Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-08-02
SHEPHERDS ON WHEELS.
Bicycles Used by Sheep Men In
California.
The Machine supplanting the Horse op
the Plains-Herders Run Down
Coyotes on Their Novel
Steeds

Herding sheep on bicycle is an In
novation introduced by Frank Smith
on the wide, roadless plains lying be-
tween Fresno slough and the foothills
Of the coast range, in the western part
of Fresno county. Perhaps the wheel
will not come into general use for that
! purpose, as it is nearly always imprac-
ticable 10 ride a bicycle over ranges
where sheep find pasturage, but nature
has provided one of the finest courses
III the world on the open plains of the
west side, where the ground is as level
as floor, and the wheelman can often
ride fifty miles without changing his
course, and all the time over country
where roads are almost unknown, and
where not fence or a ditch interpose
10 stop the journey. The cabins of a
few homesteaders sometimes meet the
view, dotting the horizon here and
there, but aside from these there is lit
tie or no evidence Of civilization in all
the country as far as the eye can
reach.
That region is dead waste, almost
without vegetation, except during the
rainy weeks of winter and early spring.
When the hot weather comes the short
growth of alfilaria dries and the winds
sweep every vestige of it from the face
of the earth, leaving the ground smooth
and level as race course.
This season the unusual rains and the
phenomenal warmth have produced a
growth of verdure such as has seldom
been known there, covering the earth
like carpet. The shcepmen have
driven their herds to that quarter from
all sides because pasturage there costs
nothing. Frank Smith, who has charge
of several herds, breaks the monOtony,
says the san Francisco Chronicle, by
gliding on his wheel from band TO band.
thus dispensing with a horse and deriv-
ing pleasure from what was before
work. He can round up herd quicker
than dog can do it. The dogs seem To
view the bicycle with disgust, and look
upon it as the latest device of labor
saving machinery.
The most novel experience is in rid
ing after coyotes, which always hang
upon the outskirts of band of sheep,
ready 10 put sick or crippled one out
OF its misery the moment the herders
back is turned. A coyote is able 10
keep ahead of a bicycle, and enjoys the |!
exercise for the first few miles. But |
when he has had an hour or two of the |
sport. and the tirclcss and unhagging |
wheel continues to hang upon his line
of retreat the fun begins 10 wear off, |
and the long-eared galloper OF the
plains realizes that the transaction Is
not intended as a joke. by the time
another hour has passed, and ten or
dozen miles more of the level plain
have been measured off, and the re-
wheel continues not more
than two hundred and twenty yards in
the rear, or perhaps has gained little,
the situation becomes decidedly un-
pleasant for the coyote. The smile Of
scorn that curled his lip during the first
ZEN miles of the race, as he looked back,
irst over one shoulder then over the
'ther, gradually disappears soon after
he second ten miles is entered upon.
The animal looks back as often as ever.
'ut the expression on his ilnpudent
ace seems 10 say tina. the Joke has
'een carried far enough, ami he is will
ny 10 play quits if the wheel is willing.
The coyote is a long-winded animal,
nd it takes good wheclman % ride
ne down. Under ordinary circum-
tances il is impossible, for he will e
trike for a thicket when he discovers ,
hat il is 10 be a survival of the fittest
tut on the west side plains there are so
nlnpnG Of nnranu1vpa,,+ NJ n
rairies are so level and limitless that @
he coyote may have to run two or three a
ours before he can find cover. The G
alter part Of such a run is weary one q
)r him. He may be able TO escape, y
ut sometimes he falls a victim TO the II
evolver of the wheelman, and once in
while he is lassoed, although in such
case he must be shot anyway. for his
seth are called into action as soon as
e finds himself at the end of rope.
esides, he is apt to jerk the rider off
is wheel by sudden turns.
The jackrabbit is not so noble game
; the coyote from the point of view OF
he bicyclist, but is harder TO run down.
is not because of greater speed or a
reater endurance, but because the !"
Ibbit will not run very far In a Al
raight line. When il finds itself pur- b
led it may run in one direction for .
while, but il soon doubles back. and l.
ON that time on it runs in circles or
ore probably in an angular course,
flying the wheelman. and continually
'eping out of range of the pistol
Efforts have been made two or thre.
mes 20 run down the only antelope in
ntral California, perhaps, but the eff
rts did not meet with success, because 49,
csc animals never venture very far 10
om the foothills of the coast range. ne
ID when pursued they run for rough ri
ound. An antelope, after il has drunk ge
fill, could not outrun a bicycle ten ~,
les on smooth ground. The animals in
e swift for a mile or two, but they Sa
mot keep mp their pace long at at
ne. Those in Fresno county have
cir home in the brush back of the
81 range of foothills and seldom VEN
re out upon the plains r