Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-08-14
long with the grub wagon as The colk

The number Of men and outfits being
determined and the quota 10 be fur
nished by e-.ch brand being fixed. on a
certain day they all start for the south
side of the range Each outfit takes an
assigned post and all together making a
line along the southern border Of the
range, reaching from its eastern 70 its
western limits-sOmetines a distance
of one hundred and fifty miles. Then
the roundup bC gins. all moving to the
north. covering TIE entire country. and
bringing the cattle along much on the
same principle that a room is swept
Every man save cook and hOss-hustlers
ride to the right and left of his chuck
wagon, so far as to touch the work of
the outfits next in hand, and the cattle
as fast as found are driven into 4 herd
one herd with each outfit Two or
three men are thes detailed TO hold and
bring on the cattle thus collected. while
the rest Of the men still scour the range
for more, every hour in the day seeing
fresh additions to the general herd
This is hard work on horses, and cow
boy generally saddles three Of his seven
ponies each day, reserving the best one
for hard and unusual work during dark
and stormy nights.
The object of the roundup at this
time is to brand, but as it first starts
out IL sweeps northward with all the
oattle it can find; steers. bulls, COWS and
calves alike. When a bunch grows so
large as 70 handle with difficulty, q
stop is made 70 cut out all except the
COWS and calves. the cattle thus elimi-
mated being turned loose on the range
again The work then proceeds as be-
fore. and this cutting out process is re-
sorted 10 as fast as the size Of a herd
makes IL necessary
The purpose of bringing all the cat
tie as far nOrthwand as possible is 10
keep them C. the proper range. Cattle
in any voluntary movement of their
own never work north and but seldom
and slightly to the east or west Every
storm. however, coming as storms do
from the north, sends the cattle to the
south and unless turned back yearly TO
drift over the same range again the cat
tie of the entire Western country, from
the Yellowstone south. would in time
pack themselves into the southern ex-
tremi.y of Texas between the Rio
Grande and the Gulf
An outfit from the commencement
points 70 some corral or branding pen.
On its arrival there the marking of the
calves begins A branding pen proper
and constructed for the purpose is cir
cnlzr in form and made OF twelve foot
palisades stuck endwise in the ground
and faring outward towards the top
like the sides of a funnel The fare is
to keep the cattle as they charge
around IN the pen from hurting them
selves against the sides thereof
There is one opening through which
the cattle are driven. and the center Of .
the corral is marked by = large snub- .
bing post two feet in diameter. A /
roundup Ontft on coming 70 the pen /
may meet some other outfit similarly /
bent in which event they join herds .
and forces As many Of the COWS and .
calves rs will I'LL the corral are forced .
through the entrance and locked in. and 4
then the fires are lighted and the fun .
begins Every calf is branded with the .
the brand TO the men at the fires. as he
rides up dragging the victim. As fast
as pen full is branded il is turned
loose on the range and the pen refilled
from the herd The work is continued
until completed when the outfit again
moves lnorthwand and resumes the fur
ther collection and branding Of the
cattle until the range has been CON-
pletely and thoroughly combed and the
work performed
Returning to overlook the outfit dis
covered in the Cherokee Strip. the
scene is found to have changed but
little. Breakfast is over and the rolls
Of blankets which had before been
scattered about on the ground are now
in the wagon The cook is hitching on
his four mules preparatory to journey
TO bunch Of timber which cOnceals a
spring. distant about seven miles and
where il is intended the next camp
shall be-
This cook, like all good roundup
cooks. is great man and his favor is
much sought after. His wages are
about twice as large as a cOwbOy's, and
in his way and business be is supreme
His duties are ardu0us. and besides
cooking for the whole outfit. extend TO
MP and driving the four mules
which impel the chuck wagon This is
done twice day. 70 a noon and night
amp, the selection of which camps is
performed BY the range boss
All through the blistering, sun-burned
lay, the bunch Of cattle. guarded by the
men mentioned. crawl slowly to the
north. Occasionally. At intervals, away
1ver 10 the right or left. a small herd Of
;zttle is disceraed. and presently comes
1anting up 10 Join the main herd The |
cowboy who brought them seizes on the
;hance, and after copious drink at the
water barrel in the wagon. saddles =
resh horse and rides away. SO the |
rOrk, hard and driving on horses and
men alike, goes patiently on. 1
At night q gently slOping hillside is
'icked 70 he'd the cattle on The range
'Oss. assisted by the riders. who are az |
ONE in By now, rounds Nd and stops
he herd. the horned members of which,
IrSt standing or slowly moving about
Z last lie down to sleep The nine
iders are marked of into three guards 4
4 three men cach-the first to ride the :
erd until eleven o'clock. the second go
ng on until three o'clock and the third
olding the herd until morning. ,
1T looks like it might be a bad !
light" says the range boss. 80 you alls j
etser ketch up and saddle your night j
onies and be ready 10 go on herd any c
linute.-
Supper Of bacon. biscuit and canned J
weet corn is over and every mans hest
orse, brought up and saddled, is left :
D wait any necessity which may arise.
y eight o'clock each tired rider net on
erd is asleep in his blankets Two
ours 90 by and the fire has burned out c
nd M 1nrrrnr- -. - -, ~1,o l..