The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-10-26
The "Bull punchers " of california.

The scene described is in tho red.
woods Of Sonoma county, California
The driver Tor 5ull-puncher, as he Is
technically called) provides himself
with Q yard or two Of hickory stick,
tipped with steel goad an inch long,
and this pretty instrument Is as busy
as q drum.stick perpetually. The OK,
with all his acknowledged virtues, is a
most provoking beast. Years OF goad-
ing give him an exasperatingly small
store OF wisdom. Hence, not an hour
passes, but some unfortunate, by his
stupidity or laziness, works the driver
into an ecstacy Of rage. Then, whang
prod and whang Blasphemy, howls,
blood and goads Oxen are mot unfre.
quently killed in these mad attacks.
One prod behind the horns sends the
poor beast to where logs and punchers
are not. The bull-puncher is a man Of
trials. Only q strong constitution can
stand the excitement OF tho trade. He
must have born gift for profanity, or
he need never hope to reach high stand.
ing in the profession. Mister" said
the most gifted puncher in the woods,
"don't yer shout when yer hurt? Well,
il lidn't cuss when the bull is con.
trary, I'd bust every blood vessel in my
body in no time" For the time being,
the bull.puncher yearns for nothing
but to tee his ten oxen pull together
and act at the same moment. Even
years Of practice and perfect familiarity
with his cattle, who understand every
word and gesture, makes this end not
always 30 easy.
"stand up, Bright You, Brown n
shouts the puncher to the leaders, when
the chain has been hooked to the log.
Bright and Brown groan. "Staud up,
Bright You, Brown |" comes louder,
and the puncher goes through o com.
plicated manual OF harmless passes
with the goad. The oxen know per.
feotly well that this is m ornamental
preliminary, and take no notice accord
ingly, unless it be to lock horns and
low, as il in dread Of the coming war.
II after two or three repotitions Of this
willingness 10 get ready is shown, the
puncher Is calm. II not, he jabs an
innocent OK near him, and swears at the
leaders, who below, aud strive with
their horns, each to keep the other
from making the torturing start. Wig.
orous thrusting and yelling produce
signs Of animation along the line and
an extra prod OF the steel sets several
OF the hinder oxen tugging. That is
the moment for the leaders TO start, but
in spite Of the cries Of the puncher they
scarcely lower their heads again, and
continue their lowing and hooking; so
the opportunity Is lost. Now the
puncher stands forth alone. Such q
bowling shrek OF tape.worm blasphemy
never was heard outside OF the woods.
He dances and he foams, and tearing
up knots and billets, rains them at the
refractory leaders, who are beyond the
reach OF his goad. Perhaps the
puncher throws down his hat and
stamps upon that article Of raiment as
he screams. Happily, small log from
his raging hand starts the leaders.
Now shouting, yelling, cursing, bias.
pheming md believing, till the sylvan
echoes make o frightiul uproar, the
puncher leaps and dances along the
line, goading and smiting till the
united strength is brought to bear, when
the log plows slowly over the slimy
road till the next stopage, and then the
whole soul.destroying performance is
gone through with again. The puncher,
in addition 10 all his other woes, must
pass through life up to his ankles in
mud. A man with o couple OF mules
drawing a sled on which o pair Of bar.
rels are fixed, spends his time in dash.
ing water over the ground before the
log on It's way to the road OF skids.
Thus q gutter Of soft, slippery mud Is
quickly formed. The log gliding
through this makes o sound oddly
similar to boot cleaying water, and
the puncher plods on, cursing and
plunging.