The Opelousas courier., 1889-01-12
PERILOUS WORK.
The Skillful Manner of Quitting
Out" Cattle on Ranches.
Feat of Roping and Branding
as Performed by Cowboys.

as Performed oy CQwooys'
Cutting OUT the cattII is perhaps
the most picturesque and eNciting part
of the cowboys work. TIT foreman of
an outfit rides up to atsherd. and
stations several of his ma to hold the
cattle in check, while two o three of
the best, or stop men," proceed to
s'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 off, without being given a chance
to turl 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 different
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 whsch 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 m%aneuvers Would seem
almost Incredible to one unacquainted
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 a
GOV 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
a space as large as an ordinary blanket.
Very often in the work of cutting out,
the horse, while gong at a rapid raU55,
steps in a prairie dog hole or in some
other way stumbles and falls. Riders
have been painfully and ven fatally iu-
iurcd in this way.
The cattle which are cut out on the
general round up are, for the most part,
the cows with younri calves, as the
calves all have to b branded and ear
marked. Some are Stay cattle belong
ing on other ranges, which have drifted
away during thestorms Of the previous
winter. The strays are gathered by the
t'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 s'reps"
take the cattle belonging to their en-
ployers back to their proper range.
When the herds have oil been worked,
the cattle which are not wanted are
turned loose, not to be molested again
antil the next round up. Each outfit
then proceeds to brand its calves. If
there is a 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 arc put on, and
when they become, sufficiently heated
thu work commences.
One or two men, mounted on their
best roping horses, enteS the inclosure
and mi to rope the calves. Each
one is caught by the hind 1ogs, which is
called hee.ing. AS soon as the moose
tightens, the roper winds the rope
several times around the horn of his
saddle, and drags the calf near the fire.
There it is pounced upon by an employe
who rolls it over to have the right side
for branding u%ppermost. Placing one
knee upon the calt's neck he doubles up
one OF its fore legs with his left hand,
AMI catches its nose in his right. Then
the roper turns his horse to face the
calf, and the steed, seemingly knowing
what is expected Of him, backs off,
drawing the rope taut apd holding the
calf securely. In this position the calf
is branded and ear marked.
All this is done in much less time
than it takes to tell of it, and the opera.
ton is repeated uatil all the calves are
branded and can ever afterward be
| identified wherever found.
The days work IN the general round
up is nearly finished when the circle
has been made, the cattle worked and
the calves branded. Very often this
lE2ork keeps all hands busy until night,
but sometimes it is finished early in the
afternoon, and the rest of the day is de-
voted TO rest. Where cattle are very
numerous two circles are made in a day,