The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-12-19
OUR TEXAS LETTER.
Anothsr Inseresslag CosnnaunleRtion
from ssJNsper."

Anothsr Inseresslag ComsnaunleRsiou
from 'sJRsper.'
| CouAScnE RANcnx, BASpraA Co Ten
December IS, 1910. !
Since writing last we have been pro-
crossing slowly, picking up cattle and
grazing them toward the point for which
we started. Our party consists Of
mixed mob of Mexicans and Texas COW
boys. numbering twenty in all. Each Of
the herders has three horses which he
rides alternately, and which are taken
care of by three men who do nothing
else. Then we have two cooks. an ambu-
lance aud two pack mules. which carry
the cooking utensils and supplies. Our
bill OF fare consists of potatoes, rice,
beans. aud such other vegetables as will
bear transportation, with hard crackers,
strong coffee. and beef which we know
IL fresh, since we see 1t shot down and
dressed for the meal as occasion requires,
with an occasional deer, some Of which
we have seen contentedly grazing
amongst the cattle we pass The amount
of provender this party slows away each
meal would strike terror to the heart of
any boarding house keeper. The horse
back exercise together with tile pure mir
gives man the appetite Of wolf, and
he will eat things here, without hesita-
ton, that he would shudder at any
where else. Two months Of this
sort of life would cure the worst possible
case ofdyspcpsia. The manner of proceed.
ing IN gathering o'cattle for "drive" Is as
follows After purchasing from the
rancher or his agent, who furnishes u
list OF the brxnds, aud accompanies us
with whatever force he has at his COM
mand, we ride ont on the prairie, where
cattle are 10 be seen grazing IN "bunches"
THAT is what they call it here unless
there are herders with them, Of ten TO
forty. We scatter and drive toward an
agreed point, all the cattle in sight. When
all have reached the place desg
mated, We will have probably thousand
head, and while we slowly circle round
them to prevent their stampedin.. Il COW
boy will proceed to "cut out" a desired
y brand, which is very exciting and dan
9 gerous; he will spot steer bearing III,
proper brand and then putting spurs t,
his Mustang. which is thoroughly traine'
y for the work, he will drive the steer clca
:, through and out of the herd of by itself
u where it will be kept until half dozel
:, others Join II, when il will be contented
After the excitement of the herd ha
=, somewhat subsidized, he will repeat the OF
=. Grafton until the number sold is cut out
the brands are then inspected. til
.s proper bill Of sale given, and We NOV
=, on to "Othcr fields and pasture
n new The cattle are then allowed
scatter, which they do and always retur
-, to the places from which they WEI
- driven, even lift is five or ten miles. Oh
herters tell me that these cattle have &c
=, tain ''haunts' where the same cattle vi
:. be found grazing from one years end
, to another, unless the pastures fail or the
;" are driven away. Knowing this they ca
&c always tell where they will find cattle I
the brand they want. In some of o,
ground ups" we had had as high as
hundred different brands, some OF theI
belonging to men who did not live with
fifty miles OF US and who probably la
>, never seen the cattle since they wcr
branded, yet to attempt to drive ava.
any Of these would have met with u
. prompt punishment as though the owne
y, had been present. They are very clan
nish, these stock-nen. but are Obliged t
be by circumstances. The riding Of som
" OF these men is simply marvellous. | 70
one Of our Mexicans to display his abilit.
in this direction yesterday; for half
dollar he performed feats of horseman
ship | have never seen equaled. vii
never doubt anything again which they
' claim they can do on horseback. liz
got after a vicious six yea
, old steer, which he would
start at iull speed and then lasso i
within six inches of any spot ! Womb
, designate on either horn or leg, and rid
ing OIL Mt u tangent, he would throw
N on either side, seemingly without Al
. effort. Next, As they careered over tn
y prairie, he grasped 1t by the tail an
6 before that steer knew 1t, he had turne
= a half somersault and was lying on hi
4 back. He narrowly escaped being gore
|. twice when the msddened animal turne
Is on him, but that only seemed to add t
e, his pleasure. After this exhibition wa
10 over, he removed the saddle from hi
le mustang and gave me specimen Of Co
4 manche riding. He would ride at iul
gallop, laying along the pony's side, sup
at ported only by one arm around til
" pony's neck, and one leg thrown acros
" its haunch. In his other hand he carrie
ID a revolyer, with which he fired at mar
a. under the neck OF the pony, without hit
N ting it, however. He also would pick "a
ID from the ground anything thrown down
t. while going at tull speed. This ende
the exhibition, and SignOr Martinez re
Of tired amidst the vocifcrous cries @
is "brayo" from his delighted companions
e. The life OF a her1er is one Of excitement
r not unmixed with peril, and It furnishe
Is employment TO class OF men, some q
u whom would undoubtedly do some Stat
r good service in the penitentiary If the.
u had not this vent tor their surplus cussed
l, nn.s ard ..pnr.vy 'rlnr rn,niyn fran