The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-12-20

ferlng from pane Tor which no real
cause existed on earth.
whats the matter with the cattle?"
asked tenderfoot, as be galloped be-
side an old cowboy.
They've seen the devil. Z expect"
the cowboy replied; "and we will catch
it before we get through with this
thing"
AS the herd rushed on their horns
ratified together, and all the horns Of
$4,000 head OF cattle rafting together
sounded like an immense concert Of
castanets.
Cattle are not able TO sustain long
run, and this the cowboys know. For
instance, mad speed Of five miles is
enough to break down almost any
steer; and the cattlemen knew how the
country lay beyond them, and in this
respect they had an advantage.
The reinforcement OF the cowboys
who were off duty, and who had hastily
mounted and joined those on watch ct
the time, gave them a strong advau-
tage in the efforts being made to stop
the stampede. The plan was TO get
the cattle to milling" or running in
circle. The elder of the Wilson broth
ers had been cowboy from childhood.
He was riding a cream-colored stall
lion. and as he passed me he had his
Colts revolver IN his hand. One of the
cowboys on gray horse was able to
keep up with him. These two distanced
all the others. They rode across the
front of the stampede, which is a feat
attended with terrific danger; for when
rider is in frcEt OF the rushing drove
OF mad cattle, il his horse should STUN
bic and fall, he may be put down as a
thing OF the past. The herd will wipe
him out" This Mr.. Wilson knew, ard
the cowboy riding close to his crupper
also knew; but they were going 10
take sll the dangers and get that herd
running in circle If il we're possible 10
DO so.
Some cattle can outrun Others, ard
IN this case there was bunch of about
50 fully 20 yards in advance, and toward
This leading group the two rescuers
rode. OF the leading group, also, some
were faster than others, and this grouD
ran in a DIAMOND shape, with two i'm
mense steers leading all. When Mr..
Wilson and his companion reached the
TWO leading steers they began shoot
ing their revolyers close to them. and
in that way the bunch was made 10
oblique, and as the leading bunch Of
cattle obliqued the main STAMPEDE Oh
liqued, and the first step in milling"
lad been taken. BY this time the est
,-e were getting tired. Nearly five
niles had been covered, AID the breath
CT the leaders was coming short and
painfully; but they were rushing en-.
because the front cattle at this lime
knew az matter of fact their oniy
safety was in keeping up the run.
Those behind were coming, and they
were in the majority, and the leaders
were compelled to run. There was real
danger for the forward members Of the
/ stampede.
In the Invoice CT articles contained
in the regulation "outiit," there is al
ways some kind CT stimulates; and
but for the stimulants contained in Mr..
Wilson's outfit, 1t is possible that the
stampede would have been hnlted with
cut disaster. lie had Mexican along.
one of The best cowboys in the south
west. This Mexican and his horse a.
ways reminded these who saw him ride
Of the fabled centaur. lie rode far for
ward ard bent over. go that he and his
horse appeared 10 be one animal. No
horse, however, rugged, wild and wool
| ~" had ever been able TO unseat him.
This Aztec had been TO the little brandy
| rnnlet too often. and had filed and
emptied his tin cup with surreptitious
intOxicants. SO that his usual excellent
judgment went awry. When he sue
ceeded in gettirg mounted, after having
| fwmbled with his bride a good deal,
he was far in the rear and the stampede
Rad gone past him, so that when he
overlook the rear end. he passed TO tho
front on the other side, and rode OF
the wrong flank. When he reached the
head of the herd he wes just in time 10
defeat the maneuvcr then under cSecu-
ton OF bending the moving mass from
a straight line to a seInicirele. Re
volyer in hand, disrega- ding the other
men, he bsgan shooting in the faces OF
the wild steers; and the effect OF this
was to straighten the run and bring the
advance straight toward Precipice
This preciplee was a wash in the prairie
forming deep rayine fully 30 yards
wide; ard in shorter time than il
takes 70 tell Of this contretemps the
head OF the column rwss pouring over, G
horrible cascade az beef. plunginf
Jnsd!y into destruction while fleeing
from an imaginary danger. When Mr.
Wilson and his lieutsnsnts saw that il
was impossible to save their cattle they
saved themselves by dexterously turn
ing al right angles at full speed ant
riding cut of the way. They next re
turned to the flank ard held counci
Of war. 4 few seconds decided-ihem
and all hands commenced shooting ints
the herd, the object now being TO bui,C
breast-work OF carcssses and save tn,
rear end from the destruction that hst
oyertaken the front. The gulley wa
nearly fun Of cattle by this time. Thel
were snoring and believing, crashing
and tearing, and still heaping up; ant
when the firing began the wounde,