Cañon City record., 1898-01-13
THE STORY OF
:. A STAMPEDE.
sY ). 3. cRAnFILL.
COWBOY life 20 years ago in Texa.

n y
" was very different from what il is
to-day. Then the big ranches were
unknown and this cattle were raised in
The open prairies, and the ''mayerick''
lad not become extinct. 1t was in
the years just preceding the incident
here related that / saw service a. ccw-
boy and was thoroughly familiar with
life on the trails. OF the Incident itself
/ was not an eyewitness, but it was
told to me by my friend, Mr. NJ. b.
Davis, an old Texas ranger and COW
boy. who is TO The early life of Texas
what Joaquin Miller is to California.
second wafch went on duty. II MAS
during the second watch that the
memorable Wilson stampede occurred.
At ten O'Clock the cattle appeared to
be sleeping profoundly The cowboys
say that cattle dream and see ghosts:
il is certain that this drove of $1,000
was nervous. made so, perhaps. by the
thunderstorm of the prey ious afternoon
and the rahbow which they had eyed
with suspicion. II is Likely that n great
many cattle in that vast accumulation
had never seen such a rainbow. 1t was
distinct throughout the arch and very
vivid. and the thunderclaps that fol-
lowed were like sharp artillery The
cow boys insisted long afterward that
If W as the thunderstorm and the rain
bow of the afternoon that caused the
stampede that night Be that as it
may. 1t WAS n stampede that the cattle
men who witnessed it have never for
gotten. and are still telling of to pos
terity-
The stars were all shining. and there
was no cause at all for the nrousing OF
the herd They appeared to get up all
at once. with single purpose. and the
roar that was heard seemed to come
from a single throat. The Wilson
brothers and their cowboys who were
-4leeping in their camp rushed TO their
ponies who were grazing with the sad
dies and brides on. and as fast as the
bits could be replaced in their mouths
they mounted and galioped TO the
4anks of the now disappearing mass.
headed in the direction OF the Brazos
ffrer.
The cowboys on guard took the usual
coarse in such cases: they kept out OF
1he way of the charging mass. and gal
1oped on the tanks. moving toward
abe head of the column. hoping to
point them on as they call it. and
start them moving in circle. The
boys who formed the guard. in gal
looping along the front of the stam-
pede. saw the eyes of the terrified
beeves emitting fire and their tongues
protruding. They uttered those low
notes of terror so familiar on the
plains. and galloped madiy along, suf-
fering from q panic for which no resi-
cause eA.s:ed on Garth
What's the mattt.' with the caitle2
asked a ,eno., foot. as he galioped be
ride an cd cowboy
They're seen the devil, i expec5.'
the cowboy replied; '-and We will catch
il before We get through with tbi>
thing
As the herd rushed on their horns
Iatt.ed together, and all the norus oi
1900 head of cattle rattling together
sounded like an immense concert OF
-castaneis.
Cattle are not able to sustain u long
run. and this the cowboys know. For
instance, a mad speed OF five miles is
enough TO break down a.most any
steer; and the ost;ielnel. .sn, " bow the
country .ay beyond them. and IN this
respect they had an adsan
The Reinforcement of .he COW ooys
who were OF duty, and y. 10 haa hastily
mounted aud joined thost - watch a.
the time, gave them strong sdSan-
tage in the efforts being made 10 stop
the stampede. The plan Was 80 get
the cattle to milling" or Tua1,lJg in
a circle. The elder OF the vi 80 9TH
'ers had been 4 cowboy from D Ia. o5d.
He was riding cream -colOl ,,d stsl-
lion, and as he passed me ..e had his
Colts revolver III his hanG. one of the
cowboys ON gray horse wa, asc 80
keep up with him. These twau,stsGetd q
all the others They rode &c oss t,,,
front of the stampede. which : 1, feat
attended with terrific darye f.r = %, T;
n rider is in front OF the rus ing aIoVr
OF mad cattle, If his hors. slau..i ssuui
bic and fall. he may be pu, ,to,.i -, =
thing of the past. The HI n. wi, wipe
him out" This Mr.. wilson knew. ll,s
the cowboy riding close 10 h.s er,sl.,.cr
also knew; but they were going 10
take all the dangers and get taa. ,rd
running in = circle IL it were possible to
do so.
Some cattle can outrun others. and
in this case there was a bunch Of dboui
so fully 20 yards in advance. anu t1NaId
this leading group the two reschers
rode. OF the leading group, also, some
were faster than Others. aud this group
ran in q diai.-ond shape. with two im-
mcnse steers leading ali. When Mr..
Wilson aud his companion reached the
Two leading steers they began shoot
hng their r<volvers close TO them. and
m that way the bunch was made 10
oslique. and as the lending bunch cf
cattle obliqaed the main stampede OF.
tsqued. and the first step IN Railing
hsd been taken. Ry this tinse the cat
tie were getting tired. Nearly fvS
miles had been covered. and the breath
of the leaders was eor'r.- rnsrt and
painfully. but they were rushing On.
because the front cattle at this tiiae
knew AZ = matter Of fac; their on.y
safety was in kevping up tae run.
Those behind, were coming. ard they
were in the majority. and the leaders
were ccmpeced TO run There was real
danger for the forward me embers of the
staapesie-
In the invoicc Of articles contained
In the regulation outfit there is al
ways some kind o. stima.s-ss; and
hus for thu stimulants con,alned in Mr..
vXVknHs~ ....saf IL Il /.