The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-05-04
COWBOY MET TRAGIC FATE.
Attempted to Prevent Stampede of
Cattle and Goes Over Cliff.

Jack showed up at Texas ferry on
the Snake for the big spring round
up of 1888. His other name was
O'Rorick, and he might have come
from the old sod, instead Of Walla
Walla, but the chances are that he
had never known any other than the
range country. Otherwise he would
not have had time to learn all he
knows of cattle and brQnchos, or to
have so thoroughly forgotten what
ever he might have known of fear
of caution in softer and safer sur
roundings.
Not yet 21, tall, slender and 1.-the
as rawhide, he was the cowpuncher
from his hatband to heavy spurs, the
widest rider from the Snake to the
northern border. Rarely was there
anything missing from his makeup,
especially when Jack had arrived in
town.
That roundup he joined at the
ferry was the last on a vast scale
held in eastern Washington. Beef
cattle by the tens of thousands roam
ed the range then from the Cascade
to the Occur d'Alenes, but settlers
shacks had begun to dot the sage
and the terrible winter of 1S90-91
was coming to thin the herds down
to scattered, bony hands. But in
1888 the inland empire was as alive
with cowboy romance and action as
the John Day Valley, the country
around old Tucson or the endless
ranches of Texas.
The gathering camp at Texas fer
ry brought together the best of the
punchers that were left on the range.
They came in from Montana, Idaho
and Oregon, bringing with them
Scupe Lloyd and Bill Ireland, after
ward to become famed the country
over as the crack broncho "buster"
of Buffalo Bills show. Bill Lewis,
champion roper of the west, bossed
the outfit. Their fires cleaned around
the ferry for a few nights and then
they pulled out into the sage. Ten
"chuck" wagons rolled along in the
rear with food and bedding. The
horse wranglers had 900 ponies to
bring along. 1t was cowland at its
best, Just before cowland became a
vivid memory.
Naturally, in a bunch like that,
Jack had to maintain his reputation
for reckless riding and in the horse
work around the big camp he found
all the competition of that kind that
could be brought together. They
had a bunch of wild horses to break
before they started. When they got
the worst fighter of the lot sorted
out Jack got on him with only a
halter and ran him over trail no
body. cared to try except on a wise
and seasoned cow pony. AS finish
ing touch he jumped the crazed ami
NAL over a six foot-bank into loose
rock, held him on his feet and
brought him into camp meek and
uninjured.
From Texas ferry the roundup
worked down the Snake to old Aims
worth, on the Columbia, and turned
north. Pasco happened to be IN
their way. Unlike the Pasco of to-
day, the town then consisted prin-
cipally of saloons. In the absence of
grand opera and libraries these at
tracted the cowboys curiosity. They
arrived in the town on the jump,
creating a noisy and smoky situation
with their uplifted sixshooters.
This preliminary failed to satisfy
Jack and after a seasonable period
at the bar he undertook to amplify
it. Drifting gayly into saloon fire.
quented by railroad men he .encour-
aged a general jig by shooting neat
ly at the feet displayed about the
floor. The bartender, being new to
the country, caught Jack from be-
hind and the Jig was continued
largely on Jacks anatomy, everybody
joining in. Eventually they jigged
him into the street handily and re-
marked upon the circumstances hap
pily-for about minute.
Then Jack returned and the COW
boy population of the town seemed
to be with him. They all wanted to
get acquainted with the bartender
and his friends retired through the
back door. The cowboys went into
the saloon business on a common
benefit basis. When they got ready
to start for camp the building for
merly occupied by the saloon remain
ed in frapmentary condition, The