Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-01-27
Stampeded by the Storm

with one thousand six hundred and
ninety beeves, bound for Ogalalla
The time was in the seventies; the
locality, No-Man's-Land.
"Fellers, they air goin' to run to-
night"
AS he uttered this prophecy, old
Joe, the trailman, eyed u big dun
brute that walked out alone, for a
few steps, threw his muzzle toward
the north and after few prelimi-
nary shifts gave the long, low, pecul-
lar half moan, half below, that old
cow hands have learned means foul
weather ahead. Having thus sound
ed the warning, as it were, the an
imal turned back and was soon lost
in the mighty herd that was nerv-
ously cropping the grass that grew
fetlock high.
At supper that evening but little
was said; even the cooks yarns, told
i'll his inimitable style, fell fiat. Ev-
cry few minutes our foreman would
cast uneasy glances at the great
black clouds that were slowly rising
in the northwest. Instead of pick
citing the horses, as was the custom,
the animals were saddled and tied to
the wagons, or to bush es close by.
The first guard had hardly more
than taken charge when the rest of
the outfit prepared to roll in.
For some reason | was restless
and unable to sleep. All the slum-
ber-producing receipts were tried in
vain. Hay on my back and watched
the clouds obscure star after star un-
til the whole heavens were hid. l
counted the rounds the guards
were making, and then fell to watch
ing the lightning and trying to Judge
how far it was off by seeing how
many | could count before l heard
the thunder that followed every
flash.
| was still semi-conscious when |
heard roar like mighty tornado
and sprang up as some one shouted
"They are gone, fellers! They
are gone!'
In less than minute every man
was in his saddle and rushed after
the fleeing herd. No need to ask
the way; the trained night horses
knew their duty, and were straining
every nerve. The lightning's play
was grand; electricity everywhere /;
flames danced along the name, ball
of fire cleaned on each ear tip. By
the flashes the riders located the
lay of the land in front.
Soon we began passing the drags;
no need to look after them; they'd
follow, and the real work was on
ahead. Far away, in front, above
the roar of cattle and thunder, the
guards could be heard singing and
shouting to the maddened herd. AS
we dashed OIL the sounds appeared
to be coming more and more from
the left; the leaders were being
pressed around, and soon by flash
we saw them Coming; right in front
of the crazed animals, looking like a
ghost in his long white slicker, his
fiery little night horse plunging and
fighting for his head, rode Little
Jack, singing, calling and swearing
by turns.
BY concerted action, in which
good luck, stout lungs and heavy
quirts all played important parts,
the herd were thrown together and
the milling began. Around and
around they went, each animal with
its head over the rump of the one
just in front-no beginning, no end,
just solid mass, staring, moaning,
as only stampeded cattle could.
Balls Of fire leaped from horn to
horn. The cowboys were seated on
their horses, still as statues, all FORM
ing picture that couldn't be dupli-
Gated. The order was passed along
to "Give more room!' the riders fell
back, the mill" ceased, and soon
was heard a series Of coughs.
"Jess clearing their pipes for
another dash" some one said.
Now the rain began, first slow,
then increasing, till finally 1T was
coming in driving sheet. With
the first drops the cattle turned and
began drifting with the storm, all
the riders getting in front and en-
deavoring to hold them back.
"If we kin only hold 'em till their
hides get wet, | believe we've got
EN-" old Joe said.
But it wasn't to be. Something
gave them a scare and away they
went. No sooner were the leaders
checked, than others turned leaders,
and the whole herd went laundering
after them. Another mill was