Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-08-31
CATTLE HERDING.
How the Work is Done in Texas Cattle
Stealing.

How the Work is Done in Texas Cattle
Stealing.
CORES. Cincinnati Gazette.
As the old world, especially England,
is now looking to America, with anxious
hope on the part of consumers end I'M
easy fear on the part of producers, in
regard to the beef traffic; and as the
vast plains of Texas are the greatest
pasture fields of North America for it's
cheap production, from whence it can
be taken, if desired, and placed upon
the tables of the British lord or laborer
in the finest condition and at much less
cost than the product of their native
island, it might not be uninteresting to
follow for moment the practical work
ings, in their details; of the industry
which has contributed, and still must
continue to contribute, so largely to the
feeding OF goodly portion OF mankind
AS soon in spring as the cattle be-
come fat on the grass, the gathering-up
begins, which varies somewhat in meth
cd with the locality. AS there are no
stock laws which forbid their running
at large, the cattle are scattered promis-
cuously over the country, these of the
more extensive raisers frequently run
ming 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, mutual
arrangement is frequently made between
different owners for each to bring the
others stock when found. The cattle
hunters usually 60 in parties of five or
six men and boys, mounted on ponies,
taking with them wagon or pack mule,
carrying their provisions and blankets,
the provisions usually consisting of corn
meal or -four, bacon and coffee; to be
prepared as required for use Not
many of the gout-inviting and dyspep-
reproducing luxuries are accustomed
to find their way to these tables. When
a 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 pri-
NAL freedom.
On starting out place is designated
as the next stopping point, where all
will gather in. The driver proceeds
there with the wagon, and the 8 cow
boys dispense, 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 equip
age securely strapped on its back
This cow hunting is not exact y
the dry and prosy job one might imagine
who has all his life been used to quiet
cattle and fenced roads to drive them
over, but is full of activity; of fiery gal
lops and headlong chases; of searches
through thick timber and over broad
prairies Anywhere and everywhere
that cattle 90 there they are followed
and brought back, but not always until
they have given substantial evidence of
preference for their native wilds by per-
sistent and elusive chase, in which, how
ever, 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 victorious, and drive
back the broad horned brute to JON his
fellows in the common herd.
After day of this exhilarating and
giving exercise, all collect at the APP
pointed place as near the same time as
possible, and the several lots of cattle
brought in by the different drivers are
put together, forming the herd, which is
now kept in charge and increased in the
same manner by the daily collections,
until they are driven to the shipping
point, which is usually done about once
week.
The cattle disposed OF, the plain but
wholesome meal next follows, made
more wholesome by liberal seasoning
of fresh air and hearty jokes, and after
this, the jokes and anecdotes flow on as
they will always do where such a group
has met. until the hour of bed time has
come; tnen each one rolls himself in his
blanket and is soon floating away through
the realms of Morpheus, where Texas
cattle cease from troubling and the COW
boys are at rest.
The stirring life ON horseback and in
the open air is, indeed, deserving of all
the renown it has ever gained for giving
health and vigor to those who share it,
although it has some hardships and pri-
vations; but many a sickly clerk might
find in summer of such life the health
and strength which he imagined had
forsaken him forever or, perhaps, bet
ter than it had ever been his fortune to
possess.
When the weeks hunt is over, all
hands repair to the pens, where the cat
tie are sorted before being shipped, as
many unfit for market are always gath
cred among the rest. The stock pens
consist of two large ones, with number
of small ones between them; the first of
the small ones opening into the larger
pens and the last terminating in the
gangway which leads to the car-door,
and each communicating with the one
next to it at either end, by means of
gates. The cattle are driven into one
of the larger pens, and from this, the
first Of the small ones is filled until it is
a solid surging mass OF backs and heads
and horns, and into this the herders ride
to begin asserting, their ponies crowding
among the cattle, and they having the
appearance of men floating, waist-deep,
in the uneasy pillows of restless sea-
The gate at the forward end of the
pen is opened when steer is brought
up that is to pass on, and closed to pre-
vent others passing, until all which are
fit to market are driven out, and the
remnant is turned into the other large
pen. The small sorting pen is thus
filled and emptied until the whole herd
has passed through, the beeves being
driven on and loaded in the meantime
BY the late law of Texas all railroad
companies are held accountable if they
ship any stock without having it previ-
ously inspected and the brand recorded;
so that it is simply impossible for any
one to ship off another's cattle without
leaving a public record of his fraud up
on the books of the inspector which are
subject to examination by any con-
cerned.
As the brand is the only evidence here
of ownership, this becomes a very i'm
portant matter to the stock man, and it
not infrequently happens that calves
found without it's imprint at once re-
ceive it. although the dam bears the
brand OF some one else. The intense
desire for rapid increase of stock led
to this practice more frequently in the
mast than If does at present. not that