We could see the wagon train ahead of us on the trail as we came down a slight hill, and it was plain what started the trouble. "Somebody's untrained, worthless dog had gone over the bank of the Platte to cool off. He stayed there until all the teams had passed. The loose stock was just coming up - when the dog bounded from the water and shook himself. Away went cows, horses, bulls, and all."
"When the stampede started the loose cattle were half mile behind the wagons, which was the distance they were allowed to keep, but on they came with renewed vigor..." "The captain, taking in the situation at a glance, clapped his spurs to his mare and bounded along the line with a trumpet voice for those in the wagons to 'halt and drop your wagon tongues'. But it was too late for all to accomplish."
"Some of the oxen stopped and some did not. One of the runaway oxen fell down and broke its neck, and that gave the pioneer mother time to get out of the rear of the wagon with her baby, and get down the bank of the river. The damage from this stampede was a few broken wagon tongues, several smashed wheels, one ox with a broken neck, another with a broken leg, and two days layover for repairs. no one was crippled, although some were bruised." [see The Brazen Overlanders of 1845, page 74, by Donna M. Wojcik, c. 1976]
It made us see why some wagon trains had rules against dogs, and didn't allow them to run loose. The terrible fury and power in all those huge animals running out of control, smashing into wagons, running over people and anything in their way, was terrifying to watch. That night, our wagon train voted on new rules for keeping dogs on a leash or under restraint. Passed unanimously.
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