The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-04-12

LO of cattle On 4 wide ex'
@ I Sanss Of ssass land in !: a
Western State. was los
ing the forms Of things about ne when
quick movement Of NY horse re-
called me to consciousness. and I saw
that two horsemen were approaching.
They had just appeared over low
ridge of sand hills that lay across the
trail leading to the upper ranges along
the river.
They came toward me at the easy.
shambling gait of the Cow poEy.' sit
ting their horses with the perfect ease
of long practice. AS they drew nearer,
I noted the dignifed bearing and the
better quality of dress that often dis
tinguish the ranch owner. from the
hired rider.
But perhaps I should have paid lit
tie further heed, and let tnem pass as
casual visitors riding for strays, had
not the gray locks of one of them given
him an appearance Of age which his
erect carriage and vigorous face plain
" beiied.
Naturally 1 kept my curiosity to my
self. but l watched the man closely as
he made the customary inspection OF
nv herd, then rode on. But that eve
ming 1 mentioned the strange appear
ance of my visitor to my employer.
"Oh. that was Dad Howell" he said.
'.He came by here"
He is really old?" said. drawing
inference from the fact that Carter
called him Dad
NO." replied Carter. Little past
forty. The other man was his brother.
and the older by several years. Then
he told this story.
The Howell brothers, George and
Allen, came West early, and estab-
lished themselves on the Arkansas
River. The range on the public domain
was then open and free. They had
plenty of room for the grazing of their
herds, and as they possessed some
means, and were intelligent, progress
i've men, they were soon in possession
of a large ''bunch" of cattle.
1t so happened that the Texas cattle
trail ran through the region in which
the Howell brothers had their ranch.
Along this rail large herds of cattle
were driven every year, from the
breeding grounds in Texas to the ma
turing grounds in Montana and Da-
kota.
: With all regard for the honest and
upright among them, truth demands
that we say the men who composed
the outfits on the trai. were often the
riffraf of the Lone Star State.
Not infrequently, when these men
were returning empty handed. they
sought to enrich themselves by turn
ing ''rustler." and takicg a cEoice lot
of cattle back with them.
Soon after the Howell brothers came
West q gang of these rustlers. led by
one Cal Smith, gathered up bunch OF
cattle and started south. The stock
men gave chase. They followed the
thieves for a week. and finally brought
them to bay. But they failed to re-
cover their cattle, and returned. los
ing three of their number.
! With tLis example still fresh before
them, the ranchmen quaile,- when Ca!
Smith repeated his raid as he returned
from Moitana the following year. But
realizing lat their business would be
ruined if these raids were allowed to
continue. and that it would be useless
to appeal to such law as had at that
time been esta ablished, few of the
braver men, with Allan Howell at their
head, crossed the sand hills in pursuit.
The rus;lers had several days the
start of their pursucrs, but were en-
numbered With the hard Of stolen cat
tie. and must travel slowly. The stock
men went out with their luggage
packed on their relay horses. They
thus avoided the impediment Of camp
wagon, and could move rapidly. After
two days, of lard riding they overlook
the outlaws.
But the latter we're prepared 70 re-
ceive them. On sighting their pursuers
they had rushed the cattle across the
practically dry bed of the Cimarro
River, and punched them on fiat at
the base of q bluff. Then with a guard
posted to prevent them from scatter.
ing, the gang took post Oh the top OF
the hill. Dismounting, they rested
their rifles across their saddles ane
calmly waited.
It is no discredit to the stockmel
that they halted atarespectful distance
To rush into an affray with so well
posted an enemy would nave been the
height of rashness.
"Well, dunlo," sad big Missouri
an, after they had carefully surveyed
the situation. Il hate to beat out, Du'
them cutthrcats seem to have the best
of US this time, sure"
1T doesn't look aS Il fellow wou!C
enjoy his cattle long afteI he got II
there viii them" observed another.
But, boys" said Allan Howell, "yor
knew when you started out what yor
were coming for, and this is no time
to falter. Who will 60 on with me anC