Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-01-16
THE TEXAS RANGERS.
HOW THE LCNE STAR STATE KEEP
PEACE ON THE BORDER.
An Efficient Corps of SolGicr-Shcrifis--
How the Present Organization of
Hangers was EhcCtcd-Thc
strength of the Force.


l.l Paso Cor Glohc- Democrat
1t was On FL laso street. in Fl Paso,
Texas that | remarked TO friend that |
desired to know how the state of Texas,
that Lone Star state of lone things and
wild romance, came TO possess an armed
force OF state troops ever in the Lcld. lie
replied - know but little of it. bat there
is man who can tell you all, and hc
pointed TO Il young fellow standing neal
the door of the large butcher store OF
Mundy Eros, on FL l'aS,o street. "Whu
is hc?" | inquired "Why, who is he:
Why, he is J. f. GIlctt, now our assist
ant marshal, but once one of the best
rangers in the frontier battalion that ever
put spur to IA horse or made II horse thiCfs
heart go right down in his Doors I'll i'll
troduce you.
When, after being introduced, | stated
the desire had to know all about the
rangers, in the interest Of The Globe
Democrat, Mr. Gillctt said:
ITO tell all about the Texan rangers
worth telling would fill good sized vol
umn, so you will have to he content with
an outline. The history of the state in
the southwest, from the days of the
Lone Star rcpnblic to the present hour
has been one of continued struggle with
savage and scmi-Sayagc 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 up.
holding the law. 1t was in 1874, however,
when Governor Richard Coke was in of
fee, that the present organization of
rangers was elected The legislature APP.
propriatcd $500 600 to protect the border
counties, and a suitable police, under the
control of the state and Adutant General
Steele was Immediately formed.
1t consisted then Of six companies of
sevcnty-1iNe men each. Each company
was commanded by captain, two lieu
tenants, three scrgcants and four Corpor-
ais 1t was soon found that the appro
priation would not be sufficient to support
this establishment, 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 lieu
tenant, one sergeant and two corporals
each.
What would be about the present
strength of the forcc?1
About 100 men, which is ample Just
now In 1882" continued the marshal
congressman Epson introduced bill,
which passed both houses and was APP.
proved by the president, refunding to the
state 81 900, 600 expended for frontier de
Tense, but the money has not yet been re
ceived by the state.
Nv hat is the present pay Of a ranger?"
well, captain gets 800 month
rations and allowance for two horses;
lieutenant SO, same rations and allow
ancc for two horses; a sergeant 500, ra.
tions ana allowance for one horse: a cor
poral $50. raions and allowance for one
horse, and a private $50, and allowance the
same as corporal. prvatcs used to re
ceive $40 a month when the battalion was
first Organized
Nv hat docs the allowance for horse
amount to-"
~ little over Sl1 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 respect
ably connected. \ cry few of the old hands
except officers are now in the service
Capt. l.. r. SEEKER i, the veteran Of the
battalion lie Joined in May, 1874, and
has served without losing day ever
since. He is now captain Of company ID,
which he entered as IA private This com.
pany killed more Indians and rustlers
than any other in the service
Wv hat are the usual duties of a
ranger"
lie is a state police officer and sol
dier at the same time In the one capac
ity he performs the duties of deputy
sheriff and is in addition empowered to
arrest without warrant all fugitivcs from
justice in the state. 4 list of these fugi-
tiveS is furnished from the Office of tho
adiutant general from time TO time for
the information Of the rangers Like to
see it,"
The scribe said he would, and Mr.. Gil.
lett produced ponderous roll of closely
written foolscap containing the names and
descriptions of fully }, 600 criminals whom
the state was DESTROYS to renew aequaint
anCc.
SHUT times are changed now, said Mr..
Gillett in conclusion; the railroads are
cutting the country up in all directions,
the Indians are dead or rounded up, the
scout is thing of the past, and in the
near future even the ranger may follow,
There will soon Ike no frontier, and the
fronticrsman will be relic of the past
We can't put the breaks on tho wheels of
progress. Perhaps it is rs well that it is
SO "