Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1885-10-14
The Texas Rangers.


Texas. that | remarked to a friend that
1 desired to know how the state of
Texas. that Lone Star state of lone
things and wild romance, came to pos
sess an armed force Of state troops ever
In the field He replied: 81 know but
little of it. but there is man who can
tell you all, s" said he pointed to young
fellow standing near the door of the
large butcher store of Mundy Bros, on
FL Passo street. "Who Is hep" l In
quired. "Why, who is hep Why. he is
J. B. Gillett, now our assistant mar
shal, but once one Of the best rangers
in the frontier battalion that ever put
spurs to horse or made Eorse thief's
heart go right down in his boots. III
introduce you"
When, after being introduced, l STA
ted the desire ! had to know all about
the rangers, in the interest of The
Globe DelC0crdt, Mr. Gillett said:
ITO tell all about the Texan rangers
worth telling would fill good sized
volume, so you will have to be content
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 continued strug-
gle with savage and Seml-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 in
upholding the law. 1t was In 1874,
however. when Governor Richard Coke
was In office, that the present Organi-
Zation of rangers was effected. The
legislature appropriated S3O0,000 to
protect the border counties, and a suit
able police, under the control OF the
state and AdjUant General Steele, was
Immediately formed.
ut consisted then OF SIX companies
of seventy-6ve men each. Each COM
pIny was commanded by captain, two
lieutenants, three sergeants and four
corporals. II was soon found that the
appropriation would not be sufficient to
support this establishment, and Ieduc-
tIons 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 aud two corporals 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 introduced bill,
which passed both houses and was ap-
proved by the president, refunding TO
the state Sl,U0O,OC0 expended for
frontier defense, but the money has not
vet been received by the state"
"What is the present pay OF ran
ger?''
"Well, a captain gets 500 month,
TatiOnS and allowance for two horses;
lieutenant $40, same rations and allow
ance for two horses; sergeant $50, ra-
tions and allowance for one horse; cor
pOral S35, rations and allowance for one
horse, and private $50. and allowance
the same as corporal. Privates used to
receive $40 month when the battalion
was first organized"
What does the allowance for horse
amount to z"
"A little over S1l 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
respectfully connected. Very few OF
the old hands except officers are nov in
the service. Capt. L. 2. SEEKER is the
veteran of the battalion. He joined 10
May, 1874. and has served without los
ing day ever since. He is now cap
tain of company ID, which be entered aS
a private. This company killed more
Indians and TIIstlerS than any other in |
the service"
''What are the usual duties of
ranger z"
''He Is a state police officer and a |
soldier at the same time. In the one |
he performs the duties of |
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 general from
time 10 time for the information of the
rangers. Like TO see 1t ?''
The scribe said he would, and Mr..
GIllett produced a pondeIous roll of |
closely written fOOlscap containing the |
names and descriptions of fully 5000 |
criminals whom the state was desirous |
to renew acquaintance.
but times are changed now," SAID
Mir. Gillett in conclusion; ''the rail
roads are cutting the country up in all
the Indians are dead or
up, the scout IS thing OF the
past, and IN the near future even the
ranger may follow. There will soon be
90 frontier, and the frontiersman will
be relic Of the past. We can't put
he breaks on the wheels OF progress.
Perhaps il Is as well that it is So"