The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-04-06
PRAIRIE QUAGMIRES.
Treaoherous A1kali Spots in the
Western Plains.
A Wyoming Herder's Thrilling Story of
His Rescue of n Companion
from One of the Dead
" Swamps.


iy Swamps.
"What are known as alkali spots upon
the western plains" New York Sun
man was informed by Gothamite who
had herded cattle for some seasons in
the northwest, "are whitish places on
the prairie, sometimes covering many
acres. Here the allxali 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 marshy character, and some of
them, though this is rare, are veritable
quagmires, as delusive and dangerous
as the quicksands of the Platte They
can be described only as network of
swamp holes separated by narrow
strips of firm soil, the entire surface ap-
pearing 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.
"Herding cattle in Wyoming, my
closest companion for months had been
a young man twenty-four years of age,
q handsome fellow with classic features,
a well-molded figure, 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 buck
skin gloves. He was reticent and said
little about his past life, but express
sions he dropped and his knowledge of
college sports convinced me he was a
college man. Many nights, far from
human habitation, 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 in the far-away eastern
home.
''It came about that one day after
roundup thirty head of cattle were
missing from the herd. There was a
suspicion that they had been stolen by
rustlers, but they might have wandered
beyond the usual limits of the range; so
the next morning my companion and l
were instructed by the superintendent
to go in search of them. We had rid
den forty miles since the break of day,
finding no trace of the lost cattle, and
late in the afternoon had decided to re-
turn. In short time we saw in front
of us an allzali spot of unusual size. AS
we started to cross it my companion
was several hundred yards to my right
and short distance ahead of me. In a
few moments I heard an exclamation
from him, and looking up saw his horse
sinking into quagmire. Riding rapid.
ly forward felt the surface waver be-
meath me, and knew that the next mo-
ment ! might myself be engulfed.
There was but one thing to do. asked
him if his feet were free from the stir
rups, and he called back that they
were. ! told him to clasp his hands
above his head, and he did SO; mental
ly measured the distance with a sink
ing sense of horror and doubt. 1t was
supreme moment. My lariat de-
scribed the circle above my head, then
cut the air, lowered over him for an in.
stant, descended gracefully and tight
ened around his chest. 1t had covered
the distance with not an inch to spare.
literally dragged him from his horse
to solid ground and safety. He had
locked his hands behind his head, his
buckskin gloves protecting them, and
they saved his head and face, so that he
brought up with only few bruises.
''It was useless to think of extricat-
ing the horse, which had sunk into the
mire until nothing but his head and
neck were above the surface, and as we
started off he turned his head toward
us with eyes so sad and whinny so
mournful it was almost human.
could not stand it, and, drawing my
Colts, aimed and fired. His head
dropped forward. Poor Pete was saved
from horrible, lingering death. and
the most popular broncho in the camp
was no more.
"Now came new discovery. The
alkali spot was of oblong shape, and,
as we rode round it to avoid another
attempt at crossing, within space OF
about five acres, well toward the cen,
ter, we counted twenty pairs of horns
just above the surface, as if they were
growing out Of the ground. We were
satisfied that we had fathomed the
mystery of the lost cattle. They had
attempted to cross the place and had
sunk into the swamp holes. In then
struggles to release themselves they
had naturally kept their heads up as
long as possible, and, death overtalling
them when the mire reached their
mouths and nostrils, they remained in
that position, with only their horns
above the surface The others of the
! -
same fate, but, striking softer and
deeper mire, had disappeared entirely
below the surface"