Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1894-04-14
WOES or cATrLcMcN.
In OLD Days che Buffalo Stampede
Was One 81 the Chief 0anases.


It was not always human agencies
that made life on the prairie a bur-
den to the cattlemen, says the Globe
Democrat. Roaming over the prairies
were great herds of buffalo, and the
driver with his cattle stretched out in
u line mile or more in length might
consider himself fortunate II none Of
the sh aggy-coated beasts came near
him on the way from ranch to ship.
ping station. The coming of a herd
Of buffalo was usually foretold by the
sound Of thousands Of koofs, like the
sound Of rafting thunder. At the
alarm every effort was made to con-
solidate the herd into the closest
possible compass. The herders then
waited on the edge Of the herd and
endeavored to keep the animals quiet.
1t was useless to attempt to move.
out Of the way Of the buffalo, for IL
the wild creatures were on stam-
pede nothing could stop and nothing
evade them. The course was likely
to zig-zag, and only good fortune
could prevent a collision. First would
appear above some knoll long black
line Of shaggy heads, then behind
these solid black mass that made
the whole prairie seem alive with the
tremendous beasts. The plains
trembled with their tread and the
believing of the bulls made noise
that was particularly exciting to the
cattle. Good luck II the wild pro-
cession went by without touching
the stock. But many poor fellows
all was swept out OF existence by such
a charge. No force could Withstand
1t and all that remained Of the cattle
representing SO much hard work and
% many months Of waiting were
trampled carcasses and perhaps an
animal here and there lingering in.
misery.
There were other dangers. Span
ish fever might be contracted from .
herd that had preceded tho one on
route on the trail. Swollen rivers.
poured their muddy food SO swiftly
that sometimes a fourth Of herd
would be lost In the crossing. Beauti.
full sight as the crossing Of river
in Its normal condition was, the fruit
less battling with a tempestuous
stream when It was on n rampage
was correspondingly fearful. To see
the line Of horns and frightened faces
(about oil that remained above water)
bending farther AMI farther down +,
stream until perhaps II broke and
one after another Of the usually SELF
reliant creatures, seeing that further
struggle was useless, gave up the
fight and foated away down the tur-
bid current drowned, was pitiful.
With the opening OF the trail from
the Red river to Kansas things grew
better. The well beaten path was In,
such constant use that raids were
practically impossible, and during
the height OF tho drive there could
be heard ut evening the believing OF
the herds along the track for dozen
miles. each within hearing Of the one
preceding and the ono following.
Fords were improved also, and there
was less danger from stampedes.
Nowadays the ranchman knows moth.
ing OF such dangers. His thousands.
Of acres are surrounded by barbed
wire fences. Great corrals receive
the herds ut branding time, and he 10,
indeed poorly located II railroad 10
not within mile or two of the ranch,
somewhere, II indeed 1t does not run.
through 1t. The cattle are not the
deer-like creatures OF earlier days.
Then the tleetest horse was necessary
in herding, and only tho combination
OF horse and rider was safe In the vi.
entity OF the steers. For that CEN
taur.looking union they had great re-.
spect, but man or horse alone would
be hooked 70 death. The modern.
cattle ranch Is conducted on as reg
ular business principles and almost
as safely as a dry goods store. It's
managers would not know how to
cope with the troubles OF their pre-.
cursors and may congratulate them
selves upon living In milder age.