Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1879-05-24
HERDISG CATTLE IN KANSAS.
Some very Readable Observations from
One of the Herders-The Tanning of n
Bully Among Cattle-Tailing tho Cattle
The Hetders' Only Diversion.

Some very Readable Observations from
Bully Among Cattle-Tailins tho Cattle
The Hetders' Only Diversion:
From the New York SUM-
1t is the early dawn of May day in
western Kansas. A sea of rolling bill
lows of land extends in every direction
to the utmost reach of the vision. The
plains are covered with a rich growth
of bluejoint and buffalo grass. A herd
of cattle is sleeping in a corral by a
creek-cows, two-year-olds, yearliugs,
and calves. A few ponies are picketed
with long ropes on the prairie. A couple
of saddles, blankets, and brides hang
on pegs by the corral bars. The scene
is eminently peaceful: Occasionally a
COW rises, and, walking to the salt bar
rel, gently licks the salt, then licks her
nose, as though she had serious thoughts
of picking it, so as to insure its keep
ing over summer. But on reflection
she concludes it will keep this season at
any rate, and walks over to the scratch
ing posts and t.ere stands rubbing her
| neck up and down. Suddenly stop
ping, she gazes, open-eyed, at a wolf,
who sits on his launches some hundred
yards from the corral, sitting there PEN
sively, looking at the great amount Of
fresh meat. After gazing at the wolf
until satisfied, the COW lies down again.
The deep breathing of the cattle, the
morning calls of the meadow larks, the
soft music of the wind as it whistles
through the short, tender grass, are the
only sounds heard.
As the east grows red, the occupants
of large dug-out situated by the bank
of a creek lounge slowly out, and walk
to the water, and drink and wash-the
latter a speedy operation, as the herder
does not waste time in washing. One
goes to feed the ponies corn, and saddle
them; the other builds fire and
cooks breakfast. This meal con-
sists of corn-dodgers, or baking
powder biscuit, fried bacon, and
strong coffee without milk or sugar.
There may be 200 COWS in the herd, but
none are MIXED. The herders simply
exist with as little trouble as possible
As a rule, they do not read do not
think of any thing but the cattle. To
attend these well is their ambition. AT
ter breakfast the bars are taken down
and the cattle string out of the corral.
Forming in long files, they follow the
deep, well worn trails that lead to the
feeding grounds. 1t is a very leisurely
march. Now and then an animal drops
out of file, eats a few mouthfuls of grass,
but soon drops into file again and re-
sumes marching. On reaching the de-
sired feeding ground the cattle spread
and begin feeding At about 10 O'Clock
they are full, or nearly so; and in list
less manner they change front, and feed
toward water. Arriving there, the herd
drink, stand in the water, and so ''loaf''
away an hour. They then lie down ;and
for two or three hours remain quiet. As
the sun gets low the cattle again spread
and feed AS the sun sinks to the hori-
zon the herders slowly force them to
feed toward their corral, and by the
time they have fed up to it, it is gener-
ally dusk. Bars are put up, ponies
staked out, supper cooked and eaten.
and the herders go to bed.
In all herds there are few animals
that lead off; that is, they will not re-
main on yotir range, but constantly en-
deavor to lead the herd to pastures new
These animals are generally yellow Oh
black steers; but sometimes COWS ol
heifers are guilty of the trick. OF course
these animals are sold as soon as posi-
BILE; but until sold they are the cause o.
a vast amount of hard riding. Many
are the devices used to break them o
this habit, but never knew any to bt
successful. 1 well remember large
three-year-old heifer, coal black in col
or, which had great desire to feed il
a ravine that we did not want her tt
} feed in. Almost daily she would slip
|, out of the herd, and some of us woulc
| L. - - La- haa hra Anu q flayI
herder, unaceustomed to Texas cattle
, said he could frighten the heifer out O
the ravine, and frighten her so badl,
that she would never again leave q
herd. We all told him to 60 aSe$'
with his plan. Riding near the rayine
he dismounted, and, taking off his coat
: crawled through the tall grass untl sdi
rectly above the heifer. Then, holding
J the outstretched coat in front of him, a
executed species of war dance, accom-
| ! anied by unearthly yells. The heife
/ was frightened-paralyzed with fear
: in fact. She stood motionless, lookin;
up at the horrible figure above her
Then the awful fact impresse'
! itself on her brain that thi
apparition was new kind of beast
destined to drive her and her kind fror
the face of the prairie, so she might a
! well die fighting as to starve to death
, and she ran, not away from the grin
ming, dancing, bowling idiot behind tn
coat, but at him. Dropping the cos
!. he had no use for, he turned and ra
; for his horse. The horse quickly ca
!, culated the chances, and coming to th
= conclusion that the COW would catch th
: dancer before the dancer got to hin
. ran off The would.be frishtener {
:. COWS ran for his life, and howled fo
y help. The COW gained on him, an
). when her hot breath struck his make
u neck he fell. The COW passed ovt
him, but in passing stepped on his bacl
driving the blood out of his mouth an
= nose Before she could turn on him. IL
" other herders went at her and drove ht
;, off. On seeing him dismount we hs
Il ridden rapidly to him, well KNOWN
what would happen. 1t is needless
70 say that youth never repeated that e,
- pertinent.
l. The cattle of Texas are not afraid
q a man, nor are they afraid of hors'
but they are afraid of man on hors
IS They do not understand, at least do n
Ie seem to understand, that man {
- horseback is combination of animal
u u Apparently they regard the two as ol
n animal, and one that is too powerful f
them. To get off of horse in hel
l. of wild Texas cattle is almost worth
r mans life, and an experienced herd
W will never do it.
D. All herds of cattle have bul
5. among them. There is boss COW, al
le she is hated and feared. OF ugly di
TO position, constantly hooking unoffen
ing cows, greedy in eating, she max
ID herself generally disagreeable. Or
r, may be that the bully is steer. I
s. characteristics of the brute are all t
or same. The rest of the herd are
Id afraid of her or him. Singly they G
a do nothing. Matters go from bad
he worse, and COW life becomes almost U