Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-10
BY WARREN STONE

A'A ade on the %onques of the west, but
there still remains IN almost inexhaust-
ible store of enchanting narration to be
gathered, unfolding ever new and divert
ing sidelights on the happenings of days
gone by Which rival the most vivid tales
of fiction ever published. 0 this pre-
cious fund of individual experience will
forever be swept away as the succeeding
years are taking memorable toll Of these
intrepid a%rgonautS and this busy, hur-
rying generation in falling to take account
OF their legends, will lose a heritage that
marks one of the greatest advances civil
cation has ever known.
stood for Law aud Order
And because he was for over a half
century closely identified with the growth
and development OF the commonwealth
and took his stand with the best in
terests for law and order as a member
of that fearless organization. the Texas
rangers, James B. Hawkins, now of Dill
Ion, stands out distinctly as a representa-
tive and typical pioneer whose age of 81
years has failed to dampen that spark of
bOyish enthusiasm that first prompted
him to start out alone to make his for
tune IN the west. Mr.. Hawkins today re-
tains a remarkable memory and is as
rugged nj hale as many a man twenty
years his junior. What he lacks in stature
he makes up in activity and vim and is
fond of a good joke or wholesome Il as
during his stirring career of the '70s,
when as a member OF hat hard riding
and care free crew that gave the one
Star state a name throughout America
for determination II justice.
Native of New York
Mr.. Hawkins is a native of the EN-
pire state, being born in Utica, N. Y, July
10, l848. His father died when he was a
boy of 9 and the family moved to Hi,
/ nDiS Hero he OraNv RI manhood and
when the Civil war broke out his elder
brother. who was but l5 years old at
the time, enlisted and served throughout
the war, being discharged in 1865 at the
age OF 10 years.
Lured by the West
Young Hawkins taste for adventure
could not be denied and when a nan by
the name of A~shbaugh, who had followed
the gold rush to Bannack, wrote hin of
the opportunities in the west, he left
Illinois in April of 1870 intending to
join a wagon train to the famous gold
fields. His store of money was not large
and when he arrived at Omaha, he was
without funds and worked his way to
Atkinson, Kansas, where he made a
small stake which was sufficient to get
him as far as Abilene, then a frontier
/ trading post. He later drifted on to Fort
Riley where he fell in with some cow
boys from Texas, who were driving a
herd of cattle to Fort Mcpherson. He
hired out with the outfit and had his
first experience as a '~puncher.' The life
appealed to him and he signed up with
the crew and went back to Texas with
them, to become associated with the
Johnson ranch, one of the largest in the
territory. which was located along the
P~erdanales river.
Tries Cattle Industry
The c11pppndinu thraa vaarc covy hin,
engaged in the cattle industry. Those
were the days of the longhorn cattle,
which were driven along the "Old CHS
holm" and similar historic trails to Kan
sas and other eastern states where mar
kets were found. 1t was not all glamour
and romance for the men on these great
drives, when thousands Of the pictur-
esque cattle, wilder han buffalo, were
herded across the plains through almost
daily dangers. not only from marauding
bands OF Indians and desperadoes. but
from the cattle themselves. All of the
equipment and grub" was transported
in a single two wheeled oX-cart which
was driven by the 0 of the outfit and
few of the men had even a blanket.
Hawkins often slept on the ground with
only his saddle blanket for a covering
and this. he says. was nearly always
wringing wet" Once, for three weeks,
he was without a shirt and, during The
spring, the rain was almost continuous
and the mud ankle deep.
Died by Thousands
One winter, which was particularly
severe, the cattle died by the thousands
from lack of feed and the men were
were few and far between and often they
had to subsist on meager rations. Over
200 900 cattle were driven on the CHS
holm" trail In 1871 and it took three
months to make the trip from Texas to
the terminus of the railroad in Kansas.
Stops a stampede
During one of these drives, Mr.. Hawk
ms became i'll and had to leave the herd
at Denton, Tex, to recover from an attack
of chills. Here he secured some medi-
cine and overlook them. The night he
caught up with the outfit, a terrific
thunderstorm came up and stampeded
the cattle. Though weak from his illness,
the young man leaped on his horse, In
spite OF the remonstranccs of his COM
panions, and 0 the lead Of a bunch
of %longhorns that had separated from
the main herd. He rode for an hour,
hearing the roar Of the frantic animals
behind him and the clash of their horns.
A single misstep OF his horse would have
meant certain death. In fact" he re-
lated, there wouldn't have been enough
left OF me to send home in an envelope"
The rain had made the ground slippery
and this made his horses footing pre-
carious. His mount was firing, but the
maddened herd behind him swept on.
Suddenly he saw before him the CLEAN OF
water and knowing he could not turn.
spurred his jaded animal for a leap.
Down an Embankment
, Down an embankment of 20 feet
jumped the horse and rider and the
water closed over their heads. When they
finally came to the surface, they were
in the mids Of a bawling mass of long
horns, who were swimming for the op-
posite shore, their stampede broken by
the plunge INTO the river. 1t happened
that the stream wa not q large one and
an hour later the herd had quieted down
and when day broke the herder had
rounded them up and they were found
the same morning by the other riders
who had managed to keep the larger
body Of cattle fairly well together with
, few losses.
Joins Famous Band
The next spring found the cowboy
restless and eager for adventure n In
May, 1874, he joined the first company
Of Texas rangers organized following the
Civil war, becoming a charter member
Of the famous band. He was in company
d, and under Capt. c. r. Perry. later sue
ceeded as captain by d. w. Roberts, who
was one of the most noted II esteemec
| offtrare vthp aupr commanded this most