The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-08-08

the semblance of humanity from hin
He.knows this. A gulch or gorge lies
their path. There is no escaping i
There is no turning to the right or ief
and in an instant horse and rider are ,
the. bottom, buried under thousan
cattle. But what Of itp 1t is only
cowboy. and they come cheap. Br
history records no instance of more ur
questioning performance of duty in tb
presence of danger than these men nm
4 dergo on every drive. Should IN
stampede be stopped there is no rest TO
the drivers that night, but the utmos
vigilance is required to prevent a re
currence OF the break from the FRIGHT
ened cattle. This may happen hun
dreds of times on a single drive.
II 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 70
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
~ said: Charlie, let's throw I'D this
drive. l don't want to go. l feel that
one or the other of us will never 90
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 nv
charge. could not leave them if I
knew that l would be killed to morrow.
"A stampeder 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
tngulshed from, one another. So Won
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
ianche. The slightest thing stampedes
tnem. For instance: We have rounded
up the drive and the cattle are LIVING
down. L am one of the men detailed t0
rae around them. Finding them all
quiet get off my horse to lipbt NV
pipe. Relieved of my burden. the horse |
rests himself at stake. The whole
irove is on their feet in an instant
,stening to discover from what Quarter
ne noise came No one can foresee
Vhich way they will make the break.
ND only the utmost elf-possession and
300 Judgment on the part of the men
"a DUTY VIII prevent general STAN
'eoe' That is the class of men cow 4
oys are made of, and never knew of
iany instances where they failed to do is
The enthusiastic Texan had now -
armed up to this subject, and when U
'ked: "Where are the COWBOYS ra- o.
'rited fromP" replied m
From all parts of the world. Some "a
ON the plains, where their TOYS in i'm -
ncy are the miniature lariat and a
o.gun: Some from Mexico, with AZ
any OF their half Indian Character. a. q.
.lcs' and many from the East. ca
low dozen college graduates who ~ ~
wooys, and have become so infatn. ~
ca &c with the life that / suppose thew ~; ~
II never leave it until the final grand ~!
und-up. s"nu or
mere is another interesting period in a..
life OF cowboy" confirmed M III
al, land that is in the spring round. W.; W.
:. In the fall the cattle stray awav INV
IN working away from the storms t nU
y sometimes get away 100 miles or uaI
Each cattle owner has his own WI
ocular brand on his cattle. We'll can
ranchmen in some natural division cru
the country will organize a grand 70
ndd r; ~ the spring. The cowboys can can
ulIve the cattle all in together in n on
1'g drove. Then the Captain of the you
nd-up. will direct the owner of Ranch ing
, CUT out his cattle. One of AS nu
}. experienced men will then ride lnaI
'ne grove until he sights an animal ava
brand on. Deity he will drive iuii
'nimal to the outer edge of the, herd slee
then with quick dash rms the ior
= out away from the drove and il is
a IN charge of by Others of AZ
nmen, while the cutter goes hack r.
another. After some fifteen or
ny minutes AS cutter will be taken A,
'nu BIS given a chance. This will m'
'ntinued until each ranch has ;ts wors
cut out. If any cattle are found yet,
put brand they are killed for the has q
! the men on the roundup. This the A
ing is work requiring great skill wh;a
experience. and frequently reon;res "nic
Sc OF the lariat. Often cattle with tne n
ange brand are found. If anvona VIII
the brand, ranchmen LIVING III
>. the owner take charge of it and OF th'
lne owner If no one recognizes upon
.and the Captain of the ron1d-nn when
uses it, and if no owner is found ieayIr
ola at auction for the benefit of the siinila
mems Association. ~ u Tue icine
4 things will go to show the re- nocke
Iolities resting upon these men spring
nave to De men of integrity and re. AID o
ty, and their labors arc go IAu was e,
IN readily see thew con tIn enat is.Th
ated. l will tell you how thew oet them.
'putation for recklessness w. with 7
!PPose these men have been IN a iriend'
or six months, and have f;.,, on honort
zen paid off Tha,, 81 create