The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-03
ST IMPEDE FREAKS.
Wild Scenes Among Herds Of Say-
age Prairie Cattle.
AN ILL FATED ARMY TRAIN.
Pictures of Terrible sights--Famous Hout
of an Ill Fated Army supply Train
some Incidents That Resulted In STAN
pedes-liow They Are Checked.

Ever since Washington Irving's "Tour OF
the Prairies," Kendalps Santa fe EXpe-
lition," or the beginning OF the drive or
vast herds of Texas cattle from the south
west 20 the cold climate OF the north,
where their horns were frozen of and
where many an owners pocketbook was
stiffened in death, a lively interest had
been taken in what is called stampede"
or scare of animals in herds
A stampede Of vast herd OF the Ameri-
can bison, that twenty years ago roam
cd by millions in the interior OF the conti-
nent, was an every day affair. Now such
an occurrence has passed away forever.
What caused the huge beast, accustomed
TO the tornado the vivid lightning, the ter
riblc hail that frequently accompanies the
sudden, short storm OF the prairies, To
stampede at apparently nothing, is one of
those problems that admit of no solution.
Sometimes il is caused by a flash of light
ming from dark cloud; again the cry of
starved wolf, or the appearance on tho
horizon of single figure, or, perhaps,
something as Insignificant as the barking
of prairie dog sitting on the edge Of its
burrow
A herd once started, frequently the
whole prairie for miles became absolutely
black with the fleeing beasts. There was
nothing so indescribably grand, yet so aw-
full I'm it's possible results. The earth,
shaken by the heavy, rhythmic tramp of
their hoofs upon the hard ground, fairly
reverbcrated as they passed "A given point.
Woe to him that stood in the way of the
mighty throng of infuriated animals; moth
ing but annihilation, absolute and COM
plete, his portion.
AN ILL FATED ARMY TRAIN.
Frequently the long army supply train
OF an Indian expedition, composed Of six
mule teams Chat of the winter campaig
of 1859 was mile long in four columns,
or four miles long when strung out in n
single line) was the scene oi 'stampedes."
The picture presented when the frightened
animals dashed away from the trail, to
be tied up in a confused mass of wagons,
harness, men and mules cannot be por-
trayed by any pen.
Captain Ovenshine, now lieutenant col
onel of one of the infantry regiments OF the
regular army, received from the writer, at
Fort Hayes, Kan, five or six teams OF the
character described, in the winter of 1868,
to transport some campequipage from that
post to Fort DodEe, on the Arkansas
When the train had covered about halft the
distance-forty milestone afternoon, just
animals stampeded and nothing could be
discovered of their whereabouts.
Twenty years afterward some of the set
tiers near where now the town of Nc
Cracker, Rush county, is situated, were
surprised to find in ravine, or small
/ canyon, the almost disintegrated remains
of several six mule army wagons, the skel-
etons of over thirty mules and the iron
parts of harness. These fragments were a
portion of the train that had stampeded so
many years before.
Cattle have the "affiiction," so to say, to
break out when least expected One may
travel for week, believing that ones
animals have been completely cured, when
suddenly, from some atmospheric influ-
ence or other unforeseen and unaccount-
able circumstance, away they go. The de-
vices for breaking it up are many. Lamp
lights are used, noises such rs singing, etc,
are employed, but nothing has ever yet
been discovered that is an infallible pre-
ventive.
STARTED FROM A BELL.
1t was formerly the custom of vendors
to send herders TO help start from the
neighborhood or "off the range" as it was
termed. These occasions were always con-
sidered holiday, and might herding"
was an excitement eagerly sought. The
watch" on one occasion, which consisted
of two or three reliefs, had donned their
leggings and spurs, partaken OF cup OF
exhiarating coffee, and sung their tour
through. The cattle were resting very
quietly, as is their custom at first, only
rising TO turn from one side to another. As
the drive" continued on its tiresome way
the duty became monotonous, the herders
became grum, voiceless, eager only for
their watch 10 end.
On the night in question the owner of
the herd, remembering the previous quiet
Of his animals, bethought himself of what
was afterward known on the trail" as the
bell racket" He purchased a large cow
bell for each horse, TO serve the double pur-
pose of soothing noise for the cattle and,
II the boys were wakeful, he would know
by the melody of the bells that they were
in motion, attending to their duty riding
around. Unfortunately, in this outfit"
there was big, burly negro, intent only
upon sleep and shirking. He conceived the
brilliant idea of disengagtnp, the bell from
his horses neck and fastening IL TO his stir
rup, so that he could keep up the motion
with his foot and nap little at the same
time.
On this particular night he was slumber-
ing sweetly. His horse, quietly cropping
the grass happened to stray into the mid
die of the peaceful herd. At this juncture
the negro suddenly awakened and. discov-
ering where he was, began to shake his bell
violently. The noise of course started
every steer to his feet and away went the
frightened animals on n run.
A STAMPEDE AT NIGHT
In n moment every horseman in the en-
tire "outit" was in pursuit with each in
dividual bell jarring discordantly and add
ing new terror 90 the stampeded herd. The
pursuers soon became aware of the folly Of
following n flying herd with such noise
10 they abandoned their instruments.
Another stampede was caused by herder
who carried a cap and ball pistol and an
old fashioned powder horn In his waist belt
One night IL had rained very hard and
dampened his powder. He thought he
would dry IL by his watch fire." IL dried,
Of course, but with such noise that the
whole herd stampeded.
One night herder rose too close to the
cattle His horse stumbled and fell against
m sleeniny steer Then there waS n roar as