The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-05-07
HERDER On WHEELS.
The Bicycle Takes the Place OF
the Fractions Mustang.
A Western Cowboy Who Prefers the
Machine to the Animal-What
tho Indians Think Of His
Steed.

A cowboy and sheep herder mounted
upon bicycle instead of pony-that
is the latest. It sounds like the inven-
ton of story writer, but it Is a sober
fact. The time-honored and heretofore
indispensable mustang has been super.
seeded. Buffalo Bill is out of date.
Arthur Graham, of Carbon county.
Wyo., is the man who has introduced
this startling innovation. He is NOT
seeking notoriety. He uses the silent
steed OF steel in herding his sheep sim
ply because he finds it more convenient
and serviceable. He prefers the bicycle
to the horse because it never bucks
never goes wind broken. never runs
away when left alone for a few mo.
ments, and IN many other respects is far
more tractable than a pony.
A very slight thing may stampede q
herd of sheep and send them scurrying
over the plains in widest disorder. The
sudden start of pony, sometimes even
the unexpected appearance of the
mounted herdsman, is sufficient to
cause an unreasonable rush toward
those vast re9lms of nowhere which
stretch, practically without limit, in all
directions about the grazing ground.
Herder Graham has had all Of these
experiences, and many weary hours
in the saddle hunting up the stragglers
from stampede have brought him to
appreciate advantages of the wheel
over the horse. For some unexplained
reason the sheep appear to take kindly
to the bicycle. Its silent meanderings
do not seem to disturb them, and the
cycling herdsman can go in and out,
wherever inclination or duty calls him,
with little fear Of alarming the sheep
Mr.. Graham has one companion in
addition to his woolly charges, long
horned, scraggy haired goat, which he
has successfully trained to do the work
of an ordinary sheep dog, He has be.
come very much attached to his thick
skulled pet and AYERS that no dog ever
performed the work more satisfactori- |
ly. The goat will trot along for hours
just behind his cycling master, except
when duty calls him off to round up
fold. He seems to understand his task
perfectly, and no runaway sheep ever
gets far from the flock. II the recall |
citrant shows disposition to become
unruly, it is actually butted into good
behavior.
Graham has had many amusing ex-
periences in consequence Of his odd
method OF pursuing his vocation Once
while he was spinning along over the
prairie'he suddenly ran across small
band of stray Indians. The effect of bis
appearance, SO novel to these untutored
savages, was much like the sensation
created among their fathers when the
'tiron horse" first made its appearance
on the plains. They stampeded like
frightened sheep.
The cyclist dismounted when he saw
the panic that his wheel had created
end laughingly beckoned the braves to
come nearer and inspect it. After con.
siderable coaxing they finally gathered
around the innocent cause Of their |
alarm and in silence made most |
minute inspection. Finally one old buck |
turned to Graham with the remark: |
"What you call 'em-wheel horse?"
Graham explained as best he could the
purposes of the machine and invited
his new friends to take ride After |
a long powwow a young buck was dele
gated to make the attempt. He care
fully seated himself in the saddle and |
started the machine with his foot. The |
result can be readily imagined. In a |
second Indian and bicycle were in a
confused tapgle on the ground. When !
the redman finally untangled himself
he Joined his comrades with a fierce
scowl, answering their jeers with the |
sententious remark: Ugh! Heap bad !
for Injun. Better ride bad horse"
No amount of persuasion would In |
duce any of the remaining Indians to
make the trial-Philadelph Press.