Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-20

Of cattle obliqued the main stampede OBJ
iiqued, and the first step in milling had
getting tired. Nearly five miles had been
covered, and the breath of the leaders was
coming short and painfully: but they were
rushing on. because the front cattle at
this time knew as a matter of fact their
only safety was in keeping up the run.
Those behind were coming. and they were
PEELED to run. There was real danger for
the forward members of the stampede.
In the invoice articles contained in the
regulation outfit there is always some
kind of stimulants; and but for the slim
ulants contained in Mr.. Wilson'S outfit, it
is possible that the stampede would have
Mexican along. one of the best cowboys in
the Southwest. This Mexican and his horse
always reminded those who saw him ride
of the tabled Centaur. He rode far for
horse appeared to be one animal. No horse.
however rugged, wild and woody had
ever been able to unseat him. This Aztec
had been to the little brandy runlet too
often and had filled and emptied his tin
cup with surreptitious intoxicants. so that
his usual excellent Judgment went awrv.
when he succeeded in getting mounted,
after having fumbled with his bride a
good deal. he was far In the rear, and the
stampede had gone past him.. so when he
overlook the rear end he passed to the
front oil the other side, and rode on the
wrong fank. When he reached the head
of the herd he was just in time to defeat
IIe vancouver then unuGT eXeCutlUn VI Dtiu-
ing the moving mass from a straight line
to a semi-circle. Revolver in hand. dis
regarding the other men, he began shoot
ing in the faces of the wild steers. and
the effect of this was to s~traighten the run
and bring the advance straight toward a
precipice, forming a deed ravine fully thir-
ty yards wide, and In a shorter time than
it takes to tell of this contretemps. the
head of the column was pouring over a
horrible cascade of beef plunging madly
TO destruction while fleeing from an imag-
mary danger.
When Mr.. Wilson and his Iieutenants
saw that 1t was impossible to save their
cattle they saved themselves by dexterous-
ly turning at right angles at full speed
and riding out of the way. They next re-
| turned to the flank and held a council of
war. A few seconds decided them. and all
hands commenced shooting into the herd.
the object now being to build a breastwork
| of carcasseS and save the rear end from
destruction that had overtaken the front.
The gully was nearly full of cattle by this
time They were snorting and believing,
crashing and tearing. and still heaping up:
and when the firing began the wounded
short time the gully. like the sunken road
at Waterloo, was bridged by carcasses. The
herd surged up in pillows. like an ocean,
and bent now. because 1t could not do
otherwise. The semi-circle was formed
and Wilson and his men crossed the gully
below and rode around the opposite side
and recrossed; and in a short time they had
the cattle halted. forming an
letter o and there they stood. blowing,
believing and shivering. All hands re.
manned on watch all night. and in the
morning, when a count was made, 1t was
ascertained that 200 head were missing
There were afterwards 200 pairs of horns
taken from that gully. 1t was called STAN.
pede gully for many years afterward, and
perhaps will always. with some people, be
remembered by that name"