Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1909-11-20
USED AUTOMOBILE
TO HERD SHEEP

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Automobiles have been used for
divers purposes since their advent
on the market some years ago, but
it remained for George Watt, the
Austin cattle and sheep man, to de-
part from the ordinary some days
ago and turn his machine into a
sheep herder. While his buzz wag-
on is not gifted with The intelligence
of q sheep dog, it served the purpose
for several days and saved Mr.. Watt
and his associates a loss Of several
thousand dollars.
The innovation happened while
Mr.. Watt was stopping at his ranch
near Austin. About a month ago
a lone sheep herder was sent out in
the hills with a herd Of $500 of the
future mutton chops, The herder
remained at his duty for about ten
DAYS, or until becoming i'll, and then
managed to remain at his post for
a day, but at last realizing that he
was in need of a physicians aid the
lone sentinel abandoned the sheep
and returned to Austin. His first
duty was to notify Watt that the
sheep were without a watcher. The
owner made a hurried canvass of the
town and there was not a sheep
herder to be found. At last he de-
cided to take the job himself until
his associates could rustic a relief.
Accompanied by George Parker, the
two started out for the sheep camp
in a Thomas machine.
After a weary hunt of several
hours, the impromptu hunters To-
Gated the band half way up a noun
tain side. Parker insisted that the
auto was not capable of climbing
the mountain, but Watt ordered the
driver to take a chance anyway.
he car, after a series OF backing
and bucking spurts, finally tri-
umphed and reached the sheep.
The next object was to gather the
band together, and as both herders
strongly objected to walking. they
decided to do the herding with the
machine. Round and round the
mountain the party travelled to the
accompaniment of the slow chug-
chugs. The sheep were gradually
drawn together and along toward
dusk, the weary herders had the
bunch rounded up on the top of the
hill.
And it was then that the men
started to think of what they would
do for supper. In the hurry of their
departure, no thought had been Civ
en- to provisions. Watt, who was
the boss Of the party, finally decid.
ed to kill a lamb. In the meantime
it was necessary to keep the ma
chine going, as the sheep were de.
sirous of seeking a lower elevation
where water could be secured. Par
ker continued to make the circuit
while Watt did the %butchering act
Then Parker cooked the carcass
while Watt drove the machine
About this time the two watchers
began to look for aid from Austin
but no substitutes put in an appear
ance. Between the two the car wa!
kept On the go all night and the fol
lowing day. Another day passed
and another one. The gasoline wal
getting low and the men were abou.
exhausted when a sheep herder fin
ally arrived and the two amateuri
were allowed to return home for
square meal.
This is the story Watt told tn,
other evening in the Nevada club
to an attentive bunch of listeners
After he had concluded the tale, h,
F., was asked by n of those presen
why he did not head the sheep to
ward Austin, where it would hav,
been impossible for them to stra,
: away.
wei I'll be -t" remarket
: George, Il never thought of that!