Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-12-09
A ROUNDUP" OF CATTLE.
A PECULIAR FALL CEREMONY ON
WESTERN RANCHES.
The Operation of Branding the Cat
tle-Curiosities of Brands-Steal-
ing Cattle by Changing Marks.

Der anu 4NOFcuUcl u pCCuldl
ceremony is going on at the
hundreds of cattle ranches of
the Northwest. 1t is the fall 'round-up,'
when the stock is driven to the "home
ranch' or headquarters for "cutting
out" the marketable steers and branding
any animals that may have escaped the
iron in their days of calfhood. Long
davs of riding on the part Of the ranch
assistants precede the gathering, and
tie that have been feeding all summer on
the plains are collected in the big corral
it is a splendid sight.
On the hip OF every grown animal
there is series of scars, showing their
healed surfaces through the sleek hair.
1t is the trademark of the praries. By
its perfect system the cattle can be iden
titled as if by name, and the buyer in
Chicago, Omaha or Kansas City knows
exactly as lie sends mixed carload off
to the packing houses from which ranch
each came.
Branding requires one or two men
with lariats and one man with the brand
ing iron. With skillful hands the
lassos are thrown, catching the steer or
cow by horns and hind foot. Perhaps
the victim is tumbled on its back, per-
haps not. AT any rate, in moment the
assistant has run from the fire with the
red hot iron in his hand, pressed it
moment on the shrinking flank; there is
litt.. puff of smoke, smell of burn
ing flesh, aud beneath is mark that
will remain until the creatures death.
1t seems cruel, but it is a necessary plan
of Identification.
Hard as it is to capture and hold the
animal it is almost equally difficult to let
60. At the instant the ropes are loosened
the frightened beast, never before touched
by human hands, leaps to his feet eager
for an object upon which to wreck ven-
geance. For man on horseback the
steer has the utmost respect, but for
man or horse separately absolutely no
fear. Either is helpless in herd of
Texas steers.
The marking system is based upon
registration of brands. Every man who
owns stock on the great prairies where
| fences are unknown must select brand
letter, figure, fanciful design or com.
| bination - and register it with the
| county and State officers as we'll as with
cattle associations. His brand must be
| distinct from all others, hence the steer
F, that has strayed during the summer
from Southern Wyoming over into Ne
braska or Northern Kansas is quickly
| identified at the annual roundup. In
spectors are stationed at the shipping
| points to intercept and seize for the ben
eft of the cattle associations any animal
| not described in the bill Of sale.
The old-time brands are motel for
their intricacy and fancifulness. Some
of them almost cover the flank of the
cattle and make the hide worthless.
| Letter brands are common, many stock
men using their own initials. The diff
Guilty of securing brand not previously
used has led to bars over and under the
letters, half circles, letters written hor-
izontally-known as ''lazy" letters--and
similar devices. Flying letters are
written with red hot pokels aud continue
the letter proper into long, Struggling
fiourishes. OF late years the figure
brands have become the favorites. Out
lines of axes, shears, boots, eggs, arrows,
etc., are likely to be found ON the stock
of small owners, though the brand OF
the Sidney Dillon ranches is a rude nit
ten. The thousands of cattle owned by
the Earl of Freund are marked "76,'
and the brand is almost as familiar in
Europe among cattle owners as on the
ranges of Nebraska and Wyoming. SEN
ator Carey brands his herds &C. W
The Oelrich ranches have the ''bar II, VI
or this, I'll" Occasionally man
with short name will put it in full on
his stock, but it is needless cruelty.
A few years ago 1t was not uncommon
for poor, but energetic, young men tc
start in life on the plains with no capital
but branding iron and soon retire well
fixed in the worlds goods. BY patiently
lassooing one unmarked animal after
another and leaving trademark on its
flank, respectable herd was soon ac-
ouired. A violent attack of hemp fever
was also acquired if the "rustler" was
caught.
Changing brands was also favorite
pursuit with the rustler. Adding let.
ter, figure or device, or by some means
obliterating the mark already on was
common. The story is still told in Ne
braska of the Napoleon of Cattledom,
who invented the spade brand, formed
by heating spade red hot and slapping
it on the creatures fanks, obliterating
all previous brands. He was invited to
necktie party and never returned.
Changing o G cattle into B o c
was reported by the papers last year, and
the Three Ones Rancho found that its
brand GIL" was being transformed by
some unknown depredator into "H L."
The only method by which brand eau
be legally wiped out is by venting" it,
which means placing the original brand
upside down under the one first burned.
A steer that has changed hands several
times thus often comes to present crazy
patchwork appearance.
At the fall roundup there are found
many cattle withouta mark. They were
missed when calves or were born after
the spring branding and are termed
.tmavericks." The word is one peculiar
to the West and has come to mean any
lonesome individual owned by nobody
and claimed by none. The mavericks
are gathered by themselves and sold at
auction, the proceeds going to the cattle
| associations to help paw for insDectors