The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1885-02-25
Tho roxns Rangers.

Texas, that l remarked TO u friend thu,
J. dc sired to know how the State OF
Texas, that Lone Star State of lone things
ava wild romance, camc TO possess
an armed force Of State troops ever III
the field. Hc replied: 81 know but little
Of 1t. but there is u man who can tell you
al. +" ana he pointed TO a young fellow
Standing near The door Of the large bulcner
store OF hluDdy Brothers, on FL Paso
street. .'Who is hc?" Inquired. "Why,
Who is bel Why he is J. B. Gnlctt, now
our assistant marshal, but once one OF the
hes, rangers in the frontier battalion that
ever put spur 10 horse or made horse
lhiei'o heart go right down in his boots.
III Introduce YOU"
LIN the course of conversation Glllctt
said:
''ro tell all about the Texan rangers
would I'LL rood sized volume, 80 you
WNt haSrlU 35 rpnGf.tG6 Ti,h ~. au''irr.
re !ssloY tthe alnfD tNo liiL. &{sl,
rom ih9 o5i 81 the }pua 'St0y M0unie
" NE prG@Dt itpnt, A4Nb4D 5ur C 94-
inuati slrpHglc With 6Gvaga 4rG sni
e,tSate iocs, anu tne state nau lrOiA ..a!c
TO time since the war TO raise troops 10
stand oil the Indians ard help tho autnorl-
Ties III npholding the law. 1t was in
1874, however, when Governor Richaad
Coke was IN Office, that the present organ
Ration OF rangers was effected. The Leg.
islatnrc appropriated $500 coo to protect
border counties. ard u suitable police,
under the control Of the State aud Adiu-
tant-Gcnclal Steele was Immediately
fomed.
Ut CONSISTED then Of Six companies of
scvcnty-ivc men each. Each company
was commanded by captain, two lieu
tenants, three scrgcanss snd four corpor-
ais. II was soon found that Tie appropri.
alton would not De sufficient TO support
this establishment, and reductions had to
Cc made from time to time, 80 that at
present the companies are only twenty
five strong, and have hut one captain, one
lieutenant, one sergeant and two corporals
each"
"What would be about the present
strength OF tho force9''
"About ono hundred and fifty men,
which is ample just now. In 1882" con-
timed the marshal, "Congressman UpsOn,
ot Boxnr county, introduced q bin, w hich
passed both houses and was approved by
the President, relunding 10 the State
81 100000 expended for frontier defense,
but owing to red tape the money has not
yet been received by the State"
"What is the present pay Of a ranger2"
swell, u captain gcta $l00 a month,
rations, and allowance for two horses; a
lieutenant SIS, same rations and allow
ancc for two horses; sergeant $50, ra-
tons, ami allowance tor one horse; COR
poral $36, ratiOns, and allowance for one
horse; and private $50, and allowance
for the same as corporal. Prlvatcs used
10 receive $40 when the battalion was
first organized"
"What docs the allowance for a horse
amount tor"
"a little over $l1 mouth. The men
provide Their own horses and arms, but
the State furnishes all the ammunition
they require"
Arc the mon all TcxansS"
"No; The rule is tho reverse. They arc
from every State in the Union, and many
Of them are youug fellows most rcspectn.
bly, connected. Very fcW or the Old
hands, except the Stliccrs, are now in the
service. Captain l. r. SEEKER is tho vet
cran OF the battalion. Hc joined In May,
1854, and has served without losing day
ever since He is now captain of company
y, which he entered rs q private. Tho
company killed more Indians aud rustlcrs
than any other In the service"
NY nat are the usual duties of
rapgera"
lie 10 a State police officer and
soldier at the same time. In tho one
capacity he performs tho dutics of
deputy sheriff and Is in addition cmpow
cred to arrest without warrant all fuvit,yea
from Justice III tho State. A list OF these
fugitlves Is furnished from the office of
Adjutant- General from timo to tlmo for
tho information Of tho rapgcrs9 Like to
SEQ it2"
Tho scrlco said ho would and Mr.
aillott produced tho pondcrous roll of
closely wrtten toolscap containing the
names and description Of fully 5000 crlpa-