St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-15
TERRoRs OF A STAMPEDE.
Typical Incident in the Life of q
Cowboy of the Plains.

typical Incident in the Life of a
Cowboy of the Plains.
We had been in the saddle all day,
and were fast turning in when the word
was given ito ''Get up and Dust" says a
writer in the Washington Post. 1t was
no use kicking, so up we got, harnessed
fresh horses. who also appreciated the
danger, and were loath to be disturbed,
and after being harnessed, threw every
obstacle IN the way OF progress. Ar
irving upon the scene the bows
separated in the darkness and slowly
rode around in a circle of mile or more
In diameter, trying to surround the
nerd. There being only six of US, COM
Datlng with bowling wind, it was no
easy Job to make progress. excepting,
perhaps. when vivid flash of lightning
disclosed for moment an ocean of
long, slim horns above mass of black,
moving bodies, liable at any moment to
become frantic with fear and rush over
you, and perhaps trample both rider
and pony to horrible death. Hour after
hour we drifted with the wind, irving
to locate the end of the herd, per-
haps not seeing our ponies heads for
that length of time, the only way TO
guide ourselves in the dense darkness
being by the lowing and believing of
the now thoroughly frightened herd.
We heard the trample of feet and the
rattle OF horns knocking against each
other, and frequently the shout or yell
OF another herder for the dual purpose
of Keeping the steers quiet and of let
ting his companions know his where
aboutS. What a terrible experience it
was! Picture it!
Suddenly violent clap of thunder is
heard. and ragged flash of lightning
seen, and during that instant one of the
boys throws up his hands as he recog-
niZeS a second rider. But that motion.
quick as it is, attracts the attention of
some of the leaders of the frantic herd,
and the steers stampedeI In an instant
the ground trembles, the cattle make
sudden rush, your pony takes a plunge
forward, and you imagine yourself in
stormy sea with neither rudder nor
compass to guide you. Only the agil-
lty of your pony saves you from
instant death, for you have drifted be-
fore the herd, and. as the TANKS have
taken fresh flight, they are closing in
upon you. and when you remember that
a Texan steer is nearly, If not quite, as
fleet and lOngwinded as cow pony,
you can in slight sense appreciate the
danger. And how dark it is You lean
forward in your saddle, strain your
eyes dig your spurs into the side of
your now over-anXious, but nearly
played-out steed, all the time galloping
at fearful rate of speed over strange
country. Another flash of lightning
and you see the ground AHEAD of you
and note your horse has narrowly
escaped tripping in prairie-dog hole
and that the herd is still roaring and
believing only length behind you; you
know your horse cannot last much long
er, but day is now nearly breaking and
you place your trust in Providence.
How many simple but earnest prayers
have been offered up on these desolate
plains under similar circumstances by
men who know no religionI
The steers are also becoming winded
and gradually check their speed under
the reassuring effects of the approach
of day and the abatement of the storm,
and as the sum- Slowly energies from the
horizon you find yourself perhaps
twenty miles from the point where you.
started and lots of work yet before you,
for you have still to gather the stray
cattle, or those VINO have fingered be-
hind in this mad race for life: and when
this is at last completed 1t it perhaps
near IL O'Clock, and you vet.have a ride
of twenty miles in the broiling sun be-
fore you can get food or change your
tired pony for fresh one.