Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-12-17
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TOR over a week it had been
: threatening great things. For a
week nobody on the Lazy H."
ranch had caught more than a momen
tary glimpse of the sun. Chill winds
whiStled and reared over the bleak and
deSolate prairieS on the range and fit
full whirlS of rain made it all the more
d~iSasreeable TO the weary boys who
Were nj work night and day to keep the
uneasy herd from rushing away to the
desert of the south. Although it was
early for wintry manifestations, yet
that 4 serious storm was imminent was
realized by all the men employed on the
ranch. Great punches of cattle milled
at various points ON the range. but'little
effort was made to break the mills, for
fear they would be followed by the
more serious danger of Il general stam-
pede. Riders constantly watched the
tretful animals when they became
weary from hunger as they rushed
around in that c~easeless grind. Moth
ing but a wall of horns was to be seen,
as the steers presented an unbroken
front 10 all corners. With the mutter-
ing of the thunder came lowings and
toSsings of the horns with added en-
ergy in the tramp, tramp of the fright
ened animals.
1t was hard and weary work to keep
the herd from starving as well as rush
ing wildly towards the gulf. All over
the Panhandle country the same con-
ditions existed, and that gloomy week
in November was probably the most
exciting tour of duty the ranchmen
ever put in in 4 region where hard work
abounds and the rewards are small.
Ten thousands pairs of horns were
enough to keep a small army of Lazy
H." cowboys fairly busy when every
thing was pleasant. Now there was
need for double their number. They
We're scattered in groups under sub
bosses, so that every man was doing
two mems work and that, too. without
an opportunity for rest, excepting Such
as could be Snatched when the milling
punches were quiet for Il few minutes.
IF this thing keeps up much longer
said "Curley" Brock, as the week was
almost gone, Il allow I'll jump the
game. I'm almost all cashed in now
and KANT stand 1t much longer. just
look ut them bulls, a-millin' and a-mill-
in there. Ever see anything so mean?
Why, they amt done nothin' fer Il
whole week but tramp about and 90 off
their feed. | allow there amt no use
of trying to break 'cm. whatever"
They'll break pretty soon. or | lose
my guess" said the boss, Bill Martin.
81 figure that them cluudS'll bust some
where %herCabouts, and then look out.
WiSht | had some more ponies. or least
ways some that were fresh. We got to
ride considerable hard to keep up Of they
stampede, which | allow they will"
AS he spoke a long tongue of brilliant
light left the clouds and, winding Il de-
vious and uncertain way across the
black skies, plunged into the earth at
no great distance from where the ranch.
men stood. Instantly 1t was followed
by a roar and rumble of thunder as If
" lhlh u "illH'ly huu SulutllN gone
into action. The sound was deafening.
the thunder in that country often being
sufficiently severe to shake the nerves
of the strongest man. Following this
came a roar as of Somc mighty catar-
act, rs the wind took sudden volume
and that huge bank of clouds bore ran.
Idly down upon the milling beasts.
Just as suddenly the animals halted in
their march and turned frightened eyes
in the direction of the advancing
storm. Then they moved unensily
tossed their horns and dug up the turf
as the first scattering raindrops fell ali
about and upon them.
Here, you ~fellers,' yelled Martin
"Get busy there an head OF them
blamed steers. Don't We see they are
goin' to stampede? Hurry, aud pint
IN at that gulch owe Their. Ride, you
devils, as you never rid before"
Suitlng the action TO the word the
boss put his pony into a violent gallon
and raced or toward the bunch, shout.
ing out his orders as he rode. He was
mounted ON n strong broncho, and II
was well for him that the pony was
comparatively fresh, for he soon found
himself in a position of serious danger
and there he stuck for n long time, He