The Van Buren press., 1898-01-15
ON THE RANGE.
Peculiarities of Cattle That Grow Up
in Wild state.

| in n Wild state.
The cowboys on guard took the usual
course in such eases; they kept out of
the way of the charging mass, and ga
loped on the f1anks, moving toward the
head of the column, hoping to point
! them of, :" as they call it, and start them
moving in a circle. The boys who
formed the guard, in galloping along
the front of the stampede, saw the eyes
of the terrified beeves emittingtire and
their tongues protruding. They uttered
those low notes of terror so familiar on
the plains, and galloped madly along
suffering from panic for which no real
cause existed on earth.
"Whats the matter with the eattle?'
asked tenderfoot, as he galloped be-
side an old cowboy.
"They've seen the devil, I expect" the
cowboy replied, "and we will catch it
before we get through with the thing
As the herd rushed on their horns
ratified together, and all the horns of
$4,000 bead of cattle rattling together
sounded like an immense concert of cas-
tanets.
Cattle are not able to sustain a long
run, and this the cowboys know For
instance. a mad speed of five miles is
enough to break down almost any steer
and the cattlemen knew how the coun-
try Law beyond them. and in this respect
they had the advantage.
The reinforcement Of the cowboys
who were off duty, and who had hastily
mounted and joined those on watch at
the time, gave them n strong advantage
in the efforts being made to stop the
stampede. The plan was to get the cat
tie to milling" or running in circle
The elder of the Wilson brothers had
been cowboy from childhood. He was
riding a cream-colored stallion, and as
he passed me he had his 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 a rider is in. n.front of rushing
drove of mad cattle, if his horse should
stumble and fall, he may be put down
as a thing of the past. The herd will
"wipe him ont" This Mr. Wilson knew,
and the cowboy riding close to his crup-
per also knew; but they were going to
take all the dangers and get that herd
running in circle If it were possible to
do so.
Some cattle can outrun others. and in
this case there was bunch of about SO
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 group
ran in a diamond shape, with two inn
mense steers leading all.
When Mr.. Wilson and his companion
reached the two leading steers they be-
gan shooting their revolvers close to
them, and in that way the bunch was
made to oblique, and as the leading
bunch'o of cattle obliqued the main stam-
pede obliqued, and the first step in
milling" had been taken. BY this time
the cattle were getting tired
Nearly five miles had been covered,
and the breath of the leaders was COM
ing 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 in the majority and the leaders
were compelled to run. There was real
danger for the forward members of the
stampede.-Independent.