The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-01-05

How the business IL Managed In Wyoming
and the Profits I'm IL.

driven together each day and corraled.
The corral is a large inclosure fenced
in with pine logs put together very
strongly and capable of resisting any
commotion which may arise among the
cattle. Each ranchman then brands
The calf which is following COW bear
ing his brand. 1t is taken for granted
that the calf is his property, and if a
calf bearing another mans brand is
found following the COW the matter is
rcmedied by the owner of the brand
handing over an unbranded calf, which
if thereupon branded with the first
mans brand, and the matter is settled.
Zach man consults his own fancy as
to his brand, and a large variety may
be seen, including letters, harness,
knives, cups, arrowheads, etc. Each
ranchman has also an ear-mark, by
which he distinguishes his cattle when
their winter coat of hair renders the
brand indistinguishable. The same
variety is seen in earmarks as in brands,
some men Sitting each ear, or cutting
off the tips, while the severing of one
ear close to the head is not an uncom-
mon mark. The branding is done with
ward on the left side, about six inches
from the backbone. In this way the
whole range is gone over until the
branding is finished, the men living in
tents and subsisting on beef and what
game comes in their way.
The cattle are active and run rapidly.
A stampede is curious occurrence and
apt to be serious, if not properly man
aged. The stumbling of horse or
any unusual noise may cause it, and the
cattle once started will run until ex-
hausted, turning aside for nothing and
demolishing anything which happens
to be in their course. When STAN
pede occurs, the herdsman Immediately
rides to the side of the herd near the
head and turns the cattle gradually,
eventually bringing them to the point
at which they started, and keeps up the
process until the herd is exhausted and
stops. Even when turned in this man
ner the cattle frequently run from ten
to twenty miles without hating. The
cattle are usually shipped te market in
the fall, at which time the roundup"
occurs. In this, as in the branding, all
the ranchmen join, each furnishing his
quota of herders. The proportion is
about one herder to 500 cattle. The
latter are gathered in immense herds
and the cattle destined for shipment
picked out. A man mounted on n
trained horse rides into the drove and
picks ont steer. The horse then fol-
lows the animal, turning it to the right
or left and keeping it always headed for
the outside of the herd. When the
cattle for shipment are collected they
are driven in one large herd to the
railroad, and are guarded day and night
by mounted herdsmen. About twenty
are put in a car, and the freight is 81
per head. 1t costs about 81 per head
to feed them on the way. and the trip
consumes seven days
The use of dogs is forbidden by law,
and the herdsman relies entirely upon
himself and his horse to do the work
| The horses used are Indian ponies, and
are valuable in proportion to their
knowledge of the business They are
fast and hardy, frequently travelling
sixty and seventy miles in n day. A
large, fast, and well-trained pony is
worth 500, and they range in price
from that amount down to $50. Each
man has from four to six horses, and
uses each on the average half n day in
two days. In the roundup" herder
watches the drove of horses night and
day, and drives them into camp every
morning at o'clock, the herders being
in the saddle at sunrise. Many of the
ponies are "buckers," AID will unseat
the most skillful rider n man who is
able to stick on an adept QUICKER be-
ing exceedingly rare. A Quicker"
jumps up six feet or so into the air,
landing stiff on his fore feet, and re-
peats the operation 40 rapidly that the
jumps can hardly be counted until the
rider is unseated and flung headlong.
The herders are paid from 500 to SO
per month, according to their skill with
the lasso. 1t is of the "las DER" as it is
of the poet-"nascitur sed non fit"
Almost any man can learn TO lasso Il
steer by the horns or throw the loop
over a horses head, but only a man
born to the business can catch steer
| by the leg, horse and steer on the dead
run. When the lasso is thrown the
cowboy" coils the end around the
pommel of his saddle, the pony braces
himself, and when the rope tightens the
steer usually measures his length upon
the ground. The COWBOYS are a harCl.
working set of men, and, at least in the
locality described, very decent fellows.
One of Mr.. Denison's boys is gradu-
ate of Bowdoin College, and intends to
practice law. No arms are carried and
there is no cattle-stealing.
The cattle-men subsist, in large
measure, during al seasons of the year
upon game, which is present in great
variety and abundance ut this season.
Antelope form the main diet, as they
roam in herds of from twenty-five to
one hundred. Deer, elk and other
large game are abundant, but are more
timid and harder to get. The country
is quiet and the population law-abiding
From the very nature of things there is
no attraction for the loafer and the
blackguard Every man works and
works hard, and with proper energy and
care there's millions in it."