Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-05-03
A COWBOYS TALK.
Cassius Reynolds, an Old Cow
Boy. Speaks of Early Life on the
Ranges.

Boy. Speaks of Early Life on the
Ranges.
The cowboy from the west, IL intel'i-
gent at all, can make himself interest
ing in the tales of western life and in
cidents of the plains, At present the
Leland has for "A guest Cassius Rey-
nolds, who has been on the trail fifteen
brought the largest herd of cattle-l0,-
900 head-from Oregon TO Nebraska
that has ever been handled. Reynolds
makes his home and headquarters at
Fremont, Neb., but he buys and "runs"
his cattle through the season in Oregon.
The feat mentioned above was accom-
plished at time when there was much
danger from the redskins, and that
distance has always been considered
remarkable. His mode5ty proved n
barrier to eliciting any details of the
trip beyond the mere fact that in going
band Of Indians on the war path, but
by the pluck and determination of his
cowboys the reds were driven off and
the destination was reached in safety
with the loss of but few cattle. In
speaking about getting ready to start
east Mr.. Reynolds several times alluded
TO 1.-THE round up He said in expla-
nation of this term:
The expression is purely one Of
western ranch life and means a great
deal. One often hears about cowboys
rounding up some cattle, but that is
very simple, and consists merely in
backing the broncos and herding a few
head OF cattle that have been grazing
close at home and driving them into u
corral. A very different affair from
rounding up is the round up. This is
the great occasion Of the plains, 50 far
as ranching is concerned. The prepa-
rations for it are extensive, for the
work to be done is arduous and inn
portant. In the pursuit OF their bust
ness ranchmen are obliged to seek the
plains of the far West where plowshare
has as yet left untouched the natural
grass, and thousands OF acres lie I'M
broken by the presence of the cultivat-
ed farm. Here, unrestrained, vast
herds of cattle are allowed TO run at
will, left TO themselves TO pick and
Craze all through the summer months,
the keepers never giving II thought as
In hni tph ap fnhnCn
live in camps and form II small-sized
village, passing the time in eating,
drinking and sleeping. Each sepa rate
camp is the owner or keeper of hun
dreds of head, and, though they all run
together, no ditiic ulty is experienced
in each claiming his own, and, strange
to say, it is seldom one is missing. 1t
Is this getting the cattle together that
Is called the roundup. The day is
set, and all the camps are notified to
be in readiness. A general rendezvous
is settled upon, and then each camp is
stationed at different points OF the
central point. At daybreak in
each camp the cook prepares a
hearty breakfast, after which the
cowboys ride at bredkneck speed
over the country TO certain stated
points, and from there they begin a
gradual closing in, driving all the cat
tie in sight before them 10 the central
rendezvous. When they have come
l.
ing perhaps some six IL eight thousand
head are gathered together. Here be-
gins an Interesting piece of work called
cutting out, and it consists in separa-
ting cows with calves by their sides
from the rest and driving them into a
corral. A cowboy rides headlong
among the terrified cattle and, catch
ing sight 81 his employers brand upon
COW, never loses sight OF her until
she is safe wi thin the inclosure. Here
the branding is done Fires are light
ed TO heat the irons, which consist Of
straight edges and half circles, and
with these shapes every letter and
almost every usual brand can be burned
on the hide. Three men work in each
branding gang; one holds the head,
another the hind legs and the third APP
plies the iron.
''ln the corral, too, some dexterous
work is done with the lasso in catching
the wild and frightened calves that are
TO be marked. When "A full-grown steer
is to 'roped' the COWBOY rides after him
at full speed, and while the animal is
straining every nerve TO get away
throws the loose around his neck, Sc
cures the other end TO the horn of his
saddle and at IA signal from his rider
the pony braces himself for the shock
and the wild Texan is brought TO the
ground. During the roundup the
stampede il the great danger to be
feared. Little trouo.e is ever had in
daylight, but at night bright flash of
tightening, the barking of coyotes or
the scampering of a single steer NAV