The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-06-18

may lie in their way over which they
plunge to destruction. 1t matters not
to the cowboy. IL the stampede is
made, the Captain of the drove and his
men ride until they head it, and then
endeavor to turn the animals into
circuit once more.
"A hole in the ground, which catches
a horses foot, stumble and the hoofs
of three thousand cattle have trampled
the semblance of humanity from him.
He knows this. A gulch or gorge lies in
their path. There is no escaping it.
There is no turning to the right or left,
and in an instant horse and rider are at
the bottom, buried under thousand
cattle. But what of it? 1t is only
cowboy, and they come cheap. But
history records no instance of more un-
questioning performance of duty in the
presence of danger than these men un-
dergo on every drive. Should the
stampede be stopped there is no rest for
the drivers that night, but the utmost
vigilance is required to prevent re-
cmrence of the break from the fright
ened cattle. This may happen hun
dreds of times on single drive.
81 remmember one instance, which,
from the friendship in which l held
the victim, has made a lasting i'm
preston on, me. Two brothers were
together on the drive. Both men had
been educated in an Eastern col
lege, but for some reason had drifted to
the cattle plains of Texas and had be-
come cowboys. The elder was the
captain of the drive. Sitting about the
campfire one night, the younger was
disheartened about something and final
ly said: Charlie, let's throw up this
drive. | don't want to go. feel that
one or the other of us will never go
back. lam ashamed of this, but | can
not shake it off. His brother was i'm
pressed by his seriousness, but could only
say, George, here are 5000 cattle in my
charge. | could not leave them if |
knew that | would be killed tomorrow.
"A stampedep cried one of the men.
In an instant they were all at their
animals, saddles were adjusted and
away they went. The Captain gained
the head of the drive and had succeeded
in turning them little when his horse
stumbled. In another instant horse
and rider could hardly have been dis
tinguished from one another. So you
see there is some responsibility upon the
men.
These wild cattle away from home
are as variable as the wind, and when
frightened are as irresistible as an ava
lanche. The slightest thing stampedes
| them. For instance: We have rounded
up the drive and the cattle are lying
down. / am one of the men detailed to
ride around them. Finding them all
quiet I get off my horse to light my
pipe. Relieved of my burden. the horse
rests himself at stake. The whole
drove is on their feet in an instant
listening to discover from what quarter
the noise came. No one can foresee
whichyway they will make the break.
and only the utmost self-possession and
good judgment on the part of the men
on duty will prevent a general stam-
pede That is the class of men cow
boys are made of, and / never knew of
many instances where they failed to do
their duty
| The enthusiastic Texan had now
warmed up to this subject. and when
| asked: s'Where are the COWBOYS re-
cruited from?" replied:
'.From all parts of the world. Some
from the plains, where their toys in in
fancy are the miniature lariat and a
shotgun. Some from Mexico, with
| many of their half Indian character
istics, and many from the East. /
know dozen college graduates who
cowboys, and have become so infatu-
ated with the life that I suppose they
will never leave it until the final grand
roundup.
There is another interesting period in
/ the life of a cowboy" continued Mr.
| Exall, "and that is in the spring round
up In the fall the cattle stray away,
and in working away from the storms
| they sometimes get away 100 miles or
So Each cattle owner has his own
particular brand on his cattle. Well,
the ranchmen in some natural division
of the country will organize grand
roundup in the spring. The cowboys
will drive the cattle all in together in
one big drove. Then the Captain of the
roundup will direct the owner of Ranch
A TO cut out his cattle. One of AS
most experienced men will then ride
| into the drove until he sights an animal
with AS brand on. Deity he win drive
/ the animal to the outer edge of the herd,
and then with quick dash runs the
beast out away from the drove and it is
taken in charge of by others of AS
ranchmen. while the cutter goes back
| after another. After some fifteen OF
twenty minutes AS cutter will be taken
off and BIS given chance. This will
be continued until each ranch has It's
cattfescut ont. IF any cattle are found
/ without q. brand. they are killed for the
use of the men on the roundup. This
cutting is work requiring great skill
and experience, and frequently requires
the use of the lariat., Often cattle with
a strange brand are found. If anyone
recognizes. thes brand, ranchIneri living
i nearest the owner take charge of it and
notify she owner If no one recognizes
the brand the Captain of the roundup
adyertises it, and If no owner is found
it is sold at, ,auctian for the. benefit of the
Cattlemen's Association.
"These things willsgoto show the re-
sponsibilities resting upon these men
They have to be men of integrity and re,
liability, and their labors are such thai
Il Won can readily Sno th0Sy- an not ha voy-x