The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-05-19
PERILOUS WORK.
The Skillfhl Manner of Cutting
Out" Cattle on Ranches.
Feat of Roping and Branding
as Performed by Cowboys.

the most picturesque and exciting par
of the cowboys work. The foreman o.
an outfit rides up to a herd. anG
stations several of his men to hold the
cattle in check, while two or three Of
the best, or 'top men," proceed tc
"work the herd or cut out the desired
cattle. The men who are to cut out the
cattle commence to move around in the
herd. and after singing out an animal,
urge it slowly to the bunch. Then it is
run of, without being given a chance
to tura back, to one side, where it is
held by one or two riders; all the other
animals cut out being driven to this
point. The bunch thus formed is
called the ''cut." As soon as all the
cattle desired by this outfit are cut out,
they move on to another bunch, taking
along their ''cut." In this manner all
the cattle are worked by the difTeroSt
outfits.
The work of cutting out cattle is an
exciting and dangerous one to the rider.
The COW horse upon which he is mounted
is generally well trained, and lodges
the steps of the animal which he is
separating from the herd with great
precision, until the "cut" is reached.
The lodges often make it difficult for
the rider to maintain his seat, and as
the horse is nearly always going at a
rapid rate, his maneuvers would seem
almost incredible to one unac quainted
with the work. No matter how quick
or in what direction the "critter" turns.
the COW horse and his rider are always
at his heels and can turn him in any de-
sired direction. A slight touch of the
rein across the neck is sufficient to turn
the horse instantly; by pulling the right
rein across the neck the horse is made
to turn to the left instantly, and by
pulling the left the horse turns to the
right. The quickness with which
COW horse turns cannot possibly be con-
ceived by one who has not seen it done.
An idea may be gathered, however,
from the fact that some horses, going at
full speed, can be stopped and turned in
space as large as an ordinary blanket.
Very often in the work of cutting out.
the horse, while gong at a rapid rate,
steps in prairie dog hole or in some
other way stumbles and falls. Riders
have been painfully and even fatally iu-
Jured in this way.
The cattle which are cut out on the
general round up are, for the most part,
the cows with young calves, as the
calves all have to be branded and ear
marked. Some are stray cattle belong
ing on other ranges, viii Oh have driftcd
away during the storms of the previous
winter. The strays are gathered by the |
reps" or representatives of the outfits |
In the district to which the cattle belong,
and put in the round up cavy (the herd
which is taken along with the round up). |
AT the end of the round up the ''reps" !
take the cattle belonging to their en-
ployers back to their proper range.
When the herds have all been worked.
the cattle which are not wanted are |
turned loose, not to be molested again
until the next round up. Each outfit
then proceeds to brand its calves. If
there is corral handy, the cattle are
driven into it for this purpose. If no
corral is at their disposal, the bunch is
held in check by riders stationed around
the edge of the herd. A fire is built,
the branding irons are put on, and
when they become sufficiently heated
The work commences.
One or two men, mounted on their
best roping horses, enter the Enclosure
Ind commence to rope the calves. Each
'ne is caught by the hind legs, which is
,alled hee.ing. As soon as the moose
ightens, the roper winds the rope
several times around the horn of his
addle, and drags the calf near the fire.
There it is pouuced upon by an employe
who rolls it over to have the right side
or branding uppermost. Placing one
lnee upon the calfs neck he doubles up
'ne Of its fore legs with his left hand,
mi catches its nose in his right. Then
he roper turns his horse to face the
alf, and the steed, seemingly knowing
What is expected of him. hacks off