Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-09-14
THE PHANTOM COWSOY.
\ Strange Story Told by Cattlemen OF
the Cherokee Strip.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
RICHFIELD, KAN, Sept. 13.-Thcre is
much comment among the cowboys OF the
Morse outfit, vino is close herding his cat
tie near this town. \ branch of what is
known as the old Dodge City trail runs
through Richfield. Owing 10 the govern
ment orders regarding the removal of cat
tie firm the Cherokee Strip several large
herds have recently been brought from
there into Southwestern Kansas. one of the
largest punches beng owned by Thomas Z.
Morse. 1t contains between 1900 and 1000
head, and he employs twenty cowboys to
close herd it. His cattle We're driven from
the Strip q few weeks ago, and are being
held, preparatory 10 being sent TO market.
On the first night after the cattle were
brought near this town several hundred of
the cattle were stampeded- The five cow
boys on the night watch noticed a cOmmo-
ton among the steers, and thinking that
thieves We're among them. sounded the
alarm by firing their rcvolyers, ard 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 tod TO keep a
sharp lookout.
For several nights afterwards, at pre-
cisely the same time, the cattle would
stampede. 1t was noticed that the trouble
was ways in Il certain portion of the
range and it was watched closely, but
nothing could be seen which would cause
the stampede. 1t was determined to place
the whole number of cowboys around the
herd, with orders to ride directly toward
any steers that seemed to be uneasy.
Along toward midnight some steers off in
the southeast part of the bunch began 10
below and paw the earth, and soon broke
and ran. The cowboys were right with
them and rs they followed the frightened
animals two of the boys. Ed Hall and Jim
Carney, rode directly into the midst of the
bunch. While thus engaged they claim to
have seen sight which almost stampeded
them.
Following closely upon the rear of the
frightened steers was q phantom cowboy,
riding bony horse and whirling long
whip. The ghostly rider was going with
awful speed and rassed SO closely to the
cowboys that they said they could have
touched him had he been human, but they
could see right through him. He was
dressed in the regulation garments of the
cowboys. with large sombrero. Two re-
yolvers were at his belt and his horse was
decked out in highly ornamented saddle
and bride. Hall declares that there WAS Il
large red spot on the riders left breast
which looked like blood
TIL herd was with great difficulty round
ed up after the phantom rider had disap-
peared. The next day a consultation 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
has been no more viSitations from the
ghostly cowboy.
About ten years ago aScowboy named
George Carson was shot through the heart
by a cattle thief while riding over the
ground on which the cattle was 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.