The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-05-27
The Powder River Roundup.

SloWIuS III tuc 1oi W Gov, oi'9i utoo 'ei~os
ing range, either buys herd that is
already somewhere in the vicinity of the
range he is to occupy, and drives them
thither, or else buys 'in the States" a
number of COWS, calves, and bulls, ships
them out by rail, brands them, turns
them upon his range, aud simply waits
for them to breed and grow. In either
case little attention is paid to them, after
the first few days or weeks, other than to
send herders over the range occasionally
to keep track of them and see that they
are not straying too far away. They are
not considered to have strayed, however,
until thirty TO fifty miles from the ranch.
When found at such distances they are
generally driven back toward head.
quarters. But in some cases they are
scarcely seen by the owner, or any one
representing him, more than twice year,
that is, at the times of the semi.aunual
round-ups. Under ordinary circum-
stances, cattle rarely go to such distances
from home as to require herding and
turning. Generally speaking, it is only
when the feed has been eaten down close
ly, or in case of deep SHOWS, or when
stampeded by storms, prairie fires, or
wild beasts, that it becomes necessary to
look after and restrain them.
The interests of cattle men in general
are SO closely linked, and there is such
urgent need of concert of action among
them, that in all Western cattle growing
districts they have organized into local
or general associations, in which the most
perfect harmony and good. fellowship
exists, and which the interests of every
individual member are closely guarded
and fostered by the organization as q
whole. These associations meet in the
Spring and Fall of each year and fix the
dates for holding the round.ups, usually
prescribing the general boundaries in
which each local outfit shall work. The
Spring roundup, which is the one now
under consideration, is held in the latter
part Of April or early part of May in
Wyoming and Montana, and earlier or
later in other States and Territories,
according to the nature of the climate,
weather, etc. A roundup district is
usually limited to the valley ofsome large
stream, or its boundaries are designated
by other prominent and well.known land.
marks. The Wyoming Stock Growers
Association last season designated the 7th
of May as the date for beginning the
Powder River roundup this year. The
Powder River rises in the Big Horn
Mountains, in Northern Wyoming, and
flows Northeast through Montana to the
Yellowstone, into which it empties its
wealth Of crystal fluid just East of Miles
City. From the mouth of the stream to
the foothills of the mountain range in
which it has its source, and in fact al.
most to the snowy peaks themselves,
there is now well-worn wagon road,
along which heavy freighting teams ply
their way, along which sprightly spans of
roadsters, attached to buck-boards or
even to more pretentious carriages, fly
almost with the speed Of the wind, and
along which the now prominent charac-
ter of the country, the "cow-boy," dashes
to and fro on his spirited mustang, per-
forming the various duties of his yoca.
ton.
From five 10 fifteen miles, or even
more, each way from the ranch, are
claimed by each owner or company as a
range, though no effort is made usually
to keep the stock within these boundaries.
They are allowed the freedom of the hills
and .table-lsnds in every direction, the
foreman merely being required to know
sbout where to find them when wanted,
and to prevent them from going West of
the Tongue and North of the Yellow.
stone rivers or South into Wyoming.
Persons who have only seen the great
plains late in Summer or in the autumn
after the grass has dried up and the foil
age along the streams has faded, or in
midwinter when buried in snow, can
have little idea of the beauty Of such a
valley as that af the Powder River in the
early Spring, when the earth is carpeted
with vendure, the river. banks lined with
newly clothed trees and shrubs, and the
meadows blooming with flowers, the
beauty and brilliancy of which cannot
be excelled anywhere. The Winter
SHOWS have disappeared; the Spring
rains have come and gone, leaving the
earth fresh and moist; the climate is
mild aud delightful. Under all these
charming conditions we cannot but enjoy
the scene as we mount our spirited
bronchos and ride out to the place of
rendezvous, which has been appointed
near the mouth of the river, and where
the claus are already gathering.
Temporary camps have been establish
ed by those who have arrived in advance
of us, around which groups of cowboys
are lounging A band of horses and
ponies which they have liberated is
grazing on the bank, and several
small bands of cattle may be seen in
various directions, most of them at con-
siderable distances away; for they are
wild, and avoid the presence of human
beings. A cloud of dust is family visi-
BILE on top of the divide nearly three
miles to the East; and watching tia few
minutes with our glasses, we see that it
is being raised by jolly band of five
cowboys, who are riding like mad, each
leading four or FIVE horses. Looking
away to the North, we see mess wagon,
or "cluck outfit" approaching, drawn by
four horses, and we'll laden with supplies.