The National tribune., 1902-12-25

of branches and twigs from the mesquite
tree, held in place indifferently, was the
scene of some pretty wild and unbusness-
like performances whenever steer had 10
be killed to supply the garrison with beef'
which occurred about twice or three tunes
q week. Our butcher, a German named
Sassle, was detailed on daily duty for TINS
purpose from the cavalry company, ana.
although in every other respect good
man, soldier and butcher, he had one pc.
cuiarity which often proved detrimental!
and embarrassing when he was called
upon to bring into play the preliminary
functions Of his calling.
OUR BEEF CATTLE.
On account of the prevailing neat,
which had abolished, together with the
continual manual labor, all military eXer-
cises except dress parade, the cattle to
be slaughtered was dispatched by a bullet
very early in the morning, and by VI
o'clock a. m. would be in the kettles OF
the cooks, as we had no way to keep meat
fresh and no receptacles in which we
might salt it down. Now, whenever Sas-
sic undertook to bring down steer with
his carbine he would invariably either fail
altogether in hitting it, although he would
generally fire from a distance not exceed
ing 10 feet, or he would wound it in al
most any place except a vital spot, and
This flor soldier ridiculous perform
ance resulted from the fact that Sassie.
at the moment of pulling the trigger,
would jerk his head, and with it his shout
der, backwards, and consequently render
the most accurate aim futile. Generally
stampede on small scale would result
from such shooting and wOunding; the cat
tie, excited from the shot as well as from
the violent motions of the wounded ami
NAL, would break through the frail fence
and escape at a run; then the herders had
to be called, and sometimes a squad OF
cavalry, and chase would begin that
often ended dozen or more miles from
camp at late hour, often after consid-
cradle expenditure Of ammunition in finish
ing the wounded steer. When l was ap-
pointed Commissary Sergeant. l regularly
shot the cattle myself, and never made a
mis-shot, having been trained to marks
manship in Switzerland from the age of
II years.
During the month of August we receiv
ed a herd Of Sonora cattle that were quite
wild, and could not be approached by q |
man on foot, as they were accustomed to
see only mounted herders, without becom-
ing restless and frightened at the unusua
sight. With them came two Mexicans ex
perienced with the lasso, who were hired
by the Government and stayed with u
until the herd had become accustomed to
the new surroundings. For the reason
stated, l now selected an old steady horse
upon which l could ride around the herd
In the open, and instead of shooting the
cattle in the crowded corral, would go t, |
the herd towards evening, when the cattle !
had eaten their fill, were lazy and quiet |
Acting upon the advice of Marigildt |
(wh0 was an Indifferent marksman him |
self, and therefore declined the job |
abandoned my former practice of shootinc |
the cattle in the forehead from their front. |
and as soon as Sassle had pointed out to
me the steer he wished killed, l would |
ride to the rear of the animal, so as to
take aim behind the ear, the bullet never
failing to penetrate the brain in its for
ward course and bring the steer down
In instant death. Then the herders would
drive the herd off and Sassle could beSip
his work of skinniBg and cutting up Of
the carcass on the ground ready to be |
hauled to camp in a wagon.
WOUNDED BULL.
But cit is long lane that has no turn
ings One very hot afternoon towards |
the end Of September l started out on
s steer-killing errand, Sassle riding behind
me with his camp-kettle, which he used for |
carrying water to wash the blood off the
meat on the spot, containing his bntche |
steel and knives. The herd had beer |
slowly driven towards the camp, and was !
quietly grazing in the river bottom south |
Of the crossing. Sassle pointed out t,
me fine young, fat hefer, and 1 took aim |
tn the manner above RELAXED and fred and |
missed, at least failed to kill. ! could
never understand how it occurred, as the |
animal stood apparently still, perhaps m.
horse, much worried by flies, made a
movement at the moment of my pulling
the trigger, or, more probably, the anima.
l1rr hn,k 1n ct &ho, 80 ,r,,,
At all events, the ball passed through the
skin just behind the horns, very near the
vital spot aimed at, but just a little too
high, and struck the horn of a full-sized
bull standing obliquey in front of the
heifer, at its base. The blood spurted out
at once in bright red jet and as the AM
NAL forthwith began shaking his head, ran
Into his eyes and blinded him.
= The fury of wounded bull is proven |
bal. This bull did not differ in this re |
gard from the generality of his class For
q moment he stopped where he was, low |
cred his head, stuck his tail straight up
Into the air, and tore up the ground with |
his forefeet, all this to the accompaniment
Of noise which was neither below MOI |
roar, but partook Of the nature of both, |
and soon assumed the sound produced by |
the deepest bass VI million of hnmming |
bumble-bees. Then he started; the herd |
had been driven off quickly. 20 be cut of
danger, and only Sassle and ! were left |
to face the music. He did not turn to-
wards US, however, and would not have
cared much in any event, as we had
needle guns by that time. However, |
had neither then nor had I had before q
good opportunity for a second shot, the
shell of the cartridge having given me
lsome trouble at first in its removal, and
low the bull was running n direct line
towards the creek near the crossing.
where about 20 men were bathing.
The scramble which now ensued beg
0ars description. Some of the bathers
sought to reach deep water and submerge
themselves; others crossed to the farther
side; but by far the majority climbed
upon the trees standing on the borders Of
the creek; from this elevated position they
made to one looking on from q distance
the impression CT family of chattering,
svergrown, nondescript monkeys, breaking
on twigs and branches which they threw
at the bull as he reached the creek.
All men who have had experience with
cattle are unanimous in the assertion that
an Infatuated cow is much more danger
Gus and difficult to deal with than a mad
bull. They give as reason that the mad
lened cow never loses her presence of
mind, 30 to speak, but seeks revenge with
elaboration and calculation, while an in
furiated bull becomes mad with frenzy and
blind with the blood which fury causes to
rush to his head and into his eyes. III
fully believe this. Furthermore, INV"
bull was blinded by the blood strea ming
increasingly from his wound over his eyes
TRAIL OF RUIN.