighting to oust those in front,
until the whole herd took alarm and
began moving toward the hay. Sudden
ly with one accord they beloved loud
and long, as if instinct told them death
was near, and then in q mad career rush
ed blindly and furiously toward the
fence.
The guards, having no avenue of
escape but on top of the pile Of hay,
swiftly climbed the fence and scrambled
on top just as the hungry herd made its
mad charge.
1t was grand and terrible scene as
the cattle rushed up to the fence, those
in the front having their brains dashed
out and others being trampled 10 death
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 we're 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 savagely attacked
by others for favored place.
For an hour the guards on top, with
bated breath and frightened looks, watch
ed this weird sight, and then yells for
help, as the cattle pushed another close
up to the top, made Bradley and others,
who had run out of the house when the
cattle beloved, think that the guards
were being mangled beneath the hoofs Of
the enraged beasts. For two hours they
lsbored to drive the cattle back to rescue
the guards and finally succeeded in get.
ting an opening for them to escape, but
the cattle finished the hay pile, and a
week later all were dead from cold and
hunger.
- Ex-Speaker Reed will visit Italy,
and it is worth while to notify the Malis
that if he is held for ransom they won't
get red cent
james Robinson, of Phoenix, Ariz.,
attends school, and is model pupil, un.
less the teacher begins to imagine that be
knows more than James does. When
this happens there is trouble, and the
teacher has to sing small, for James is no
chicken. BE is an elderly man and 8
strong one, and not only owns the school
and all its surroundings, but has 81 l,0O0,-
600 salted down against the coming time
when education will have made him into
gentleman and scholar.