The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-08-17

How the Work is Done-Herds Increased
by Dishonest Practices.


and Nebraska were originally covered
with cattle driven up from Texas, and
large additions are yearly made from
immense drives from that great state.
Our readers will be interested in learn
Ing how the work of gathering cattle
Is done there, and how dishonest men
have increased their herds.
As soon in spring as the cattle become
fat on the grass the gathering-up be-
gins, which varies somewhat in method
with the locality. AS there are no
stock laws which forbid their running
at large, the cattle are scattered pro-
miscuously over the country, those of
the more extensive raisers frequently
running over two or three counties.
In Eastern Texas each stock-raiser
sends out men to gather up his own
cattle, which are identified by the mark
and brand, wherever they may be found.
This causes considerable hunting and
rehunting over the same ground, and
to obviate this, at least in part, a mu-
tual arrangement is frequently made
between different owners for each to
bring the others stock when found.
The cattle-hunters usually so in parties
of five and six men and boys, mounted
on ponies, taking with them a wagon
or pack mule, carrying their provisions
and blankets, the provisions usually
consist of corn meal or -four, bacon COT
fee, to be prepared as required for use.
Not many of the gout-inviting and dys-
pepsia-producing ~luxuries are accus-
toned to find their way to these tables.
When Il wagon is taken the driver also
acts as cook, in conjunction with his
duties as hostler and teamster, all of
which blend tremendously in this happy
life of primal freedom.
On starting out a place is designated
as the next stopping point, where all
will gather in. The driver proceeds
there with the wagon, and the ''cow
boys. disperse, usually in twos, to
scour the country, and bring in all the
cattle found of the proper mark and
brand. When a pack mule is used, it is
simply driven with the cattle, and
trudges off among them as if one of
their number, bearing the provisions
and camp equipage securely strapped
to its back.
This ''cow hunting'' is not exactly
the dry and prosy job one might imag-
inc who hoo oil b;o 1;fa boap ,,cad IN
quiet cattle and fenced roads to drive
them over, but is full of activity, of
fiery gallops and headlong chases, Of
searches through thick timber and over
broad prairies. Anywhere and every
where that cattle go they are followed
and brought back, but not always until
they have gwen substantial evidence Of
preference for their native wilds by
persistent and elusive chases, in which,
however, the practical driver, and his
no less practical pony, which latter
seems to enjoy the wild sport as well
as his rider, generally come off victor
ious, and drive back the broad-horned
brute to join his fellows in the common
herd.
After a day Of this eXhilarating and
life-giving exercise, all collect at the
appointed place as near the same time
as possible, and the several lots of cat
tie brought in by the different drivers
are put together, forming the herd,
which is now kept in charge and in
creased in the same manner by the
daily collections, until they are driven
to the shipping point, which is usually
done about once a week.
The cattle disposed of, the plain but
wholesome meal next follows, made
more wholesome by a liberal seasoning
of fresh air and hearty jokes, and after
this, the jokes and anecdotes flow on as
they will always do where such q group
has met, until the hour of bed time
comes. Then each n rolls himself
in his blankets, and is soon floating
away through the realms of Morpheus,
"where Texas cattle cease from troub-
ling and the COW boys are at rest"
As the brand is the only evidence
there of ownership, this becomes q very
important matter to the stock man, and
it not infrequently happens that calves
found without this imprint at once re-
ceive it, although the dam bears the
brand of some IL else. The intense
desire for a rapid increase of stock led
to this practice more frequently in the
past than it does at present; not that
the greed of mankind has diminished,
but because the opportunities of detec-
ton have increased. 1t mattered but
little formerly how many or how few
cattle any one owned, they increased
just in proportion to the closeness with
| which he attended to branding.
At the close of the war that country
offered ample opportunities for the ex-
ercise of such proclivities, and many a
man awaited himself of them. While
the men were absent in the army the
cattle went On increasing, and there
was no one left, or at least but few, to
keep them branded. AS a consequence
the close of the war found the country
full of unbranded cattle, which the law
presumed belonged to no one, and all
had an equal right to them. Then it
was that those of enterprise, whether
they ever owned any cattle or not, heated
their branding irons and entered right
heartily into the work of laying the
foundation of 4 future competency.
Many succeeded and amassed fortunes