Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-03-13

them east to a market The practice
did not last long. The dead bodies Of a
few Indians and Mexicans found on the
plains told the story and was sufficient
warning to others similarly minded. The
coWpuncherS we're loyal to their outfit
and would fight for it quicker than
they would for themselves.
"One Of the worst things they had
to contend with was the terrific cleo
trical storms so prevalent on the plains,
and along the Arkansas and Platte riV-
ers during the summer months. They
came on suddenly with q high wind
that blew the tent over, and the
chuck wagon, too. if it was not staked
to the ground. ZigZag streaks of light
ming tore through the inlSy blackneSS of
the sky, followed by deafening claps
Of thunder that fairly made the ground
tremble. Over and around the herd the
lightning was always worst. Every man
in the outfit is in the darkness and
pouring rain; riding around the cattle.
singing their weird cowboy songs In
an effort to keep the herd quiet. Two
of their favoriteS we're We Go North
in the Spring, but VIII Return In the
Fall and We Are Bound to Follow
the Lone Star Trail All at once comes
a flash and a crash and bolt strikes
in the midst Of them. 1t is too much.
The cattle spring to their feet as one
animal There Is a rafting Of horns
and thunder of hoofs as the maddened
herd daSheS off across the slippery,
broken ground and the men riding at
breakneck speed to keep ahead of and
turn them; for the only way to stop
them is to throw them in a circle and
mill them. If q horse should fall it
was certain death to horse and rider
and not few lost their lives that way.
In the morning the herd might be
Is or 20 miles from camp, and 1t would
take all day or longer to get them on
the trail again and all the cowpunchers |
would be kept in the saddle without !
rest or food until all were moving
along again If q cowboy was killed IN |
a stampede his companions dug a |
shallow grave, wrapped the trampled |
form in his blankets and laid him to
rest.
THE greatest responsibility rested
on the trail boss. He had to know |
where water was a day ahead and the /
drive made according. There was one
dry drive 20 miles long. When there was
a long, dry drive the cattle would be
Watered and then pushed on away into
the night Cattle can smell water for a
long distance, and If the wind was
from the north next morning, the herd
WOUlQ LIdNE4 eAlyA&S GAA 4ASAAhg Wv -
there was no wind they would travel
slow If the wind blew up from behind
ate in the afternoon and when they
we're suffering for water, there was
,rouble They would bull that is, try
20 turn and go back to water and II
-eullired all the skill and best efforts
If every cowpuncher in the outfit to
Seep the herd moving forward, and
hen it could not always be done.
II have seen a herd travelling along
,nIy a few miles from where they were
,oing In to water, when the wind would
suddenly blow from a river behind
hem. The cattle would turn as one
,oW, start for that water, and nothing
,ould stop them.
"A herd cannot be made to swim a
arge river if the sunshine on the
water reflects in their eyes; nor viii
hey go into a river if the wind is blow
ng and the water ripples. In 1885 John
ga, one Of the experienced trail bosses,
truck the Yellowstone river with
lerd. The wind blew hard for three
lays and kept the water rippled, and
Nothing would induce those cattle to
ross the river until the water was
mooth.
"a days drive on the trail is from
o to Is miles, but it is always gov
rned by water A herd Of steers makes
much better time than mixed herd.
There was never any such thing as
resting up or laying over the herd
vas kept moving forward all the time.
"a company or an individual stocking
ange would go south, buy the cattle
nd notify his foreman to send an out
It to some point south to receive a herd
t cattle and to trail them somewhere
a Montana, and give him the brands
nd money for expenses. There was
ortune In that herd Of cattle, but he
yas not worried He knew the cattle
yould arrive on time and in the best
'oSsible condition. While in st. Louis
4 1884, q friend of mine told me that |