Passaic City record., 1893-04-22

" edged, wide-topped
mountain across northwestern Wyoming.
A network of bitches, gulches and
canons, labyrinthine tangle of water
ways, slashing the sides and angles OF
the breaks, goes to form the heads OF
these creeks.
These numerous and precipitous rum
lets produce the dreaded washouts
which, in the season of rains, occasion
ally food the upper valleys Of all the
streams in that region. Those who are
acquainted with the country make it a
point to avoid building habltation Of
any kind in the narrow creek valleys,
and never encamp in them in
the season of rains, which come in
April, May and June.
In these months occasional violent
showers, accompanied by frightful cleo
trio displays, occur upon the plateau,
and the rains which fall In foods are
poured so suddenly down the deep.
hard beds Of thousands Of bitches and
small canons that their volume reaches
the valley Of creek with all the effect
of cloud burst.
In 1878 my uncle was one of party
of 'stender-foots" who lost half dozen
wagons and most of their horses and
effects, and had three of their number
drowned in the valley of Beaver Creek
where it comes out at Buffalo Gap. My
uncle lost riding pony and saddle, u
trunk containing some valuables, his
gun and all his clothing except that
in which he had lain down.
During the building of the 'Black
Hills Branch" railway, several camps of
workmen were overtaken by flood in
the deep, canon like valley of short
tributary of the South Cheyenne. Five
of them persisted in the flood, and their
camps were completely wrecked.
A few years ago Swede, named
Scharf Bergman, emigrated from Min
nesota to the vicinity of the v. Box.
ranch near the source of Horse Head
Creek. He came early in the season,
with his wife, several children and a
bunch of sheep, and built shack of cot
tonwood logs about mile below the
v. BOX. buildings.
The prospective railroad had attracted
many settlers. or ssnesters," as the cow
boys called them. They were dropping
in and buildings their temporary cabins
all along the stream, and were already
beginning to break laDd. The ranch
men at the v. Box, like all cattlemen,
had contempt tor agricultural settlers,
whom they regarded as an obstruction
and nuisance.
One day, when the Swede had been in
his cabin about month, Bob Nugent
and "Tex"--I never learned Tex's full
or real name-two cowboys who were
stopping alone at the ranch, happened to
ride by the Swede's shack, and noted
that he had built it upon q fiat in the
nerrow valley, scarcely four feet above
the level of the creeks ordinary bed.
Tne settler was at the moment up-
hitching yoke of oxen from load Of
pine wood which he had just hauled
down from the breaks. Three tow
headed children were climbing up on the
wagon.
The cowboys saw at glance the
perilous situation of his cabin. They
turned their horses heads and rode down
to the man.
.sHow dye do2" said Tex.
ssHow do2" answered the Swede, with
suspicious look on his face.
"Look hyerel" said Tex. s'If you
don't pull your freight out O. that hole,
the next washout III drownd you an
your woman an all them leetle cotton
tops" !.
"Vat you said9" Ino understan that.
answered Bergman.
With some difficulty Bob Nugent made
the man understand that they advised
him to remove his shack and effects to
higher ground, to escape possible food.
But Bergman had heard of the dislike OF
the cattlemen to s.nesters, and suspected
a wicked design to frighten him of his
claim.
81 bees man. he said stoutly. 81
have always mint my own beesness. Bet
ter you mint yours, meester gattlemans.
stay where was.'
So the COW boys left him, but made up
their minds to keep an eye open toward
the cabin, at least for the sake OF the
woman, and children.
Only few days after this sudden
storm came up in the night. Bob was
awakened by terrific clap of thunder,
and moment later heard the rain pour
ing in torrents. He rose and looked out;
the water was falling in floods. as he
could see by the constant vivid flashes o.
lightning.
He thought Of the Swede and bis
family, and hurrying to the room where
Text slept, woke hlm-Tex had repu.
tation at the ranch IS . s'eeper--and
two or three minutes later the two COW
boys wei, dressed and out In the storm.