Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-12-09
THE STORY OF
:. A STAMPEDE.
BY J. q. CRAhFiLL

TOWBOG life 20 years ngo IN Iexas
1 was very different from whit IL is
to-day. Then the big ranches were
unknown and the cattle were raised In
the open prairies. and the maverick
had not become extinct. II was in
the years just preceding the incident
here related that saw service rs a cow
boy and was thoroughly familiar with
life on the trails. OF the incident itself
l was not nn eyewitness, but II was
told TO me by my friend, Mr.. N. B.
Davis, an old Texas ranger and cow
boy. who Ia 10 the early life OF Texas
what Joaquin Miller is to California.
/ give the story as nearly as l can re-
member it just as it came from his
lips. II chronicles one Of the most
desperate stampedes ever witnessed by
a Texas cowboy.
In 1876 the Wilson brothers, of Kan
sas City. having purchased over 1900
head of cattle in Hamilton. Comanche,
Coryell and Bell counties. and having
arranged 10 centralize the herd near
Comanche Springs. In McLennan coun-
ty, drove to the Bennett hills and went
their orders. These cattle were driven
across the Leon at various suitable
fords and coD~erged On that beautiful
prairie, In the center of which now
stands the town of McGregor. On the
Fourth Of July OF that year the en-
tire herd was under way, headed for
TowaAh on the Brazos river. II was
u magnificent army of steers. in su-
perb condition. kept together by a
corps Of Is cowboys, mounted on bron-
chos-men experienced in the business.
Tho herd was not pressed, the object
being to let them Craze on the rich
herbage. with a view to keeping them
In good condition and reaching the
market In time 10 catch the best prices
In the fall of the year. At four o'clock
In the afternoon there were signs Of
showed above the foothills, and fhe
sun shining against It painted a rain
bow which appeared 10 touch the earth
ut both ends. The entire herd became
nervous and showed their fear by those
low bellowInRy, ominouK TO the expert
enced cattleman ns the muttering thun-
der. The cowboys were experienced
men. and they kept the moving mass
well In hand, 80 that when the sun set
all was we'll. md the cattle were bedded
on the plains near the South Bosque,
and night settled in with the promise
Of q safe crossing at the Brazos the
next day. A detail Of four cowboys
was made for the first watch. and these
mounted senunels took their places
and rode silently around the sleeping x
squadron OF long-horns. The first
watch ended at nine o'clock. and the
second watch went on duty. 1t was
during the second watch that the
memorable Wilson stampede occurred.
At ten o'clock the cattle appeared 10
be sleeping profoundly. The cowboys
say that cattle dream and see ghosts;
IL IL certain that this drove Of $4,000
was nervous. made no, perhaps, by the
thunderstorm OF the previous afternoon
and the rainbow which they had eyed
with suspicion. 1t is likely that great
many cattle in that vast accumulation
had never seen such rainbow. II was
distinct throughout the arch and very
broad. the lightning. too. ws very
vivid. and the tbunderclaps that fol-
lowed were like sharp artillery. The
cowboys insisted long nfterward that
IL wax tho thunderStorm and the rain
bow Of the afternoon that caused the
stampede that night. Be that as II
may, n w1ls II stampede that the cattle
men who witnessed II have never for
gotten, and nre Etll telling of 20 pos
terty.
The stars were. all shining. and there
was no cause at all for the nrousing of
the herd. They appeared 10 get up all
At once. with q single purpose, and the
roar that wa heard seemed TO come
from n single throat. The Wilson
brothers and their cowboys who were
sleeping In their camp rushed 10 their
ponies who were grazing with the sad
dles and brides on. and ns fast n. the
bits couki be replaced in their mouths
they mounted and galloped to the
tanks of the now disappearing mass.
headed in the direction Of tho Brazos
river.
The cowboys on guard took the usual
course In such cases; they kept out of
the way OF the charging mass, and gul-
loped on the fanks. moving toward
the head Of the column, hoping TO
"point them on" ss they call IL, and
start them moving in n circle. The
boys who formed the guard. In gal
lopiug nlong the front OF the STAN
pede. saw the eyes Of the terrified
a.. I.tx
protrudinR. They uttered those low
note. of terror 30 familiar on the
plains. and gnlloped madly along. suf.
ferinR from n panic for which no real
cause existed on earth.
whats the matter with the cattleY'
asked tenderfoot, az he galloped be.
side an old cowboy.
They've seen the devil. / expect"
the cowboy replied. "nnd we will cateE
IL before we get through with This
thing"
Az the herd rushed on their. horns
ratified together, md all the horns Of
1900 head OF cattle rattling together
sounded like an immense concert OF
cnstnnets.
Cattle are not able TO sustain IA Ion X
run. and this the cowboys know. For
Instance, n mad speed Of five miles IL
enough TO break down almost any
steer; and the oattlemcn knew how the
country lay beyond them. and in thi.
respect they had an advantage.
The Reinforcement of the rowh,oys
who were on duty. and who had hastily
mounted and joined those on watch al
the time. gave them u strong advan.
tsge In the efforts being made TO stop
the stampede. The plan was 70 get
the cattle TO milling" or running In
a circle. The elder OF the Wilson broth.
ers had been COW boy from childhood