Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-16
steers, and they were we'll out Of sight
before we came to our senses.

steers, ana tney were well out OI SlBul
before we came to our senses.
"This sudden attack on the part Of
the two longhorns was due to the fact
that We had unconsciously cornered
them in the upper end Of the canyon.
The wind was blowing from a direc-
ton that carried the scent of us away
from the steers and they did not scent
US until we were close upon them.
They seemed to know that the best
plan was to take us by surprise and
to escape while We were still ponder
ing over the sudden attack. At any
rate, their plan worked well.
But we all swore on the spot that
we would take those two steers, dead
or alive. 1t took another half day to
send to ranch headquarters and get
lie another horse out Of the remuda.
We then started In a bunch on the
trail Of the longhorns. The two ami
mails certainly did some travelling.
We trailed them for twenty miles
through two S0,000-acre pastures. We
did some hard riding, too, as the trail
was easily followed, there having been
a light shower of rain the night before.
In some places we had to plow through
the chaparral, which was SO thick that
our chaps were torn by the thorns,
but we were determined to get the
two steers, no matter how much we
had to suffer. We had to give up the
trail temporarily when we could no
longer see it On account Of darkness.
We broke camp at daylight next morn
ing and hit the trail again. We fol-
lowed it until along toward noon. when
II disappeared in the rocky bottom OF
an arroyo. We spent an hour or two
for 1t, but were unable to
again pick It up. In the distance we
saw a windmill, and one Of the boys
suggested that we sneak over to 1t and
lay in wait there until the steers came
to the tank to drink. We left the
horses where we were and made our
way stealthily through the brush to
the windmill Two Of Us climbed to
the top of the structure to survey the
surrounding country. The moment we
clapped our eyes upon, the LANDSCAPES
we saw those two steers. They were
standing off from the tank about 500
yards, and both of them had their
heads up and we're intently looking In
the direction Of our horses. 1t was
evident that they had not yet scent
ed US, but that they were about ready
to move on If they found that their
suspicious that our horses were in the
were correct.
I'VE marked. the location Of the
steers well In. our minds and climbed
down from the windmill as quietly as
possible. I called the cowboys around
me and told them that 1t would be
folly to try to return to our horses,
and that we had just as well give up
all hope of roping the two steers. I
told them that 1t was my plan for US
to surround the steers on foot and kill
them with our six-shooters. We all
knew that it was dangerous business
to tackle the two steers on foot, but
the boys were game, and after I had
given them careful instructions as to
what position to take and when to
close In upon the animals, we separ-
ated and made our way into the brush.
Had to Shoot Them.
II don't think any Of us care to go
through another experience such as
followed our separation at the wind
mill. We each managed, to get within
about 200 yards Of the steers, when
they discovered that something was
up in their immediate vicinity. They
put their tails up and heads down and
started to break through our lines. A
number of shots met their advance
when they got close to one side Of the
circle Of cowboys and turned and
headed in my direction. got In one
shot and the man on my right another
one. The steers were enraged 80 much
by their wounds that they both started
at one of the cowboys who had ad-
vanced into a little opening. He ran
for a mesquite tree, and succeeded In
hoisting himself into its upper branch
es in time to prevent being torn to
pieces by the horns Of the animals.
BY this time we were all closing in on
the steers. They caught sight Of two
more men who were standing close to-
gether about fifty yards away, and
both made for them. The men saved
themselves by climbing into nearby
trees. They had to drop their pistols
in order to reach the positions Of
safety, and the rest Of US put the I'm
ishing touches to the animals after we
had experienced several narrow es-
capes from being gored"
The horns of one of these animals
measured eight feet and three inches
from tip to tip, and the other ones
horns measured seven. feet and nine
inches from tip to tip. The heads with
the horns attached were shipped to a
commission firm in Chicago by Mr..
Hall, to be sold at the best possible
price. They were such fine and rare
specimens that they readily brought
$500. OF this sum $3.50 went to the
cowboys who killed the animals.
It is claimed by cattle men that
there are not more than dozen of
these longhorn cattle upon Texas
ranches today.
FLIES.