Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-11-07
Scenes in a Colorado Cattle Ranch.

A "RoUND UP.n-As in more primi-
tive days the different herds ranged in
termingled over the public domain, so
do they now stray from ranch to ranch,
and at certain seasons of the year they
must be collected and separated. They
are distinguished by ear-marks, and
more especially by brands, said brands
being conclusive and universally ac-
cepted evidence of ownership. In June
and July, and in September and Octo-
Der, rounding up," or the grand col
lection and separation, takes place.
For each district a master or director of
the "round up"i is chosen, whose orders
are implicitly obeyed by the working
force, consisting of from twenty to fifty
men, furnished by the ranchmen of the
district in proportion to their holdings.
They have two or three horses apiece,
and are accompanied by assistants,
herders, cooks, etc., etc. Starting rom
given point, taking a regular course,
and camping every night, they sweep
over the ranges. Each day they "round
up;" the horsemen scour the country,
and, with the skill coming from long
practice, gather the cattle together. In
vain does the restive steer break away
and run back or aside, the skillful horse
man is ready tor him, the trained horse
turns on a five-cent piece" and he is
headed off, and must yield to his fate,
and move on in the pre-ordained track.
The "round up }" takes place sometimes
at corral" or large inclosure, some
times on the open plain.
"CUrrING OUT."-Only the first pur-
poses of the "round up has been sub
served when the cattle are collected.
| Next the cows and calves must be '' cut
out" and we saw the COW boys ride
into the herd, single out the COW with
calf following), and with great skill ex-
tricate her from the throng. The young
calves are, of course, not yet marked,
but the presence of one COW makes it
imperative to place that cows mark
on it. Strayed calves, on the other hand
(called "Mauvrics, from an old
Frenchman in Texas who is said to have
added largely to his worldly stores by q
systematic abstraction of these waits
and strays), are sold for the benefit O.
the associated ranchmen. First catch
YOUR calf" as Mrs. Glass would say
Perhaps you may think that this is ar
easy task; but you would find, if yor
tried it, that you were never more mis-
taken in your life, for the ease witt
which the rancheros accomplish it ha'
only come with careful training ant
long practice. The little animal run
wonderfully fast, springs, turns ant
dodges almost like flash; but the cow
boy never takes his eyes off of him, ant
the trained horse, now well warmed u
and entering fully into the spirit Of tn
: chase, responds to, almost seems to an
, ticipate, every turn of his riders lei
hand and wrist. Meanwhile the latte
with his right arm is swinging his moose
r rope or lasso, and in another minute b
: has thrown it exactly over the calf
f head. Instantly the horse plunges fol
| ward, giving slack to the rope, an
allowing it to be wound around I'll
f horn Of the saddle; then he moves OF
: dragging the calf after him, and IL
little creature is soon in the hands of tt
7 men with the branding-irons. Thes
: have been heated in a hot fire, and al
) quickly applied, and in few minute
l the ca f, now indelibly designated rs IL
= property of his master, is again runnir
5 about.--A. 4. Hayes, Jr., IN Harper
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