Sol West -

May 1997

Sol West was not yet 20 years old when he was hired on to trail boss a herd of Texas Longhorns to Ellsworth in 1874. As the herd crossed the Red River into Indian Territory they experienced clear, open Spring weather. 
 
A week later, the morning began with a light mist mixed with an occasional snowflake. Conditions held throughout the day, but as the herd drove within 100 yards of the bedgrounds a blizzard suddenly blew in upon them. Every man and horse worked to hold the herd, but the relentless cold drove the herd south as horses faltered and died from exhaustion. Before the storm was over every horse in the remuda had succumbed to the Late Spring Norther.