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RANGE -LORE
L* hurley vim torn in west Tenneseee in 1858. He
oame te Texas in 1677„ settling first in Wilson County.
He moved with his family to Coke County- in 1910.
Zr, hurley says: "I worked for the VAthera and tlenk
outfit in Caldwell uounty for many years. Their herds
ranged along the Mumma' river. In the fell we'd work them
up the river 'co a ranch near Lockhart and winter VIOR be-
fore driving them to northern merketo.
"Ile longest drive I ever helped make wee in LOBO. I
helped to drive 40,000 heed of cattle from Lockhart, Texas,
to Montane. There were twenty-four men rith the outfit, in
eluding the cook and a negro h4ree wrangler. It took us
four months olid two days to rake the drive. -;e had some
thrilling experienoes on our way,
Rae had several stampedes, but the worst one happened
one night while we were vamped on the C.olomon river. We
were camped there a week* Iberia was plenty of grass end
water, and the boss had gone on ahead to figure with some
oattle buyers, 1, brother, a negro boy, and I were Guard-.
lug the herd rben the cattle got restless. tiomething, we
didn't know what, suddenly frightened them, and the lead-
ers made e break, the others folloaLng. We didn't even
have time to wake the other riders. we started riding,
trying to head them off, and my brother and the negro boy
did get In front of them. We might have succeeded in turns"
ing them, if it hadn't been for s deep guilty.
Lrother and
te negro rode into it. It was dark and they didn't see it.
Brother leaped off his horse just in time, but the negro
was thrown from his. When I rode up behind them, I Bev the
negro, I thought at first he we hurt, Lut 1 heard hin
sayln, something which was not his wi8ay 4ichool lesson snd
knew he was all right,
"JA few of th-, herd hod fallen into the gulley but the
mein herd'had turned the other wily, but for some reason they
turned again and was making straight for to gulley. Well,
negro Tom's courses turned to a prayer. Et yelled for me to
help him out, but I knew. I must turn the herd if possible or
ep341.
we'd all be trampled to death. Bo I began shooting and
shout:,g azd mcnaged to !-,et ahead of the lead steer, and
when Le was in a ret yardE or the gulley he turned, end
the herd missed it.
"1 rodk. on with them until they ran themselves down.
lhen the other riders caught up with us we were five
miles tram the oemp. Yr. Childress, our trail bone, didn't
even know about the stampede 'till it was all eves, but out'
big bose, r. Withers, sure did eonmend our riding. Green
(Old Pop) kills, and old Indian tighter and brono buster
was on that drive."
******1**111
REFERENCE:- J. H. Hurley, Pabert Le..e„ Texas. interviewed
June 20, 193e.
4
Mrs. Annie YcAulay
Maverick, Texas
Runnells County
COWBOY LORE
Page 1.
J. H. HURLEY was born in West Tennesee in 1853. He came to
Texas in 13771 settling first in Wilson County. He moved with
his family to Coke County in 1910. Ids..-ber-a--fasse-fteapli-aaher
r----4614"116"911F"a""r"1/1"8215
'16r. Hurley says l; "I worked for the Withers and Blank outfit
in Caldwell County for many years. Their herds ranged along the
Nueces river. In the all we'd work them up the river to a ranch
near Lockhart and winter them before driving them to Northern
markets.
"The longest drive I ever helped make was in 1880. I help-
ed to drive 40,000 head of cattle from Lockhart, Texasito Mon-
tana. There were twenty-four men with the outfit, including the
cook and a Negro horse wrangler. It took us four months and two
days to make the drive. We had some thrilling experiences on our
way.
"We started with two separate herds, but when we got to Ft.
Griffin, they threw the herds together and sent three men back
home. There were about one hundred saddle horses, five apiece
for each rider. We passed a Federal Indian camp on the Washita
river. They just guarded the Indians, or rather herded and fed
them. The Indians answered to roll call!every night, but they
Page 2.
did no work. We crossed the Arkansas rive7then traveled north
throu7h Kansas.
"We had several stampedes, but the murst one happened one
night while we were camped on the Solo on river. We were camp-
ed there a week. There was plenty of jrass and water, and the
boss had crone on ahead to figure with some cattle buyers. My
blirther, a Negro boy,/and I were guarding the herd when the cattle
got restless. Something, we di'n't know what, suddenly frighten-
ed them, and the leaders made a break, the othtrs following.
We didn't even havE time to wake the other riders. We started
riding, trying to head them offy and my brother and the Negro boy
did get in front of them. We might have succeeded in turning
them, if it hadn't teen for a deep gulley. Brother and the Negro
rode into it. It was dnrk and they didn't see it. Brother leaped
off his horse just in time, but the Nero was thrown from his.
When I rode up behind them, I saw the Ne=r. I tha1g.tfirt
he was hurt, but I heard him sayin>his Sunday School lesson
3
and4knew he was all right.
"A few of the herd had fallen into the gulley but the main
herd had turn,d the other way, but for some reason they turned
again and 1119S making straight for the gulley. Well, Negro Tomis
curses turned to a prayer. He yelled for me to help him out, but
I knew I must turn the herd if4iossible or we'd all be trampled
to death. So I began shooting and shouting and managed to get
ahend or the lend steer, and when -he was -!in a few yonrds of the
Pa„ --;e 3.
gulley he turned, and the herd missed it.
"I rode on with them until they 12ft themselves down. When
the other riders caught up with us we
were five miles from the
cnmp. Mr. Childress, our trail boss, didn't even know about the
stampede 'til it 'vas all over, but our big boss, Ir. Withers,
sure did commend our riding. Green (Old Pop) rills, an old
Indian fizhter and bronc buster was on that drive
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