Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-02-23
TREACHEROUS ALKAl.I SPOTS

what are known as alkaii spots upon
the eastern plains, a New York Sun
man was Informed by a Gothamite Who
had herded cattle for some seasons N
the northwest, ARE WhitiSh places on
the prairie, sometimes covering many
acres Here the alkai has eXuded from
the soil and has the appearance Of lime
Sprinkled over the surface. This ap-
pearance is most noticeable where the
soil is damp. Some Of these places are
of a marshy character, and some Of
them. though this IS rare, are veritable
quagmires as deluSive and dagerOuS as
the quicksands Of the Platte. They can
be described only as a network of
swamp holes separated by narrow strips
of firm SOIL The entire surface appear
ing the same and equally firm. A
spongy soil or crust Of varying thick
ness covers the holes, and one might
never suspect their existence until,
breaking through, he sinks rapidly into
a mushy, clinging, inextricable mire.
''Herling cattle in Wyoming, my clos
est companion for months had been a
young man "a years Of age, a handsome
| fellow with classic features, a we'll
nodded figure, a good rider, and crack
shot. The rougher boys often twitted
him about his fair, shapely hands and
! his care of them, for when on duty he
always wore heavy buckskin gloves.
He was reticent and said little about
his past life, but expressions he dropped
and his knowledge of college sports
convinced me he was q college man.
Many nights, far from human habita-
ton, in the open air we slept between
the same blankets or watched the herd
while communing with our thoughts
and talking to the stars, which seemed
so much nearer and brighter than III
the far-away eastern home.
1T came about that one day after a
roundup thirty head of cattle were
missing from the herd. There was a
suspicion that they had been stolen by
rlstlers but they might have wandered
beyond the usual limits of the range
so the next morning my companion
and [ were instructed by the superin
tendent to 60 in search Of them. We
had ridden forty miles since the break
of day. finding no trace Of the lost cat
tie. and late in the afternoon had decid
ed to return. In a short time we saw
in front of us an alkai spot of unusual
size. AS we started to cross it N!
companion was several hundred yard!
to nv right and a short distance aheaC
of me. In a few moments I heard al
exclamation from him, and looking III
saw his horse sinking into a qua gnire
Riding rapidly forward [ felt the surface
waver beneath me, and knew that tn
next moment I might myself be ingulf
ed. There was but one thing to do.
asked him if his feet were free from
the sti1rups, and he called back tina
. they were. I told him to clasp hi
: hands above his head, and he did sc
[ mentally measured the distance wit
t a sinking sense of horror and doubt
It was a supreme moment. My laTia
t described the circle above my head
? then cut the air, lowered over him fo
1 an instant, descended gracefully, an
D tightened around his chest. 1t had COY
5 cred the distance with not an inch t
: spare. I literally dragged him fror
his horse to solid ground and safety
He had locked his hands behind h
Q head, his buckskin gloves protectin
them, and they saved his head and fac