The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-12-20
THE STORY OF
= A STAMPEDE.
sY J. 3. cRAHFlLL.

Hdu uOb DtNOluc cAAlEtl. II WAS IN
the years just preceding the incident
here related that saw service as a cow
boy and was thoroughly familiar with
life on the trails. OF the incident itself
was not an eyewitness, but ii was
tod to me by my friend, Mr.. NJ. i.
Davis, an old Texas ranger and cow
boy, who is to the early life of Texas
what Joaquin Miller is to California.
give the story as nearly as 1 can re-
member it just as it came from his
lips. 1t chronicles one of the most
desperate stalDpedes ever witnessed by
a Texas cowboy.
In 1876 the Wilson brothers, of Kan
sas City, having purchased over 1900
head of cattle in Hamilton, Comanche,
Coryell and Bell counties, and having
arranged 10 centra,ize the herd near
Comanche Springs, in McLennan coun-
IS, drove to the Bennett hills and went
into camp to await the carrying ont Ct
iheir orders. These cattle were driven
across the Leon at various suitable
fords and converged on that beautiful
prairie, in the center Of which now
stands the town of McGregor. On the
Fourth Of July of that year the en-
tie herd was under way. headed for
Towash on the Brazos river. u was
q magnificent army OF steers, in gu
Ferb condition, KEEP, together by a
corps Of % w5cys, mounted on bron-
ehos-men experienced il the business
The herd was not pressed, the object
being to let them craze on the rich
heritage, with view to keeping them
in good condition and reaching the
market in time 10 catch the best prices
in the fall CT the year. At four O'Clock
in the afternoon there were signs Of
an electric storm. 4 black cloud
showed above the foothills, and the
sun shining against it painted rain
bow which appeared to touch the Garth
at both ends. The entire herd became
nervous and showed their fear by those
low beilowinFs. ominous TO the expert
enced cattieman as the muttering thun-
der. The cowboys were experienced
men. and thry kept the moving mass
well in hand. 10 that when the sun set
all was well, and the cattle were befded
on Tie plains near the South Bosquc,
and night settled in with the promise
Of a safe crossing at the BRACES the
next day. 4 detail Of four cowboys
was made for the first watch, and these
mounted sentinels took their places
and rode silently around the sleeping
squadron of long horns. The first
watch ended ut nine o'clock, and the
second watch went on duty. 1t was
during the second watch that the
memorable Nilsson stampede occurred
At ten o'clock the cattle appeared to
be sleeping profoundly. The cowboys
say that cattle dream and see ghosts;
it is certain that this drove of $1,000
was nervous, made so, perhaps, by thc
thunderstorm Of the previous afternoon
and the rainbow which they had eyed
with suspicion. II is likely that great
many cattle in that vast accumulation
had never seen such q rainbow. Ii wa.
distinct throughout the arch and very
broad; the lightning, too, was very
vivid, and the thunderclaps that fol
lowed were like sharp artillery. TIL,
cowboys insisted long afterward tina
il was the thunderstorm and The rain
bow of the afternoon that caused Ia,
stampede that night. he that as j
may, it was stampede that the cattle
men who witnessed il have never for
gotten, and are still telling of TO pos
terity.
The stars were all shining, and there
was no cause at all for the arousing q
the herd. They appeared to get up al
at once, with single purpose, and TIL
roar that was heard seemed to com'
from a single threat The Wiser
brothers and their cowboys who wer
sleeping in their camp rushed to thei
ponies who were grazing with the sad
dies and brides on, and rs fast as IN,
I hits could be replaced in their mouth
they mounted and gaHoped to tn
TANKS of the now disappearing mass
headed in the direction Of the Brazo
river.
4 The cowboys on guard took the usua
course in such cases; they kept ont G
the way of the charging mass, and ga,
Hoped on the TANKS, moving towar,
Tue Hedu "a lhc VpiUlui, noplnS
point them or" as they call ii, an
start them moving in circle. Tn
boys who formed the guard, in gal
Looping along the front of the STAN
pede. saw the eyes of the torri6e'
beeves emitting fire and their tongue
protrudiug. They uttered those 10y
notes of terror so familiar on ih