The Great Die-Up: The winter of 1886-87 took the crown off king cattle

(Library of Congress)

(True West) ... The summer of 1886 was unusually hot and dry as a drought hit. More grass died. Brush fires burned off even more. Water sources dried up.

Other signs pointed to a tough winter ahead—geese going south earlier, cattle growing thicker fur, beaver stacking more wood for dens.

In November, the snow came. No place was safe—California got nearly four inches in San Francisco. North Texas and the Panhandle were inundated. Continued