The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-09-05
HOW JERRY RODE
THE WHITE STEER.
A Boys Adventure With the Redskins
BY II. c. HARBAUGH.

Phineas Tomkins was one ofthe little
band OF hardy pioneers who braved
the perils of the unbroken wilderness
with General Rufus Putnam in 1887,
and at last reached the sheltering for
ests of Ohio.
The company consisted of forty-sev-
en- people and their axes rang formany
days while they erected block houses
in the Indian-infested country where
now stands the city of Marietta not far
from Blcnnerhassett's famous island in
that beautiful river.
a year or two after the initial settle
ment I'm the wilderness more settlers ar
rived, and among these Were Phineas
TOmkins' family, whom he had left be
hind in Connecticut. More cabins were
needed for the new arrivals, and they
were soon built and before long quite
a settlement had sprung up on the site
of the now pretty city.
The family of Tomkins consisted of
himself, his wife and a boy named
Jerry.
The boy, at the time IS, gave all
promise of pcing hardy youth, and
soon he knew the trails of the forest rs
well as the oldest hunter. He took
many long trips up and down the river
in light canoe, and several times he
had run down deer which had taken
to the water when hard pressed by the
dogs.
In course of time the settlement had
collected good herd of cattle, which
furnished it with change of food and
supplied il with milk. Three of these
belonged to Pheneas Tomkins, and
among them was a large white steer
called Snowfall"
Sometimes jerry went out to drive
them in, and on these occasions he
generally mounted TO the back of the
white steer and rode him like horse
seemed TO like this, and now
and then he would come down the trail
at full gait, which was almost as good
as that of a keen racer.
One afternoon in the late autumn,
when the woods were putting on their
crimson garments, Jerry Tomkins
started out to bring in the herd as usual.
Rumors of an Indian uprising had
reached the settlement, but as no saw
ages had been seen prowling in the
they were not credited,
and the men had gone about their du-
ties without alarm.
The Connecticut boy found that the
herd had strayed little father from
home than usual, and before he knew
il he was two mile from the nearest
cabin. Already the woods were dotted
with the lengthening shadows thrown
by the trees, and he heard the night
owls hooting.
AT last from knoll in a small OPEN
ing he saw the cattle grazing near the
river, and he started forward.
The moment the herd saw him there
was a movement i'm his direction, and
the boy ran up To Snowfall and patted
him playfully on the sleek shoulders.
The white steer turned his head and
met Jerry's eye.
''How are you for a ride home ."
asked the boy, and at the same time he
vaulted upon SnowbalPs back and
struck him with his open hand.
The cattle understood, and left Off
grazing and turned their heads toward
the settlement.
Not sound broke the quietude of
the woods as they started on. Jerry
kept SNOWFALL at his place at the head
of the procession. But all at once the
white steer stopped and began to sniff
the air. He would lift his head and
dilate his nostrils in n manner which
was soon initiated by the Others, and
the boy began to fear that danger lurk-
ed near them.
'Move along, Snowfall, old fellow,r
cried Jerry, eager TO he going, rs the
shadows were getting longer f; by the
time they reached home il would he
quite dark.
The next moment, and almost before
the command had left the boys lips,
whizzed past his head and
struck a tree almost i'm their path.
Jerry Tomkins knew at once that an
arrow had been fired at him-he had
but to look to see the feathered shaft
Iuivering i'm the bark. 1t was long,
slender shaft, with his wild turkey
tied on the sinews after the
of the red arrow-makers. and
the sight of it was enough to stir the
blood of the Connecticut boy.
The wi,izzing of the arrow had start
led the cattle, especially SNOWFALL, and
4 moment later all were rushing over
the trail with their heads and tails erect
and the big white steer leading them
was in quiver excitement. A per-
feet shower of arrows hurled through
the air and several struck the hindmost
Df the herd.
1t was now race for life, as the boy
saw, and rs he fell forward on the
white steers back, he dug his heels i'm
to the heated fanks and urged him to
his upmost speed.
The trail was not very broad, but it
was defined enough to enable the herd
to keep it. Single file, led by the big
white steer, the cattle rushed along,
followed by at least % Indians painted
ior the warpath and armed, exerting all
heir strength, and Jerry had but to
p..t-