Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1898-01-02
CROSSING THE Rio GRANoE.
Driving Two Thousand Cattle from
Mexico to the United States.

Mexico to the United States.
Something near 1000 cattle crossed
the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass lately.
They were from a ranch in Coahuila
aud were to be delivered TO one of the
most prominent ranchmen in the south
west. At this time and place the lilo
Grande is q pretty fair sized stream.
1t is nearly a quarter Of a mile wide.
At the fording place there is jus;
enough water to swim a COW in :hc
deepest place. II was not supposed.
however. and II certainly was not the
! case, that the cattle would remain ia
the fording place. Az il turned cut.
they occupied and performed countless
IIaneuvers over about Il mile.
The labor Of the day began about
the middle Of the forenoon. The great
herd of lowing quudrupeds were driven
down mt the foot OF the old Mexican
town across the river and on the long
bar That faces the stream. There WAS
IN army of Mexicans on every side to
keep them in place. 4 dozen bestrCdc
lank horses; the remainder was afOut.
Thcre-vas an abundance If little brown
boys, each with two frail garments and
Us many powerful lungs. The cattle
were driven along the bar up under the
bridge and to n point above the two
towns to the fording place. And here
the leaders were headed out into the
stream. They took to the water with
apparent Willingness, and lashed their
thii.>hnd proceeded with Il Erea; splash.
ing sound as the 5000 feet began TO
smitc the water. When they were about
half submerged the leaders turned a
little to the right down stream. As il
by previous arrangement the whole
right flank turned in the same dirCc.
ton, and the multitude separated and
became many little groups. The horse.
men dashed in below them with Indian
yclls. 4 dozen men were suddenly
naked, aud they were swimming rapid
Is out toward the heads Of the leaders.
with the intention of turning them.
Some OF them carried clubs in their
hands ms they swan, and when they
came up with the dumb brutcs they
bcat upon their faces. Some were
turned in the right direction; many
hundreds, less roughly urged, wadcd
aimlcssly dow stream; others turned
toward the bank and raced with the
speed Of the wind in the open country
dogs. horses and pedestrians in pur-
suit. The great herd of animals in the
middle OF the stream found deep water
and swan. Little more than their
heads was visible, and n Thousand
horns. suggestive of brush in flood
tine, caught the sunlight. They noaicd
without apparent effort with the cur
rent, with none TO control them, and
when they sought the bank it was on
the side OF the river from that which
they had started and at about the same
point. The group that had been made
to cross to the Texas side stood passive
~ together at the edge Of the water,
with their heads stretched out before
them.
The operation was repented-with
about the same success. The notable
features OF the performance were re-
calcitrant cattle dashing ncross sand
bars far away, with the plains and far
blue hills beyond; powerful and robust
McNicnns-some of them entirely naked
riding back and forth with yells that
would have been the fortune of n base
ball coacher; swift and ~tireless SWIM
mers gliding back and forth. some of
them completely surrounded by misbc-
having cattle, and hundreds OF horns
drifting about, seeming without aim,
above the surface of the water. II
seemed almost Impossible. to head the
great herd in the right direction. Some
could be made to 20 ncross, but that
was obviously wha: he great major
ity did not want TO do.
BY about five o'clock in the afternoon
something like 1900 had been landed
on the Texas side. They stood quietly
enough when they were over and gave
but little trouble 10 the herdcrs. But
those not yet across were naturally
those least willing to cross, and all that
n COW may do that il obstinate was done
on this occasion. They appeared to
have n great deal more endurance than
the horses. They would reach the bank
for the hundredth time and race with
the spirit OF n young ycarliug just re-
leased from n barn. The McXicnns be-
gan to rope and throw some Of the most
mischiCvous OF the evil doors. that they
might not lead the others astray, and
after falling hard enough tc break n
limb they would get up. ready for mn
other mad dash. Tho hcrdS-c rivaled
them in endurance.
One dcep.chcstcd fellow was thrown
from his horse just rs the latter was
scrambling out OF the water on n slim
perry bHnk-thc animal stumbling. lie
rolled over and over, and then iumpeI
up and started in pursuit Of his fright.
cned stced. The race was about equal.
but another horscman came To the res.
cue and caught n bride rein Of the run.
AWAY. One slip Of n boy followed II
steer that Ind got away in the water
by himself, and by swimming always
In the right place and yelling in Just
the proper manner he succeeded In drIy,
Ing the big fellow across. \ great
cheer went up from the bridge, and 4,
was family echoed by the pcoplc along
the Mexican side
Late In the day the cattle that had
crossed and which had been Standing
below the bridge were driven 10 n point
opposite the ford. that the still r%ccaici.
trant beasts In Mexico. on seeing them,
might be encouraged to come over. As
the great mass passed under the bridge
1t presented n strange sight 10 the
crowd OF people above. Looking down.
IL seemed like n great multi-colorrh
serpent gliding along. The effect was
Understandable. Opposite the ford they
began moving around In n great circle,
Hike the eddy in n mighty stream. They
were becoming restless and q guard was
Nlnnn4I hltaVsN A-