The Republican journal., 1898-02-03
A Stampede in New Mexico.
A Prairie Fire and a Rainstorm. Visit to
Sheep Camp.

Mexico will long be memorable, not only
for the enjoyment of the visit and the hos
pitality shown, but also for the remark
able atmospheric condition Of one day. The
morning dawncd bright and clear, but
without a breath of wind, and instead a
depression of the air that was simply
sitting. At first the sky. was very clear, but
as the sun mounted higher and higher the
horizon became yelled with a thin mist,
which soon formed into light clouds.
These piled up, taking on darker hue,
and finally obscured old Sol.
The night before we rode out to see
herd of 1920 steers, large number for
these days, though few years ago a
bunch of 500 was not uncommon. As
they were driven down to water at the
creek they made an odd appearance, trot-
ting along two or three abreast and form
ing long line, beside which rode the COW
punchers, twirling their ropes and shout
ing the penetrating ''Cooee'' to keep the
cattle is thunder and lightning, and when
storm appears the first thought to cattle
men is to keep the herd from stampeding.
Therefore extra men were sent out to ride
around this herd. The clouds became
denser and the light scarcer. Up to noon
no electrical disturbance had occurred and
there was dead calm. This last fact
seemed very ominous in a country where
the wind almost necessarily blows a gale.
But then bright CLEAN illumed the dusk,
a low rumble sounded and the horses
tugged at the picket ropes. Faster and
faster played the lightning, louder grew
the rumble of thunder, but not drop of
rain, nor zephyr Of wind. Then we
heard the lowing of the frightened herd.
They began to drift away from the storm,
on all sides the sky was mass of flashes.
Then came binding blaze and a tremen.
dous report at the same time. 1t was too
much for the scared animals. Almost to
a beast they paused for moment, paving
the ground, excitedly tossing their heads
in the air, and then with angry snorts
began the stampede. Cow punchers gal
Hoped ahead, swinging their blankets in
the air, yelling and doing what they
could to attract the attention of the brutes
and check them in their mad flight. This
is dangerous business. A misstep Of the
pony and its rider would be instantly
trampled out of recognition by the crazed
cattle. A few years ago when there was
more danger attending the business and
more demand for men, it was not uncom-
$50 a month, and in those days their cos
tunes We're rich and gorgeous. Now that
the hostile Indians are no more and the
herds are smaller, $50 a month is good
pay for them. And as there are many
more towns and places in which to spend
money their picturesque habiliments have
likewise departed.
By hard riding and good work the
stampeded herd was finally rounded up in
a small canon where they We're easily con
trolled and eventually quoted. To one
who has never seen it stampede of cat
tie is wonderfully exciting.
Soon we noticed a long line of smoke in
we knew it was a prairie fire. Flames soon
became visible, and the sight was awful in
its grandeur. A few frightened antelope
dashed by, curlews and other prairie birds
flew screeching by, but fortunately for us
a creek protected this property. Then, also,
little putfs of wind started up, grew into
a gale, and rain came in torrents. Do you
think you know what hard rain is? You
should see it here driven by the wind! 1t
seems to come in solid sheet, and beats
against one with fury that is painful. In
a couple of hours it had ceased, the prairie
fire was extinguished, and from it's black
ened course in a month comes a fine crop
of new grass The clouds scudded away
before the wind, and the clear sweet air
had no trace of the morning S sultriness.
The dry earth drinks up moisture quickly
and that night we spread our camp beds
outside, preferring this to the luxurious
guest rooms. l might say here that
though the wind blows very hard, cyclones
and tornadoes never occur in an altitude
such as this, 900 feet above sea level.
The next morning we rode to the sheep
camp, where $4,000 ewes, bucks and
wethers were yielding up their fleecy
coats. A long 'dobe building, shelters
the shearers, and outside are the pens
where the work is done. Grabbing
sheep by its fleece or leg, it is thrown down !
and the men start in anywhere, though
usually on the shoulder. 1t is quick
work, and in short time the wool s wing |
IN the floor in whole piece as though |
aiken off like a cloak Men are paid by
he piece and will each shear twenty. five |
% fifty in day according to their skill.
It is not unusual to see small pieces of
skin cut off and from such places blood
Will run little. Sometimes the sheep |
struggle and then again you will see one |
placed on his launches and. there he will !
,arOain Jinn;G,d n, ,,,,,,