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

The sun is beginning to lift its broad
disk above tho line which marks East
ern sky and Land 1t is big-~red~ d~sun
and viii become smaller and hotter as
it climbs the dome of day 1t is sun
rise in the Cherokee strip and the first
long slanting rays light up a rolling
prairie, illimitable in expanse and
stretching away until its irregular,
wavy outline is marked against the sky.
Now and then, and miles away small
elumps 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 tho scene marks the
rocky channel OF some water course
There will be a breeze to-day and the
lang grass, now v0ol with dow, as al
ready seen to bend and move under its
influence.
Over to the north a mile glances the
white. canvas cover Of a wagon. 1t is
the ''chuck wagon" OF roundup outfit,
and the thin blue smoke which rises
near it shows that breakfast is going
forward. To the left a herd of some
1000 cattle of all sorts and sizes, from
the complaining calf TO the adult, is
stretching slowly to the northwest, the
members whereof are feeding as they
move. Three cowboys in big hats,
booted, spurred, with cotton handker-
chiefs knotted loosely about their sun
Drowned necks and waists adorned with
a cartridge-laden belt and its dependent
six-shooter, 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 to work to the
nearest pen and brand tho unmarked
calves it has collected.
Branding is the most important fea-
ture Of ranch life 1t is the purpose OF
a ranch owner to keep his cattle within
certain limits. which limits, however,
expand and grow with his herds. These
limits are called his range, aud, 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 as X, l.
X, l. 4, etc. Ex-senator Dorsey's
brand is a triangle of equal sides en-
closing a dot and is known to the cattle
world as the "triangle-dot" brand.
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
ear-marking we'll known TO cattlemen,
and are variously called swallow-fork.
under or over-bit, under or
over-hack, crop, half-crop, etc. The pur-
pose OF an ear mark is greater safety to
owners, but aside from that, it is a
labor-sayer to the cowboys. Brands are
difficult of discernment when cattle are
into herds. but both cars are
ever pointed forward for inspection as
soon as one attracts the animals atten-
tion. This enables rider as he moves
through herd searching for the cattle
of a certain brand, to find his animals |
with ease.
Branding goes on all the year round |
and as often as an unbranded calf is |
found. Every rider carries as part of |
his outfit curved iron. not over large or
long, which he calls his ''running-iron,n |
and at any time If he discovers an un-
marked calf he ties it down, builds a |
fire and brands it.
The latter spring and earlier summer
months is the epoch for the general |
roundup for the purpose Of branding |
calves. This spring roundup IS en-
gagged in By all owners on a certain |
range in concert They form among |
an association, the books Of /
which point to the number of calves the
owner brands each year, and in making /
gp these roundup outfits and in furnish 1
ing men. the proportion OF each owner /
is determined by the number OF calves 1
he last branded The number Of men /
and ergo the outfits necessary to round I
up. handle and brand the cattle and /
By the number OF cattle and calves 4
shown By the association books. The 1
number of men fixed on. they are broken
up into outfits, each in charge Of a
range boss and accompanied BY a cook
and chuck-wagon. which serves the dual
purpose of purveying the grub and
packing the blankets. Generally there
arc from eight to twelve men in each
1utit not all representing the same
brand. but all taking their orders from
he rarge boss Of that outfit Each rider
Jas seven horses. and as these fcs j
Iuite a bunch. two Of the men are de-
allied as '.hoss- busters and one Of
be two has charge Of tho bunch night
md day. holding it near ani carrying it >