The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-11-03

a dense fog and field of frost occa- stoned by the recent storm, but old Sol soon had them in his warm embrace, and the usual delightful dry atmos- phere prevailed. An incident which lent variety to the routine of this camp will not be forgotten. One of the youthful members had taken an early tramp and brought in his cotton-tai trophies, when bang! went the gun right in our midst" Nobody hurt; thankful hearts and a good lesson. A hole in the ground within few feet of all marks the course of the shot. It might have been different.
 For two more days and nights our party continues on the plains. and the many incidents and happy experiences would require volume to do them Jus tice. There is something fascinating in the campfire, especially in this coun- try, where the air Is not heavy with dew or dampness. Without restraint stories are told, experiences related, and individual characteristics show themselves which would never be dis covered under other conditions. Time, midnight; scene, on the prairies A plump quail, strip of bacon, a bed of live coals, a bottle of fizz; you can im- agine the rest.
 Our party spent in all five days and nights in the open air on the plains of New Mexico and during that time drove nearly two hundred miles, Many cattle were seen, but in so large an area, be there ever so many thousands of them, they are not seen in great num- bers. Spread fifty thousand head of cattle out over the State of Connecticut and many of them will not be seen at enc time. We are told that there are about thirty thousand on the Bell ranch at the present time. Cattle were seen in large numbers on the Armonda- ris ranch, also possession of our host, where roundup had been made and the cattle corralled for shipment. It was very interesting to watch the load ing into the trains. The corral at shipping point Is divided into sections, and the cattle are inspected and count a and driven from one section to an- other until they reach a section just ! large enough to hold a carload. These | sections are connected with strongly fenced runway which leads up to a platform also strongly fenced, alongside
 
 forms a passage-way about the width of cattle-car door. From the method of driving the 'cow -puncher' derives his name. Each of them is armed with a stout stick about the size of broom handle, in the end of which is spike from a quarter to three-eighths of an | inch in length. When a carload is ready the cow-punchers climb up on the platform, about a foot wide running around the enclosure, and go to work, Some whistle and some yell and all use their punchers with great vigor The suspicious animals fly for the only ap- parent exit and are trapped in the car, At times when a car is half full they will turn and stampede with resist less force that will carry them back into the corral, but only to arouse the cow-p -punchers' ire, which is decidedly unwise. We saw one astride of steer where there was not room for him to get off yelling at the top of his voice, 1 and using his puncher with might and main
 There are many features peculiar to New Mexico which we might dwell on, i but we have already made this letter 1 too long MT. Waddingham was pre- vented from returning with his guests who parted from him at Las Vegas | with many thanks for his prncely hos pitality and best wishes for his long, continued prosperity. J. B. c.