The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-07-18
WATCHING TEXAS CATTLE.

VlSllanC. On their horses Cney QOuBe ABOUT
dash here and there at full speed till in a
few days their horses need rest. Then the
tired animals are turned loose to recuper.
ate and others are taken for the work
Herders with their cattle have a busy time
and great responsibility. They must keep
the cattle where there is grass and water
If the feed gives out in one place they
must seek another locality. They must
see that the cattle do not wander off to be
lost, or picked up by other persons.
AT night when the cattle are tired or full
Of food, they camp like the Arabs. The
cattle rest by lying down. Horses are
picketed or tied with rope attached to a
long spike which is driven or forced into
the ground. The men, after supper SLEEP
on the ground close to their horses, with
or without blanket over them as the
weather suggests.
Soon all will be quiet as grave yard at
night. The cattle sleep and puff. Horses
lie down by the side of their riders, care
being taken that all saddles are removed
and everything that could be made to rat.
tie is put away in such place or manner as
not to be touched.
When all is quiet, and the cattle. OF
some of them are sleep, should horse on
which had been left saddle shake him.
self, the noise would startle the cattle and
they would be apt to stampede. Care must
be taken to prevent this. At times the
howl of a wolf or the hooting of an owl
will startle the cattle from slumber, and
away they run in all directions, to be
brought together again only after much
hard riding, work, botheration and pro.
family.
Should herder have occasion to rise in
the night for any cause, he must move
with great caution. He will crawl Out
from under his blanket. 1t may be that
some of the cattle are awakened. They
open their eyes, lift their heads and listen
for the next disturbing sound. If horse
should jump or herder spring from the
ground suddenly, the scare would be com
plete-the startled animals would jump te
their feet and run perhaps for miles.
When herder raises an alarm he rises
slowly, the while talking low, as if to hi.
horse or some cattle. Gradually raising
his voice in natural way, he speaks sooth
ingly, coaxingly, yet distinct. The cattle
hear his voice, are treasured, and very soor
all is quiet.
In this quiet way the herder can move
around among the cattle with impunity
But let there come some quick jump-lel
some fool of cow have the nightmare anG
spring to her feet with snort, and the
very dickens is to pay.
Sometimes an entire drove of cattle will
take fright and follow in the direction
taken by their leader. They run like deel
and none but good horses can keep ur
with them. At such times the herder OF
COW boy hastens to his saddle if he be moi
already therein. At the top of his horses
speed pursuit is given.
The drove is off like a long comet, all in
line. Then comes what is called "mill
ing.' The horses are crowded forward to
the head of the flying column of scared
cattle. All the herders ride to the right OIL
left of the column. as the case may be, till
close along side with the first of the STAN.
peders. To ride in front and try to stop
them would be death, for long horns, sharp
hoofs, and reckless plunging would soon
finish horse and rider.
Then the horseman presses close upon
the right or left of the head of the col
umn, till the leaders are forced out of a
straight line and then gradually into a
curve. Soon the cattle are entitled" and
are running at the rate of fifteen miles an
hour in a circle. Around and around they
60, forming a ring, as it were. When the
herders succeed in steering the steers sc
they will make the "mill," their work is
done for the moment. The cattle run in
this way till exhausted, and till the head
of the column is lost in the tail of it. In
a little while all is quiet again and the
drove or herd is ready to move on.
At times some of the cattle break oui
another. At such times the herder and
his horse have work to do. 1t may be a
race for miles, till the pursuer and pursued
are far away from and out of sight of the
main herd.
If the COW boy has but one animal to
chase, the work is quickly done. The lasso
is used and the upset animal has the kink
so taken out of him that he is content to
travel in company. In thousands Of cases
the rope is not used, but the animal is
thrown without its aid.
The mode of operation is this: putting
his horse to full speed, the herder rides
close alongside the animal, reaches down,
and catches it by the tail. Going at a
greater rate of speed, the man on tho horse
lifts the animal partly from its feet, or lifts
and pulls sideways, when the steps of the
steer are thrown out of mesh, as machin
lists say, and heels over head it rolls upon
the ground. If one tumble is not enough,
soon as it gets under Roadway the game is
repeated and down it goes again. After
two or three falls the ugliest steer gener,
ally gives in and is tractable. Cows are
more stubborn, but five or six dumps and
Followers are generally sufficient to teach
them better than to war against the newt.
able.
In these exercises the animal may have
a leg broken or become disabled. The
long sheath knife of the herder finishes the
work, the throat is cut, the skin ripped
open and started about the neck. The rope
is then made fast, one end to the skin, the
other to the horn of the saddle. The horse
moves on, and the skin is peeled from the
carcass as man would turn leg Of his
pants inside out. The skin is then rolled
up, put upon pack horse and taken tc
camp to be sailed, preserved, and sent to
market.
At times some of the cattle are mired in
the wet places where they GO for drink ana
are powerless to get out. Then the COW
boy bitches the rope to the horns of the
animal, which is pulled out head first. II
one horse cannot do the work, another COW
boy with horse and rope comes to the res