The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-08
How 1t is Carried on In Devils River
Region.

How 1t is Carried on In Devils River
Region.
Moss RANCH, JoHNsoS's RUN, CROCK
EFT COUNTY, TEX, Feb. 6.-The Devils
river country has always been sort Of
promised land to me since first came to
Texas, and when l started the other day
from Knickerbocker In hig lumber wagon,
with an efficient escort and protector, and
with my face at last set Devil riverward, l
felt that the Mecca Of my pilgrimage was
near at hand.
l had gotten the impression, from the
way all the young sheepmen OF my ao-
quainthnce talk Of it, that the Devi1 river
country was somewhat wild and desolate
But find ii charming and inviting, and
that their dislike Of it is attributable to the
fact that IL is their great wintering range,
where they 60 TO drift" their sheep about
all winter long, living in camps, remote
from the comforts of civilization and all
social enjoyments.
In the more open parts the country is,
much OF 10, gently rolling prairie, covered
ows. Further down south and westward
toward the Pecos 1t Is broken into deep,
sheltered canons, where the mesquite grass
and stool plant grow In unmolested abun-
dance. In these oanons, with the steep and
rugged mountains surrounding them on
two and, sometimes, three sides, few hun
bred feet Of fence would complete the inclos-
| ure OF q pasture Thousands of acres In extent,
| where there would be shelter from northers,
the most abundant grazing and sotol for
| feeding, aud where a mans stock-either of
cattle or sheep-could be graded up, safe
| from Interference or intrusion from the
| outside.
THE PEoos COUNTRY
is often alluded to as the sotol country
from the presence in enormous quantities Of
this plant The sotol, and the manner Of
feeding IL to cattle and sheep, Is a curious
and interesting thing. The plant, which
somewhat resembles a Spanish bayonet,
grows to a hight of two or two and half
feet, with circumference q little greater.
| It offers to an ihquiring public the dagger
like ends Of its serrated blades, in manner
calculated to discourage all Investigation.
| IL mas, however, as we are fond OF saying of
the disagreeaole person VINO rolls himself
all I'D and presents his hedgehog quilts to
the world, a good heart Every drop Of
moisture that falls on the plant Is carried
down by these wicked, spiky prongs to
nourish this sweet and tender heart So
it grows to q succuleat, celery-like delicacy
and translucence.
AS IL stands, the sheep and cattle can not
get at ii, though ] have been told that res
olute steer can acquire the skill to seize 1t by
the top and jerk the heart out by a neat and
professional twist. But resolute Texas
steer is capable Of anything
HOW soToL IS FED.
When sotol 10 to be fed two men go with
each flock, one TO herd and one to chop.
The plant is slashed Off close to the grouAd,
and laid upon with an ak or an immense
sotolknife. The great argent globe falls
into thousands OF petal-like layers. Of tho
most luminous whiteuess, the most satiny
luster, impearled. even after the longest
and severest drought, with crystal drops.
And well may the sheep like 1t, for 1t has a
sweet, delicious favor, a texture more crisp
ana fine than the orispeet radish. and is ex-
ceedingly rich In vegetable oils. Many
night have sat by the camp fire nibbling
the tender petals, and throwing the stalks
onto the Goals, where they would flame
up like turpentine, burning and cracking
to the last shred Of even the juicy inner
heart.
CATTLMEN's HOSTILITY.
Tire attitude of the cattle men and sheep
men toward each other is still, in the alb
stract, somewhat antagonlstic, though the
personal relations are, more often than not,
most friendly The reason for this feeling
Is obvious. A cattle man OF any size and
account must give hostages to fortune in
the shape of ranchs-either purchased or
leaSed-a well. a windmill and probably
tank or watering place for the cattle, all of
which represents an outlay of several thou
sand dollars, at the least.
THE ''DRIFTER" sHEEPMAN.
D.,k III Oh
man, may conduct his business successfully
without owning foot Of land. He parcels
out bis Sleeps into hocks Of about 1000,
each flock in charge Of ono Mexican herder,
the herders, in turn, all attended to and
kept constant track Of by the major dorno,
who is the sheep mans vicigereut vizier and
minister plenipotentiary. Through the
summer they drift, maybe, in ''the terri
tory" or in the northern counties of West
Texas, during which time the stockman
may live at home and leave his mutt in
charge. Then, when cold weather APP
breaches, they come down into this Devils
River country, where shelter. pasturage, a
lovely climate are all TO be found-every-
thing but water, and water sheep can do
without for several months in winter especi-
ally IL fed sotol.
This man that I have described is
''drifter," and against him the cattle ranch
man naturally has a little feeling of resent
ment that he is able to make as big returns
as ne does with SO little investment
But shades OF the pilgrim fathersl If bis
outlay Ia mere cash is Comparatively small,
he certainly makes up in TIE prodigal, un-
stinted investment OF himself his energy,
labor and steady devotion TO business. The
life of a sheepman who lives in camp,
sleeps, maybe. under tent and may he I'M
der the sky in all weather, must ride for
hours and days in bitter northers or stream
ing rains hunting lost sheep, and cut him
self off nine-tenths Of the year from the
society Of his kind, or any sort OF rest or
play, is one Of absolute heroisnl.