The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-09
So Numerous that They Control Courts,
JurieS and all Avenues of Justice.
Peculiar State of Affairs That Threatens to De-
stroy the Chief Industry of the State-Dis-
tinction Between Ranchers and Thieves.
RUsTLERs AND MAVERICKS.

WARRINGTON, May s.-"There appears to
be dense ignorance in the East as to the
situation respecting the cattle war in Wy
oming. and. in fact. the entire minuti8 of
the round MP and other affairs which have
combined to bring about q state of serious
hostilities in the extreme Northwest" said
an old Wyoming cattlenan to your corre-
sponGsnt to-day. Intense interest Is being
taken. just now. in the cattle troubles of
the Northwest by Congress. and CONNER
cial mon, and farmers throughout the coun-
try, not alone because IL Affects an impor-
tant interest. but because the details of
the work and the conditions which have
led up to the present state of trouble In
Wyoming are IN themselves very interest
ing. The gentleman quoted above 10 one
Of the best known ranchers in northern
Wyoming and has for many years rustied
with tho boys who are just now making it
uncomfortable for the cattle-thieves he
continued:
II think the cattlemen have been un-
fairly dealt with by the press of the coun-
try through Ignorance as to the real con-
ditions which led up to the present state
of stfaira fully believe the cattlemen
were forced to take the steps they did in
order to pr6tect their property, as all pros
eontions under the law for cattle or horse
stealing had been q gnal failure. on ac-
count of lack OF evidence against the
rustler. who was always able to produce
the necessary evidence to prove inno-
cence. The rustlers have almost absolute
control of the local courts. the grand
jurios and the machinery which is sup
posed to bring about justice.
Let me 60 back little and relate q lit
tie history that YOU and others may know
what rustlers are and what led up to the
present troubles. The origin WAS in 1884.
Previous to that time the oattlem6n. in or
saving their wages. gave them permission
to buy small bunches OF cattle, generally
steers. and oftentimes they advanced to the
boys years salary or more to make the
purchases. The employers allowed these
cattle TO run. free of cost. with their own
herds. Some of the cowboys who had
gained this favor from their employers, the
cattlemen. took advantage OF the non-eX-
isteDce of cattle law and laid claim, not
openly, but secretly. to all the mavericks
ployers. and began branding them as their
own.
WHAT A MAVERICK is.
% maverick is an unbranded or mother
lees calf. Considering the fact that the
mavericks average ten In every herd of .
thousand cattle the mavericks which found
their way into the email herds owned by
the cow boys was an immense item. while
the mavericks which really belonged to the
cowboy herds was SO small that any EN-.
ployer could instantly trace the improper
acquisition. A cowboy seldom owned over
two hundred head of cattle. and his nav
ericks would not be over two year. Until
this time the mavericks found on the range
of the various ranches were the recognized
property of the brand occupying the range
and were branded accordingly. The differ.
ent owners never had any dispute over the
branding of n maverick. If any doubt
arose 1t was settled by butchering the ami
NAL for beef to supply the roundup.
THE roundup takes place every spring.
when the various owners with their COW.
boys congregate and cut ont their respect
i've cattle, rebrand and divide the maver-
icks. You know. or should know. that q
large number of herds often run and feed
together in common during q season. which
economies help and decreases anxiety and
care. 10 this branding OF the mavericks
by the cowboys, who were appropristing
them to rheir own uses. the eattieTnen pro-
chance to steal the calves. The mavericks
were clearly the property of the osttlemen.
In Crook county; which adjoins johnson.
the seat of the present war. there
actual settlers. and the small ranchsr
and farmer never allowed, and does not
now. cattle TO drift in with the range cat.
tie. In 1854. Wyoming, then Territory,
passed q law that all mavericks found
during a roundup should be sold by the
duly appointed roundup foreman. the
proceeds Of such sales to apply on salary
and expenses of stock inspectors, which
expense had heretofore been borne by the
Wyoming Stock-gr0wers Association. The
stock inspectors were stationed at the diff
ferent shipping and stock-yards, and their
duty WAS to protect the interests of all cat
tle.Owners. This law made IL unlawful
for any person. other than the round up
foreman, to brand a maverick. Now. right
there began the serious trouble. The boys
commenced to get bOlder. and. not being
satisfied with chance maverick, often
times would create one, that Is.
they would separate and drive tho
COW lfrom the calf and await q
sibly. kill the cow in order tn make an op-
p0rtunity to steal the calf. About this
time the large owners concluded that they
would not have IN their employ any person
nonnced that they were willing to pur-
chase and pay full value for all cattle that
their employees possessed. The better ele-
ment sold; others did not, but located small
ranches of their own and more boldly set
out TO rustic and steal live stock, both
horses and cattle. This work and the ut
ter failnre to successfully prosecute any
stock thief or rustler had the effect of CEN
terIng in the northern portion of Wyoming
a gang as bad and bold as it is possible to
imagine.
RUsTLERs RUN THINGS AS THEY PLEASE.
Il want 1T distinctly understood that q
rustler and ranchman do not 20 together
at all, continued the Wyomin man. 1t is
well TO add just here that the reason the
gentleman quoted in this correct and in
terestiug narrative is not mentioned by
name is because it might be worth bis life
to utter this sentiment when he returns to
his home. The -ustlers hold complete con-
troll of q number of counties in northern
Wyoming. electing oil the officers. filling
the jury boxes and running things with q
high hand. They have absolute security
in their crimes. When such statements as
these are made about them they spot the
man and either kill him or give him the
skull and cross bones warning to leave. IL
is for this reason that the people of the
East have been given no information upon
the real conditions in Wyoming The 'in-
former would be branded for death or Sc
clusion. The politician who critlcises them
10 retired to private life.
"A rancher Is n RESPECTABLE settier," said
the wyoming man. who wishes to avail
himself of the privileges of citizenship and
locate and claim leo acres of land under his
rights. build himself home, raise some
live stock and do farming. and settles 18th
the intention OF helping build ND new
country. He usually locates near some VII
lage or postoffce. so as to have the advan-