The state journal., 1884-09-06

the different States wheel into line,
CleVeland's hands begin. to loosen
their grip and his heart to lose faith.
A COLORADO ROUNDUP.
How the Annual Branding of Cattle is
Gone Through With.
Denver Tribune.
The round-ups are now in full progress
in Colorado, Wyoming and all the north
ern cattle countries, and by the end of
the month the outfits will be near Brush,
the point nearest to Denver at which the
work of the roundup parties can be seen
by visitors. A cattle roundup on the
plains Of Colorado is Il scene full of in
terest. Before the dew leaves the grass
the smoke of the Camp-fires is seen
climbing heavenwards, as the cook pre-
pares breakfast By the time it is des-
patched the lowing herd is beginning to
evinCe symptoms of restlessness and the
score ofYaqueros who stood the morning
watch are having their hands full in keep
ing their charges in subjugation. Great
clouds of dust obscure the morning sun,
and from their midst arise the hoarse
bellowings of the bulls, the lowing of the
cows and the bleating Of the new calves
in gigantic chorus makes the scene
dOubly Impressive. The major domo
delegates some Ofhis men for guard duty,
others to attend to branding and mark
ing, others to receive the stock from his
hands, and still others to assist him in
parting out"
/ The men who 90 with him must be
quick eyed and clever manipulatOrs and
thoroughly know every brand and ear
mark in which their master is interested.
AT given signal the herd is assaulted,
and from being impressive the scene be
comes interesting. Cinches are tightened
carefully for tumble in the midst of the
herd means death, and then the boss and
his men force their way into the uneasy
mass of hide and horns. The well trained
horses move at a slow walk, and the van
quero's eyes slowly scan every animal
that comes within their range of vision.
Their masters brand is detected on the
hip, flank or shoulder, or an ear mark or
dewlap is seen that seems familiar Two
men range themselves on either side of
the wearer, and the animal is gently
worked out of the drove and into the
open. The men who are keeping the
animal breaks for the plains and break
fast.
If the owner is simply branding the ad-
ditiOns to his stock, and the ''parted out"
animal is bull or a steer or callless cow,
he, she or it, as the case may be, will be
allowed to go as instinct indicates and
return to the favOrite haunts from which
it was gathered the previous day. If the
owner is selling cattle fit for the market,
the animal, if meeting the requirements
of the purchaser, rs previously expressed
to the major domO, is picked up by one of
the waiting vaqueros and run off at a dis
tance of from half to three quarters of a
mile, and there guarded with sub
sequCnt additions until the part
ing out process is completed.
If COW with calf two
men take them in tow and drive them to
where the camp fire has been famed into
a fierce blaze. The cow is separated
from her offspring, the little creatures
endeavors to reioin her being rudely
checked by a cast of the RATA, and in
moment the men at the fire have the
young unfortunate secured by the weight
of their bodies. In Ia moment the red hot
iron imprints the letter or device known
as the .owner's "brand" deep into the
tender hide, the equally sharp knife has
inflicted "cross crop" ''half moon"
''upper bit'' in the young cars, or pc
culiarly constructed ''dew lap in the
thick skin of the throat, the work
of emasculatiOn Gf the yOungster
is intended for beef is over, and
the sInged, mutilated little wretch joins
its mother. Perhaps if the mother catches
sight of the damage that is being done
her darling, she does not wait to be joined,
but proceeds to do the act herself; then,
if she manifests design to create un-
pleasant trouble about the fire, the RATA
Of the horsemen must be brought into
play. A cast over one of her hind legs,
turn around the horn ofthe saddle, and
the COW does not live who is capable of
inhicting any serious injury upon any
body, especially when the rawhide rope
is manipulated by an expert on a horse
trained to his business.