Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-10-31
THE TEXAS RANGERS.
How the Lonc Star State Keeps Peace
On tie Border.
LEI psso Co Glohe-Danocrat.l

= texas, that L remarked to a frien,
: that [ desired to know how the Stat
Of Texas, that Lone Star State Q
lone things and wild romance, cam
to possess an armed force of Stat,
; troops ever in the field He replied
4 know but little Of it, but there is
man who can tell you ALL" and hs
pointed to a young fellow standing
near the door CT the large butcher
: store Of Mundy Bros, on El Pase
street "Who is hep / inquired.
why, who is he? Why, he is j
! Gillett, now our assistant marshal, but
once one Of the best rangers in the
frontier battalion that ever put a spun
to horse or made horse thiefs
heart go right down in his boots. I'll
introduce YOU"
When. after being introduced, I
stated the desire [ had to know all
about the rangers, in the interest Of
the Globe Democrat, Mr.. Gillett said
10 tell about the Texan rangers
worth telling would FL a good sized
volume, 50 you viii have to be con-
tent with an outline The history of
the State in the southwest, from the
days Of the Lone Star republic to the
present hour, has been one of contin-
ued struggle with savage and semi
savage foes, and the State had from
time to time since the war to raise
troops to stand off the Indians and
help the authorities III uphoi~ting the
law It was il 1874, however. when
Governor Richard Coke was IN Office,
that the present organization Of ran
gers was effected. The legislature
appropriated 100000 to protect the
border counties, and a suitable police,
under the control Of the State and
Adjutant General Steele, was imme
diately formed.
1T consisted then Of six companies
Of seyenty-tiye men each. Each COM
pany was commanded by a captain,
ta,o liantanants three sergeants and |
four corporals. 1t was soon found
that the appropriation would not be
sufficient ito support this establish
ment, and reductions had to be made
from time to time, so that at present /
the companies are only twenty five
strong, and have but one
captain, one lieutenant, one sergeant
and two corporais each
What would be about the present /
strength Of the force?"
"About $50 men, which is ample
just now. In 1882" continued the
marshal, Congressman Upson intro |
duced a bill, which passed both houses
and was approved by the President,
refunaing to the State S1,0o0,00o ox-
pended for frontier defense, but the
money has not yet been received by
the State"
"What is the present pay OF 6 ran
ger?"
well, a captain gets 500 month.
ration5 and allowance for two horses
lieutenant S75, same rations and al
lowance for two horses; a sergeant
$50. rations and allowance for one
horse; corporal S35, rations and al
lowance for one horse, and a private
$50. and allowance the same as cor
poral. PrivateS used to receive
$40 month when the battalion was
first organized .
"Nhat does the allowance for q
horse amount to?"
"a little over S11 month The
men provide their own horses and
arms, but the State furnishes all the
ammunition they require"
.Are the men all Texans?"
No, the rule is the reverse. They
are from every State IN the Union,
and many Of them are young fellows
most strespectably connected. Very few
of the old hands except officers are
now in the service. Capt, L. P SEEKER
is the veteran of the battalion. lie
joined in May, 1874, and has served
without losing day ever since. He
is now captain of company D, which
he entered as a private This com
pany killed more Indians and rustlers
than any other in the service"
"What are the usual duties Of a
ranger?''
He is State police officer and a
soldier at the same time In the one
capacity he performs the duties Of a
deputy sheriff and is IN addition EN-
powered to arrest without warrant all
fugitives from justice IN the State
A list Of these fugitives is furnished
from the Office Of the adjutant gen
eral from time to time for the infor-
nation Of the rangers Like to seeit?"
The scribe said he would, and Mr..
Gillett produced a ponderous roll Of
closely written foolscap containing
the names and descriptions of fully
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