The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-07-08
IN A MONTANA cow.oAMp.
Exiting Tsutars. Of the Annual Round
up,-Knifs aud Granddaughter.
ME-, cltr Or fhionrn r,rn,si

Exciting Feature. Of The Annual Round
ups-Knits aud Braadlns.Iron.
piles city Cur (hlcaso nim,Sl
The cowboys pitch their camps IN the
meadows and valleys generally select
ing places where grass and water are
plenty. The roundup camps are moved
every morning, the wagons and camp
eIuipage going few miles forward
while most OF the boys are searching for
stock through tho district on each side.
Toward noon the lowing herbs may u
seen moving toward the new branding.
place, where the calves and the other
unbranded stock become acquainted
with their owners marks through the
medium Of hot brandlng.irons. The
knife also comes into play in cutting
notches, slots, and other marks upon the
ears and dew.laps, but the scorching,
heartharrowing brand Is never for.
gotten.
It's noon. We are at The camp. One
hundred and fifty stock'groWers and
cowboys OF the Powder river roundup
arc in sight. Five thousand head OF
cattle are scattered over the broad green
sloping river side. sinceS or 4 o'clock
In the morning all hands have been
busy, but the excitement keeps up. No
one seems TO tire, and the larger the
roundup party the better do the boys
seem 10 enjoy the work.
In the camp each outfit selects q spot
for its mess wagon, 100 yards or more
from any other, so that each lot Of
horses can have good feed, A drove Of
about 100 horses, often moro, seldom
less, accompanies each outfit Each
lunch Of horses Is in charge Of It's
"Wrangler" lherderl. From these
lunches the boys "cut out select fresh
horses twice o day or oftCner, and about
ten horses can DO found To each particle
pant in the roundup"
Ten or twelve outfits, with their wag.
ons and tents, occupy one to two miles
along the stream. The large herd that
has been driven in from the hills and
valleys is held by twenty or twenty-five
cowboys, who ride around the cattle,
ever on the lookout for a stampede.
Cowboys from each outfit cut outitheir
employers cattle, which are taken, one
lot after another, generally, to the
branding. place, where each calf receives
the mark that is borne By the mother II
follows. Thence the punches small
lots Of cattle are driven o to one side
and held until the boys are ready to
start them to their respective places on
the range.
Near the fires, where the branding
irons are being heated. a below.
ing Of distress Is heard, and
throughout tho camp a lowing, a
murmuring, All unCeasing din goes up
while the cowboys whOop and yell,
ky.yi, and whistle at the animals as
they ride among them, suiting their
signal or command to tho necessity OF
the moment. Lariats glbten in the sun
light as they fly through the air to the
horns or feet Of the animals that are be.
ing roped an thrown, and the boys
near the fire work quick rs glass.blow.
ers, even forgetting their meals until
others are on hand to take their places.
No less torgetful Of their work are the
majority Of the roundup party.
Space does not permit tho complete
plcturing here Of this very interesting
scene. The morning call, the falling
tents, tho "wranglilg' Of 1900 cow
horses, the camp-fros, tho cooks, ever
the peculiar coSnomtns of tho cowboys
and their horses, are eaeh sufficient fol
entertaining sketches.