The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-10-21
A sPEcTER OF THE PLAINS.
How Death Came in the Night to a
Wagon Train.

How Death Came in the Night to
Wagon Train.
As the sun goes down and the shadows
of evening creep over the plains here IN
this camp beside HOneysuckle creek the
two men smoke their pipes, their wives
clear up the dishes from supper, and the
seven or eight children join hands and sing
as they circle about the dying campfire.
A couple of pioneers are shifting to bet
ter themselves. The white topped wagons
have been hauled many a weary mile, and
the Journey is not yet ended. Inc wives
are accomplishing, the children happy
The night is mild and warm, the Indians
are at peace, and as the dusk grows deeper
the stars appear until there seems to be no
room for another. By and by the men rise
up and move among the grazing horses TO
see if their hobbies are securei women and
children retire to the wagons with many
"pood night" and before 10 o'clock the
COYOTES glide about camp without fear ana
the cricket is not interrupted in his song.
Three miles to the east, hidden from sight
nv the ridge which rises up against the sky
like n great wave on a calm sea, thou
sand cattle are lying down on the SNORT
rich grass. They face in every dlrectlon'
Those Oh the outside of the bunch llII Ihelr
heads now and then to sniff the ar, Out
there is no scent of danger to alarm them.
self down to rest and smoke. There IL
no danger of a stampede OH such night as
| this Now and then n steer will spring up
and look wildly around, but the alarm will
/ soon pass.
Midnight comes. The crickets still sing
and the cattle still rest quietly. 1t Is on
! such a night that men sleep too heavily 70
| dream. Ten miles to the south is a noun
! tain range. Only some bird of night rising
- 4 OF
seen the black cloud rolling up out of the
valley beyond There was no wind, and
vet il crept slowly on and on. AS 1t neared
the mountain it grew blacker and blacker.
! As it rolled upward over bowlder and hr
tree it was rent and riven by tongues OF
flame. 1t was a thundercloud, but there
was no growing of thunder. 1t was not
until the black cloud had reached the crest
/ OF. the range and was ready TO roll down
upon the plains below that the night was
lighted up with a binding flash and the
earth trembled as mighty JhuhueFOolU
found target.
Every steer springs to his feet. There Is
a Gathering of horns and hoofs as the mass
sways about. \ thousand pairs OF eyes
glitter through the darkness like those OF
wild beasts. The mass pushes to the east
but is checked. 1t bulges out to the north,
like fish in n net, but the cowboys are
there. 1t pulls back, draws long OIeaCH'
and with a mighty rush heads away to the
west. 1t is flight inspired by terror 1t
is a rush which cannot be stopped by any
obstruction save mountain In their ter
ror they lower their heads and run Dlindlyr
fearing only that which is behind them.
The noise is like that of cyclone bearing
the ruins of homes in its grasp as 1t adj
vances. The cowboys ride with the herd
When the pace has abated they will seek
TO turn the advance to the right or left and
double it back.
The wagons Of the pioneers stand there
in the darkness. There are no sehtiheis
} Mon women and children sleep. If the
crash of thunder disturbed any of them II
was but momentary. The hobbled horse;
! hold their heads high In air and leok liked
ly toward the east Now they snort z
slarm and theaf eyes elisten., Now thel
move "a tha fslAt g iGft AaWax md R2aE