Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-12-02
STAMPEDE FREAKS.
WILD SCENES AMONG HERDS or
SAVAGE PRAIRIE CATTLE.

Pictures Of Terrible sighss--Fsmsss Reus
os nm IN Fassd Array supply Traia.
some incidents That Rs~uissd In st~m-
pedes-How They Are Checked.
Ever since Washington Irving's ''Tour of
the prsirieS," Kendali's '.Ssnta ~ Exps-
dition," or the beginning OF the drive" Of
vast herds OF Texas cattle from the south
west 70 the cold climate Of the north,
where their horns were frozen on and
where many an owners pocletbook was
stiffened In death, a lively interest had
been taken In what In called "stxmpsds"
or scare of animals Ia hertlS
A stampede Of u vast herd Of the Amerf-
can bison, that twenty five years Hgo roam
ed by millions In the interior Of the conti-
nent, wins AN every day affair. Now such
an occurrence has passed away forever.
What caused the huge bcssst. accustomed
TO the tornado. the vivial lightning, the ter
rible hail that frequently accompanies the
sudden, short storm OF the prniries. -
stampede at apparently nothing. In one Of
those problems that admit of NO solution.
Sometimes IL N caused by flash Of light
ming from a dark cloud, again the cry Of q
starved wolf, or the appearances ON tho
horizon OF u single figure. or. perhaps,
something ~ Insignificant rs the barking
Of "a prairie dog sitting on the edge Of its
burrow
A herd once started, frequently the
whole prairie for miles became absolutely
black with the neeing beasts There wns
nothing no indescribsbly grand, yet 10 aw-
full In It's possible results. The earth,
shaken by the heavy. rhythmic tramp Of
their hoofs upon the hard ground. fairly
reverberatesl as they passed given point.
Woe TO him that stood In the way Of the
mighty throng OF infuriated animals; moth
Ing but annihElation. absolute and COM
plete. his portion.
AN ILL rArEp ARMY TRAIN.
Frequently the long army supply train
OF an Indian expedition. composed OF SIX
mule teams tthat Of the winter campaign
of 1882 Was a mile long In four columns.
or four miles long when strung out In =
, single iine), was the scene o. s'stampedeA"
The picture presented when the frightened
animals dashed away from the trail" 70
be tied up In confused mass Of wagons
harness, men and mules cannot be pot
trayed by any pen
Captain Ovenshine. now lieutenant col
, onel OF one OF the infantry regiments Of the
: regular army. received from the writer. st
Fort Hayes, Kan, five or six teams OF the
. character described, Ia the winter Of l0f6,
! to transport some camp equipage from that
post TO Fort Dosige. on the ArkansaA
When the train had covered about half the
!. ldiStance-forty miles-oiie afternoon. just
before going into bivouac. n portion Of the
y animals Stampedesi and nothing could be
discovered Of their whereabouts
d Twenty years nfterwari some Of the set
,r tiers near where now the town Of Mo
!. Cracker, Rush county. h situateet. were
I. surprised TO find In n ravine. or small
y canyon, the almost disintegrated remains
" OF several six mule army wagons the skel-
70 ctons OF over thirty mules and che iron
10 parts OF harness. These fragments were y
ID portion OF the train that had stampecied 10
c. many years before.
r. Cattle have the .affiiction," 20 10 say. "a
N break out when least expected One may
travel for week. believing that ones
animals have been completely cured. when
suddenly, from some atmospheric infin
cnce or other unforeseen ami unsccoune
u able circumstance. away they go. The de
81 vices for breaking IL mp are many. LAM
ny lights are used, noises Hnch IA singing. etc.
he are employed. bui nothing has ever re
,r. been discovered that is an infallible pre-
d. ventive.
:, STARTED FROM BELL-
IL was formerly the custom Of vendor
co TO send herders 10 help start from tn
VI neighborhoosl or ''off the range" ~ IL wa
he termed These occasions were always con
q sidered holiday. and night hrrisng
m, was an excitement eagerly sought Tn
In watch" on one occasion. which consisfe'
y, OF two or three reliefs. hsul donned thei
n, leRgings and spurs. partaken Of cup Q
exhllarating coffee. and sung their ton
through. The cattle resting -sr
quietly. ns is their custom Nc first. oni
lty rising 70 turn from one side TO another. A
a the drive continued ON Its tiressonie wa
per the duty became monotonous. the hcrdei
law became grum. voicslezs. eager only "a
rrv their watch 10 end.
,;a On the night In question the owner I
- the herd, remembering the previous quis
VIC Of his animals. bethoughf himself Of whs
wv. was afterward known on the trail" ~ Il
IN bell racket" He purchased a large COZ
EN- bell for each horse. to serve the douhle pa
ing pose OF a soothing NOISE for the cattle an
i've Ii the boys were wakeful. he would kno
toy by the melody Of the bells that they we
nen In motion. attending to their duty ridln
-. around Unfortunately. In this outfit
~. there was a big. burly negro. intent on
ivr upon sleep and shirking He conceivcd q
brilliant idea OF disengaging the bell fro
his horses neck knd fastening II 70 his sfi
run. SO that he could keep up the naott<
tie with his foot aud nap little st ths san
me. time.
sce- On this particular night he was slumbs
q IA Ing sweetly His horsr. quietly croppil
the grass, happened 70 stray ihto she uiz
die OF the peaceful herd Al this 1nnctu
oru the negro suddenly awakened and. disco
erinr where he was, began 70 shake his p
ont violently. The noise Of course start.
every steer TO his feet and away went 9
Won frightened animals on 4 run
A STAMPEDE AT NIGHT.
-,th In q moment every horAsman In the Z
-, tire snntfit" was iE pursuit, with each
diviaual bell jnrring discorsiAnkfy and ad
lnQ new terror 70 the staznpefsed hsru. i
10 pursuers soon became aware of the folly
following q Aging herd with sisch moi
sim 30 they abandoned their Instruments.
Another stampede was caused ~ herd
tells who carried a cap and ball pistol and
e. cid fashioned powder horn in his wAiS< =
One night ir had rained very bard =
dAmpened hts powder He thengns
would dry u By his watch hrs. y arr
Of course, but with such nose tnAt
" whole herd stampciad
lay One night q hsrder rose TOO Gloss 20
the cattle. His horse stumbled and tell aGail
heir a sleepinu xtesr Then there WAS roHf
Ielty II mi the thunasrx Of Meant olysnpua
.poken. Away went the hsrd. every =
IT,. runninu with Il to the sstrsiis" /" about
rs. n u,ile distant. where thsy mct ether hsr
ny, ,xlth herslers SinxinG their iuilH1y ~ ~
Poof a the infursated animals
mar Phospharrsceut xeIn<illsffoHs III
IAs--.s -. 81 1I..Nk &nNxEx. and x6&