The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1898-05-07


TO mill stampede, as the operation
Of circling the leaders is termed, is 4
task fraught with extreme danger, as
1t is necessary for the cowboys who
have charge Of the herd to ride at
breakneck speed side by side with the
leaders Of the affrighted cattle, gradu-
ally nearing them until the cattle veer
from their original course and turn
back into the remainder of the band.
The misstep OF q pony in this mad
race OF life and death Is fatal to the
rider, who Is cast beneath a thousand
pairs Of trampling hoofs in the twink
ling OF an eye, to be crushed and
trampled out Of recognition. remem-
Der once in the spring Of 1886 we were
coming over the trail with a band Of
fully 1000 head Of the wildest-eyed
Texans that ever found resting place
In a slaughter house. At night four
uight riders were regularly detailed to
circle about the band, standing guard
as II Is termed, and singing to the i'm
mense herd. Strange as 1t may seem.
cattle are quieted quicker by the notes
Of the human voice than by any other
known agency. We were about four
days from the end Of our journey and
looking forward with pleasure to a
speedy cessation Of the continued anx-
iety Of the trip, when a tragedy was
enacted which cast gloom over the
spirits Of the outfit, and from which
old plainsmen predicted disaster to the
trail herd. Our cowboys were for the
most part Texans and Mexicans, the
former hotheaded and quick to take
offense, the latter treacherous and re-
vengeful. Between two of the riders
there was i'll feeling arising from some
trivial disagreement at the beginning
Of the trip. The difference between
the men was gradually aggravated un-
til only a spark was necessary to cause
IN explosion. The climax came in the
morning. Lum Jeffreys, Texan rider,
lighted a cigarette after he had finished
bis breakfast, and after taking few
whiffs Of the smoke tossed 1t carelessly
away. 1t was carried a little distance
by the wind and fell directly into the
coffee cup in the hands of Perfect Mob
lez, a Mexican, the bitter enemy Of
Jeffreys. Whether accidental or inten-
donal, the act was attended with trag-
Ic consciousness. Noblez sprang to his
feet and reached for his six-shooter,
his face flaming with passion. One Of
the boys called loudly to Lum, whose
lace was turned away. to look out for
Noblez. Jeffreys turned, realized the
LANCER that menaced him, and leaped
behind the huge supply wagon, draw
ing his revolver at the same instant.
Noblez sprang to the other side OF the
wagon to meet him, as he reappeared.
As Noblez leaped forward his head
was thrown forward, presenting the
top of 1t to the aim Of Jeffreys, and
the latter planted a heavy 44-caliber
ball in the very center of Noblez's
skull The Mexican dropped like
ytricken bullock as the heavy ball
;rashed through his skull and into his
brain. All was excitement, and there
were various views Of the affair. The
Mexicans insisted that Jeffreys had in
tentionaIly provoked the trouble, and
there were angry looks exchanged
among them which presaged more
trouble. Finally the matter was COM
promised by the arrest Of Jeffreys by
the entire band of riders. who deprived
him of his weapons and made him give
a solemn pledge to appear regularly for
trial when the outfit should reach the
nearest town. The body Of Noblez was
buried, and the boys went about their
usual work. In the afternoon the heay-
ems were overcast and dense masses Of
black clouds were ominous Of trouble
with the cattle. The usual guard was
doubled and as darkness settled around
vivid lightning began to play among