The Coconino sun. (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1898-1978, 1917-01-12
AN ILLUSIONARY
COW-CATCHER
BY Blu Ut

|
state Of Z. In order to reap a
harvest the first season after the loca.
tion was made, quite a good deal of
land was plowed and seeded before
the necessary fencing to enclose the
fields could be erected. To protect the
growing crops from range stock,
guards were posted both by day and
by night at several points where gaps
in the fencing still occurred. One of
these stations was close by a railroad
that had just been completed short
distance beyond the settlement, and
trains were running on an irregular
schedule, or, rather on no schedule at
all-they ran when they got ready.
One night it fell to the lot of B,
a new arrival in the settlement, to
guard gap in the fence close by the
, r. r. To make the lonely watch as
agreeable as possible some wagon
bows, securely lashes together, had
been set up at that point, and by
throwing blanket over them, one
could, unless the stock became trouble
some, perform his duty while seated
underneath this temporary shelter,
and be quite well protected from the
damp and somewhat chilly air. This
guard-house was as near to the rail-
road track as was consistent with
safety, everything was passing off
without the occurrence of any incident
worthy of record, and nothing other
wise would have transpired during the
period that guard duty was necessary,
had none of the watchers fallen
asleep; but this is just what B
allowed to happen in his own case,
and, as consequence, there is chap
ter Of experiences in his life which he
does not like any too well to have his
friends inquire into. ...
1t appears that during the night a
train, Of whose coming he was in
formed beforehand, came down the
road and necessarily approached his
location. This occurred while he was
sleeping soundly. The rumble Of the
cars and the loud whistle of warning
awakened him rudely, and being quite
surprised by the unexpected appear
ance of the train, his mind became not
little befuddled, so much so, indeed,
that he believed himself in peril of
his life from the on-coming monster
of the night. Uttering a cry to heaven
for help, he sprang to his feet, and
with single jump doubtless would
have landed in a place of presumed
safety had he not become tangled up
in the wagon bows, cross pieces and
strong cords that held the whole
framework of his shelter together.
His head shot up through an opening
at its top, while the blanket complete
ly obstructed his vision. He felt sure
that the cow-catcher of the engine
had him in its tolls and was about to
hurl him to a fearful doom. With an
agonizing cry to heaven for help sure
this time-the first appeal having ap-
parently availed nothing, he made a
wild rush for safety and landed in the
middle Of the side track-the engine
being then almost opposite him on the
main line and slowing down for stop.
The engineer sensing the situation
sounded the cattle alarm and yelled.
These terrifying noises, together with
the hiss Of escaping steam, and the
yanking, jerking, halting, battering
action Of the wagon bows as he made
his way over the rails and ties COM
pleted the illusion in the mind Of B.,
that the cow-catcher was at his heels,
and that his life was scarcely worth
an effort to save it. Still the thought
of wife and babies at home inspired
him to try, and wildly he sprang for
ward, dragging his cage with him.
The blanket dropped off-his footing
became surer and down the track he
went little better than neck and
neck with the engine. AS its speed
became slower he gained little on it,
but still he could not get away from
that illusionary cow-catcher. It's hold
on him seemed sure. Soon reaching
the end of the side-track, he plunged
into the grass and weeds by the side
of the road-bed; but his apprehension
Of imminent danger was not yet dis
PEELED, and he continued his flight as
best he could. His sins rose up before
him like accusing demons. Of all
transgressors against heavens laws
he was willing to acknowledge himself
the chief, for the time being at least,
for why, were he not almost beyond
the pale of mercy, should Providence
suffer train of cars to leave the
track and chase him to death across
open fields as he surely felt that one
was chasing him, Exhausted, at last,