The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-29
STORY OF A BONE.
How One Saved Texas Cattle
mans Life.
Q . . . o o . o o. sse

Fort Worth Texas, January H. The
other day, while at the residence of
Captain John A, Evans. in this city,
one of the pioneer caitlemen of Texas. /
noticed bone decorated with ribbons
hanging on the wall of his study. Shorn
OF it's decorations. IL appeared nothing dif-
iorent from an ordinary weather. beaten
bone, and the evident care with which 1t
had been preserved excited my curiosity to
ask what significance or romance was con-
nected herewith.
lyon see. it was this was. replied tho
captain. 1T was in the summer of 1878,
when Fort Worth was the terminus OF the
Texas and Pacific, at that time the only
railroad In this part of the state. Barb ed
wire had not then come into use, and
all north and west OF here was free grass
and open country. My agent at Fort Wor h
had bought 1000 steers, and l Was with the
main herd way out west on the Clear
Fork OF the Brazos. My plan was to unite
the TWO herds on the trail and locate them
on The Canadian Being advised by lettef
of the day the Fort Worth herd would
starr. we broke camp and set out to join
them When we had been on the trail
about three weeks ] concluded that the
two herds must be somewhat near eaci
other aud IN order 10 bring them together
sooner decided 10 ride forward and tnd the
other section. SO on the morning OF June
10, about daybreak ] purtook OF the usual
breakfast sour belly and black coffee
and set out, ] rode all day that day. hut
neither saw the herd nor struck its trnil.
Night coming on, stated out my pony To
Craze spread down my saddle blankets for
q bed and got q pretty gooh night re4t,
though annoyed BY the wolves some. For
tunately the summer rains had been fall-
ing. and J found plenty Of water. though
entirely destitute OF food. The sec nd
days riding brought me no better results
than the first. and at the close Of the day
! was feeling very hungry and much IA
tigued. But, thanks 10 good nights
rest, was IN somewhat better trim on the
morning OF the third DAY. About o'clock
o. M. al that day ! came across an cid
indian pack saddle lying on the prairie
Wishing 10 examine ~ more closely tean
| could do from my horse, / dismountyd
foolishly leaving my rope up and the bride
reins over the horn oil the saddle, Keep ng
hold Of one side Of the long reins With my
left hand When | picked up the saddle
n ratified and my horse jerked loose from
me Imagine me there, three days with
out food, al lease 100 miles from our outfit
and no nearer place Of habitation known
10 me, | thought might be somewhere
near the other herd, but that was too UNI
certaiu a quantity 10 count on In such an
emergency My only resource was 20
catch nv horse--a very unlikely thing 10
do as he was very hard TO catch even I'M
der more favorable circumstances. With
This end In view followed slowly after
him. Being hungry, he soon stopped and
hogan 10 Craze the reins being long
enough 10 allow him 10 do so even whsn
hung over the horn OF the saddle. had
the brief pleasure 10 see him put his folt
inside the reins and tf~Songsr dlfap-
nointment 10 see him deliberately take II
out again tried 20 approach him slow'y
and by speaking kind words persuade him
10 be caught. ! tried 70 approach him De.
uberately and unconcernedly. as though
expected nothing else Of him but 70 stand;
+ tried as IL were. to hypnotic him with
The eve. and thus catch him. hut all I,
no avail. AS soon as ! would get within
about twenty yards OF him he would gallrp
awav a short distance and stop 10 grass
again. Thus I followed him till the sun
mad gone down and darkness began to
Green over the plains Despairing OF ever
catehiug him again and being apRry,
puIled out nv six-siiooter with the infen-
t,on Of shooting him and saving my sad
die But what good would that Do re.
thouebt, am so weak and hungry that
can scarcely carry myself another foot.
ana csrtsipIy would not carry my saddle
also So gave Up the chase. lay down
On the ground and soon fell asleep Dr..
ing he might dreamed that ] was SUI
following nv horse and carried bunslo
bone in ny hand watched nay oppof-