Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-03-19
STAMPEDE FREAKS.
WILD SCENES AMONG HERDS OF
SAVAGE PRAIRIE CATTLE.

Pictures Of Terrible sights-Famous Rout
of an III Fated Army supply Train.
some Incidents That Resulted in STAN
pedes-How They Are Checked.
Ever since Washington Irying's Tour of
the Praries," Eeudall'S santa Fee Expe-
dition," or the beginning of the drive" of
vast herds Of Texas cattle from the south
west to the cold climate Of the north
where their horns were frozen of and
where many an owners pocketbook was
stifened in death lively interest had
been taken in what is called a stampede"
or scare of animals in herds.
A stampede Of a vast herd of the Ameri
can bison, that twenty-five years ago roam
ed by millions in the interior Of the CONT
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
rible hail that frequently accompanies the
sudden short storm Of the prairies, to
stampede az apparently nothing, is one Of
those problems that admit Of no solution
Sometimes il is caused by a flash of light
ming from a dark cloud. again the cry Of
starved WOLF or the appearance on the
horizon of a single figure or, perhaps,
something as Insignificant as the barking
Of a prairie dog sitting on the edge Of its
burrow.
herd once started, frequently the
whole prairie for miles became absolutely
black with the fleeing beasts. There was
nothing SO iudescribably grand, yet so aw
full In its posi- bic results. The earth,
shaken by the heavy, rhythmic tramp Of
their hoofs upon the hard ground, fairly
reverberated as they passed a given point
Woe TO him that stood in the way Of the
mighty throng Of Infatuated animals; moth
ing but humiliation, 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 that Of the winter campaign
Of 1859 was a mile long in four columns,
or four miles long when strung out in a
single line) was the scene OF "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 Oveushine, 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,
20 transport some campequipage from that
post to Fort Dodge, on the Arkansas.
When the train had covered about half the
distauce-f0rry miles-one afternoon, just
before going into bivouac portion Of the
animals stampeded and nothing could be
discovered Of their whereabouts
Twenty years lfterward some Of the set
tiers near where now the town Of Nc
Cracker, Rush county. is situated, were
surprised t1 find iu "a ravine, OF small
canyon. the almost .isiutegrutrl remains
Of several six mule army wagons the skel
etous of over thirty mules and the iron
parts OF harness. These fragments were "A
portion of the train that had stampeded so
many year before.
Cattle have the affection, " so to say. to
break ont when least expected. One may
travel for 8 week. believing that ones
animals have been com pletely cured, when
suddenly, from some atmospheric iufiu-
encc OF other Unforeseen and unaccount-
able circumstance, away they 20. The de-
vices for breaking it up are many. Lamp
lights are used. noises such as singing. etc.
been discovered that is an infallible pre-.
ventiye
STARTED FROM A BELL
Il was formerly the custom Of vendors
20 send hegders 10 help start from the
neighb0rho1l or "0F the range as il was
termed These occasions were always con
siderel a holiday, and night herding"
was an excitement eagerly sought The
watch" ON one occasion, which consisted
Of two or three relicfs. had doomed their
leggiugs and spurs, partaken Of cup Of
eXhilarating 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 Wouotonous, the herders
became grum. voiceless. eager only for
their watch to end
On the night in question the owner Of
the herd, remembering the previous quiet
Of his animals, hethought himself Of what
was afterward known on the trail" as the
bell racket He purchased large COW
bell for each horse, TO serve the double pur
pose Of a 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 Sinking. He conceived the
brilliant idea Of diseugaging the bell from
his horses neck and fastening it 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 be was, began to shake his bell
violently. The noise Of course started
every steer to his feet and away went the
frightened animals on a run.
A STAMPEDE AT NIGHT.
In a moment every houseman in the en-
tire "outdtn was IN pursuit, with each in
dividual bell EARRING discorlantly aud add.
ing new terror to the stampeded herd. The
pursuers soon became aware Of the folly Of
following "A Nyinu herd with such "A noise