Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-24
Cs,,Ie nsnre. in the For Wet.

D
all the year round, the avocation of stock
| growing is attended with no little care and Ia
| Dor. During the summer autumn and win
ter the cattle roam at will over the plains and
| different herds, OF parts thereof, mingle to-
gether, and perhaps wander for long distances
| from their home range. Very frequently sim
| gle heads, separated most likely from their
herd in stampede, are found 200 miles
away. To collect these stragglers, and to
take a census, no less than to pick out the
beovos for market, the annual 'round up is
held. At this period, falling in May and June,
the whole country is searched, and the cattle
appertaining to district driven together in
one vast herd from whence the different
ranchmcn separate their own cattle, easily
recognizable by the brand and after a mu-
tual exchange Of strayed ones, each owner
takes his herd back to their home range, and
after branding the calves, turns them out
loose, not to see them again till next years
"round up"
For each district embracing many hum
bred square miles, and from 10 to 20 ranges, a
ptain-generally one of the old settlers well
acquainted with the country-is chosen. I'm
der him work the stockmen-cow-b boys or
cow-punchers, as everybody connected with
cattle-raisng is called-from the different
ranches, numbering often 20 or more men,
and 200 or more horses, for each cowboy has
mounts with him on these occasions. The
whole country, so large that it will take them
one or two months to work il over, Is laid out
in daily rides. If there is q large creek or
stream in the distance the water-course is fol-
lowed, the country for 20 or 30 miles on both
sides being carefully searched by the mount
ed cowboys, who, all working under one
head, develop great aptitude for their labori-
GUS work. They are in the saddle for at least
~ 4 Al
the ''lope,' or canter often long after dark
they bring in, driving before them the stock
found that day, when, after watering the
thirsty beasts, they are added TO the main
herd, which is carefully watched day and
night
If the range, as is very frequently the case,
is mountainous one (thcrc are many in
Wyoming seven and eight thousand feetaboyc
the sea, in the heart of the Rocky mountains).
the search for cattle is far more difficult than
on level or undulating prairie land. In the
former case, the rough and steep chains of
mountains, full Of 'drars," pockets and
gulchcs, generally dcnsely timbered at the
bottom, the search is anything but easy. A
COW or small bunch Of cattle, overlooked on
one 'round up" is, however, not necessarily
lost for generally they will turn up on that
or some neighboring rancho during the next
years round up. Wyoming ranch-mon have
told me that often they accidentally pitch up
on cattle they missed four or five years be-
fore. On such occasions the original COW
will make her appearance with quite a little
family of unbranded steers, yearlings and
calves. Considering how broken the ground,
and of what huge dimensions each range, ii
speaks well for the COW boys powers that the
losses for straying amount under proper
care, to not more than or . per cent per an
mum. The annual total percentage Of losses
incurred from stress Of weather, drouths, etc,
varies considerably. More than half of the
owners or managers Of the ranges about 100
l visited declared that per cent in average
years will amply cover others maintained :,
and few even thought 10 per cent
The round up is busy time for man and
horse on frontier ranches 1t is period af-
fording pleasant change to the boy, who
the rest of the year is buried on his isolated
rancho often months without seeing a white
man, and years frequently pass before a
pettcoat makes his heart Hutter. There is a
wonderful amount of animated life, light
hearted merriment and vigorous and health
full rivalry.abou one of these round-ups. Up
before sunrise, substantial breakfast, at
which often half steer divided among the
different messes is used the rising orb sees
them in the saddle, II couple of led animals
on the line galloping over the plains in pur-
suit of those distant black specks, or ascend
ing the dangerously steep slopes of a dismal
hog back' hill, from whence the higher
ranges in the pine. clad mountains are reach
ed. They usually do not return to camp till
dusk, driving before them the cattle found by
them that day, which, if it is in open country.
will often be as many as 200 to the man if
broken and full of pockets and drars, or
densely timbered ravines, perhaps not more
than 10 or 10 Cowboys learn to track ami.
mails as Indians do game, and l was often
amused TO watch from some elevated spot
field" of cowboys at work. Here you will
see a couple dismounted and leading their
ponies, following some faint tracks on the
hard gravelly soil, which, until softer ground
is reached, or other indisputable stock signs
discovered, might prove those of elk or (un-
shod) Indian ponies. Generally water be-
trays cattle for let them be ever so far from
it, or carefully screened from discovery in
dense timber, they must at least once every
"a hours repair 10 the next creek or water
hole, when their tracks are easily observable.
Nonder we perceive three or four of the dar-
ing riders pursuing a small bunch" stamped
ing down steep SLOPE tails raised high, evil
IDENTITY frightened at the unusual sight of man,
and the pursuors at full gallop tearing down
the hill at more than break neck pace, endeav-
oring to head them of man and horse APP
parently oblivious TO the steepness of the
grade aud the many treachcrous holes and
tree-stumps that dot it. They are all wonder
full riders and on these occasions they strive
to Guido each other. | saw one spill on
steep hillside, occasoned by a gopher hole,
into which the horse put one of its fore-legs
and from motives of curiosity measured the
distance the rider was sent spinning, and
found that between the gopher-hole and the
spot where the mans shoulder touched the
ground first was 81 feet less three inches.
The man was only slightly stunned, and amid
helaughter of his companions, who never show
any mercy on such occasions, picked himself
up, and pulling his six-shooter forthwith shot
the disabled "broncho."