Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-05-01
A COWBOY STRIKE.
The Strange Franks of Lot of Unruly
Ranchmen.


Ranchmen.
"When was in New Mexico eight or
nine years ago." said Dan Quin, who
has shed undying glory on the ''0ld Cat
tleman," 81 saw singular labor strike.
Cowboys are composed of two general
classes; those born to the business and
those who are exported west by rela-
tives who have wearied of them and of
their gay and tumultuous practices of
doing nothing but spending money and
accumulating bad habits. The native
western men as rule can neither read
nor write, are grave of mien, and hard
men when trouble comes on. The
transplanted cowboy is drunk whenever
possible, but is otherwise pleasing to
the eye and harmless enough. The edu-
Gated ones read the newspapers. to their
brethren and lead in the discussions on
subjects of national interest. At the
time of the roundup, on the Triangle
Dot ranch, / was working for Dorsey,
and went over with two or three others
to see if any of our cattle had mixed
themselves up with the others. One of
the boys of the Triangle outfit was dis
putatious, contentious, and much given
to argument, He had been reading re-
| ports of labor troubles in the east to the
men, and in the discussion that followed
had pointed out to them the fact that
they were getting largely the worst of
1t. 1t was decided to strike.
"That night it happened that jack
son, the agitator, was out riding herd
with some others, and after their sup
per the other boys fell to discussing
their wrongs. They decided that there
was no time like the present, and
naming one, Kelley, popularity known
as Texas Kelley, from the common
wealth in which he had his birth, as
chairman, they decided to strike. They
went in body TO Col. Small's tent.
Small was bookkeeprer and acting
manager of the Triangle Dot ranch and
was feeling plenty proud, because the
regular manager had gone to Chicago
and left him in charge. He was from
Chicago himself and rather fresh He
had no particular business at the round
up, but had driven out on his blackboard
from the home ranch Just to see the
FUN.
Anything can do for you, gentle.
menP he asked pleasantly enough.
"'They is plenty to be done, all right
enough replied Kelley, with the sol
emnity of true plainsman. You see
Col. Small, he continued, the boys or
this yere range has about concluded
they has made enough fortunes for the
naughty cattle barons of the east-he
had insensibly assimilated Jackson't
anarchistic speeches-'and we has con
cluded that the thing has proceeded or
this trail long enough. We has become
dead tired of film the Golfers of Chicago
plutocrats, an they amt no man nor nc
syndicate can put its brand onto us an
say they own us from morell to crupper
We are free-born Americans, an nC
Chicago packin' house prince has GO
title to us
But what is it? What can I do
What do you wish?' inquired the un
happy bookkeeper, firing the questions
all in breath
"'We has decided to strike" replied
the man from Texas. The crushed
, workin' men of the east is about t,
arise an so be we."
! "Then Small was scared. He hac
mental visions of his company's steer
e cavorting unrestrained over the vast,
pampas, prey to the cattle thief an,
e Mexican. When he caught his wind h
asked "What do youswant to strik
, for? We're paying you more now thai
2 men on other ranches get"
a "'This amt no question of finances
replied Kelley, with some hauteul
r When we don't get what we're wort
t you won't hear no kickin-we'n motif
s you an pull our freight easy enoug
d when our pay is cut. We're just goir
l. on strike, that's all
d "But what's your grievance? What
your reason for striking? You mus
8 have grievance, insisted the bool
7, keeper.
d "'He's shorely right 'the colonel
y got his nut with him every minute {
n the time, and kindred compliment
came from the crowd The men will
O drew to formulate their statement {
d hardships, and presently returned.
"'We has, after due an deliberat
a considerin' of the question, reporte
l, Kelley, decided on this, Col. Smal
We is gittin' too much fresh beef, al
d too little salt hoss an we strikes fC
d thatreason.'
r ''As salt pork was worth only S8.l
e. per hundred and beef even on the rang
D. dressed scaled up to eighteen cents
S, pound it didn't require much figurin
It for Small to settle it.
Ie Il ought to have thought about tn,
ID before, gentlemen he said, and L
ID start the wagons for the ranch to-nigl
a for two barrels of pork and 500 pounC
of bacon. You men shall have VIII,
Y, you want as long as I'm running thing;
i Then he brought out several bottle
N and Kelley as he drank said admiringl
r They is nothin' limited nor confin,
ID about you, Col. Small, even if you con
IN here recent which sentiment the othe
as they drank echoed. When JaolsC
came in from riding herd at midnig
and the strike and its adjustment we
" reported to him he expressed the utmo
le satisfaction with the affair and his a
in proval of the entire proceedings. Y
or he was Yale graduate, and befo
Of reaching the age of twenty-six kne
4. not the taste of pickled swine. "-Cl
,y cago Tribune.
r Alaskan Mosquitoes.
Mt Moss, shrubs and berries grow
s. great profusion along Yahutat b
ID shore, and over the moraine regul