Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-08-14
COWBOYS HARD WORK.
What They Do in q Branding
Roundup.
Why Cattle Are Always Driven North
Seven Horses for Each Rider-What
. Night Storm Means 20 = Cow
0utflt on the Range

Inc sun IS beginning 70 l1ft It's broad
disk above the line which marks East
ern sky and land Il is big. red sun
and Will become smaller and hotter as
it climbs the dome Of day. 1t is sun
rise in the Cherokee strip and the first
long slznting rays light up rolling
prairie. illimitable in expanse and
stretching away until its irregular,
waFy outline is marked against the sky
Now and then. and miles away, small
clumps Of stunted cedars and jack-oaks
make dark-green polka-dot in the
lighter colors OF the grass, while a
streak Of thickly growing trees which
serpentines across the scene marks the
rocky channel Of some water course.
There viii be . breeze to-day and the
long grass, now coof with dew, is al
ready seen 70 bend and move under its
influence.
Over 70 the north mile glances the
white canvas cover Of = wagon Ii Is
the ',chuck wagon" Of q roundup outfit,
and the thin blue smoke which rises
near il shows that breakfast Is going
forward To the left a herd Of some
1900 cattle CT al sorts and sizes, from
the complaining calf to the adult, is
stretching slowly to the northwest the
members whereof are feeding IS thcy
move Three cowboys In big hats.
booted. spurred. with cotton handker-
chiefs knOtted loosely about their sun
Drowned necEs and waists adorned with
= cartridgo-lsden belt and its dependent
six-sho0ter, ride slowly about on the
sides and rear Of the herd, never urging.
but holding and pointing the animals
In the proper direction The present
purpose Of this outfit is 70 work 70 the
nearest pen and brand the unmarked
calves IL has collected
Branding is the most important fea-
ture Of ranch life Il is the purpose of
. ranch owner to keep his cattle within
certain limits. which limits, however.
expand and grow with his herds. These
limits are called his range, and, being
free pasture. are occupied, not only by
his, but BY the cattle Of perhaps twenty
other owners Each owner to protect
himself has his brands, such Ask.
\, L / 7. eDc Ex-senator Dorsey's
brand is triangle Of equal sides en-
closing dot and is known 70 the cattle |
world as the '-triangle-dot- brand. i
These brands are on the left or right /
side Of the animal and owners rights /
find further exposition in certain ear
marks There are divers methods Of |
well known 20 cattlemen.
and are variOIsly called swaIlow-fork. /
under or over-bit, under or
over-hsck. crop. half-crop. etc. The pur-
pose OF an ear mark is greater safety to
owners. but aside from that, il is a
lsb0r-saVer 70 the cowboys. Brands are
difficult CT discernment when cattle are
crowded into herds. but both ears are
ever pointed forward for inspection as
soon rs one attracts the animals atten-
ion This enables rider as he moves
through herd searching for the cattle
0f certain brand. to find his animals
with ease.
Branding goes On ali the year round
and as often as an unbranded calf is
Iound- Every rider carries as part Of
ais QUIT = curved iron not over large or
Iong, which he calls his ..running-iron,"
md az any time If he discovers an un-
marked calf he ties it down, builds a
Ire and brands it
The latter spring and earlier summer
months is the epoch for the general
'0und-up for she purpose Of branding
;alves- This spring roundup Is en-
yaged in Dy all owners On a certain
'ange in concert Tney form among
themselves an association. the books of
which point 70 the number of calves the
Jwner brands each year. and in making
Ip these roundup outfits and in furnish
ng men. the proportion OF each owner
S determined by the number Of calves
le last branded. The number Of men
md ergo the outfits necessary 70 round
lp, handle and brand the cattle and
'alves on certain range. is determined
~ the number Of cattle and calves
'hOEn By the association books. The
lumber Of men fixed On. they are broken
~ into Quilts. each in charge Of a
ange boss and accompanied by a cook
md chack-wagon. which serves the dual
purpose of purveying the grub and
,acking the blankets Generally there
re from eight to twelve men in each
'utdt not all representing the same
lrsnd. but all taking their orders from
he rarge boss Of that outfit Each rider
Ias seven horses. and as these form
uite bunch. two OF the men are de-
allied as ''hOss-hustlers.- and one Of {
ne two has charge Of the bunch night
nd day, hol1.ng IL near AMI carrying it (