The Detroit times., 1909-07-15
KINGS Of PLAINS
PASSING AWAY
Cowboys Have Stirring Weeks Hunt
in Texas for Longhorns-Hardly
80 Left and They're Wild.

ENCINAL. Tex. July loud
laughter greeted Ched Reder's pro
poaai az the Hall ranch house on the
Rio Grande that they should go hunt
Ing for longhorns.
"Look-a-here. Kid" said Mesabe
Tom, who. after many years OF ranch
riding, had settled down TO be stable
boss for the ranch. Are you getting
loco? Don't you know that the fam
GUS Texas steers Is all gone-plumb
vanished firm the face OF the earth
and Texas?
Unless you mean them two that's
been seen up the river two or three
times7" he added.
"Them's the animiles." said Reder.
calmly. I'm going after EN-, If
can get a bunch OF boys to go
along"
This Is an account of converse
ton at the Hall ranch on the Rio
Grande a few days ago. II ended in
weeks hunt-the hardest in years.
Ched Reeder and seven men came
back with their trophies. all for the
Texas steer, and for the COW punch
ers who used to herd them quar-
ter century ago.
Reder and Bill Hoxie and six other
men first struck the back trail along
the Rio Grande near the Lorenza riv.
err. It was already late In the after
noon.
Dash at Cowboys.
Suddenly there was swishing
sound In the brush as though great
wind was rushing through the mes
quite. Then 100 feet distant from the
riders burst the two Texas steers,
heads down. on the charge.
So sudden was the movement that
the cowboys didn't have time To get
out OF the way. II didn't occur TO any
body to try to rope them. The great
bulls. eyes cleaning. nostrils afoam,
horns cleaning like two great projec'
tiles.
They went through the horsemen
as though they were paper. Reder's
horse, trying to turn, was caught fair
ly in te flank and thrown heavily to
one side. Reder went 10 feet In the
air and just missed the maddened
steers hoofs The other bull likewise
dismounted a rider.
So sudden and complete was the
onslaught that no move was made 10
stop the animals or to overtake them.
The two cowboys who had been
thrown limped TO their feet. One
horse got up badly famed. The other
didn't His neck was broken.
This settles it," Reder cried. sur
veying the wreckage I'm going 10
get them steers, dead or alive, IL 1t
takes all summer"
They went back to the ranch to get
fresh horses and started again at day
light This time the chase lasted two
days. Then along the Ambrose river
they rode into a clearing. Across II
a half mile away they sighted the
two steers racing toward the far edge.
In spite of their great long horns, the
animals broke through the grass and
brush beyond without perceptible
slackening Of speed.
IL was hard work following. The
chaparral was so thick In some places
that II tore the toughteHed leather of
the iders-chaps- But they were dc.
termined to get the steers. regardless
of damag to themselves or thir cay
uses. But night fell without their
overtaking them. So they made camp.
In the morning the chase was re-
sumed The ground was wet from an
overnight rain. Opening of one side
OF the river was a deep canyon with
steep sides and heavy growth OF
brush at the end. They rode in.
mile or so back they came on a de-
serted ranch house and windmill.
Tying their horses some distance
away. they went TO the house, and
two of the men climbed the windmill.
Only 200 Yards Away.
Eureka There were the two great
bulls only 200 yards away Their
heads raised. they were smiling the
breeze and looking in the direction OF
the horses. They were ready to start
at the least alarm.
The men held a council of war.
Perhaps the bulls. hemmed I'm from
behind the walls OF the canyon, were
also determining their plans for the
last charge.
The men separated and advanced
carefully through the brush on foot.
They were within 100 yards when the
bulls saw Bill Hoxie and charged. Ey-
cry revolver barked again and again,
but didn't check the advance. Hoxle,
facing death, dropped his gun and
climbed a mesquite tree. Others OF
tho hunters had narrow escaped from
being gored to death.
But the longhorn-part of the times
OF the past. with the Indians and the
buffalos-could not stand before the
white mans repeating guns. With