The morning news., 1892-03-17
THE TEXAS RANGER.
He Belongs to Unique Branch OF the
American Coastabulary.

y
From, the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Undoubtedly the most unique branch OF
be America oonstabuIary is the Texas
Ranger service. 1t was born Of necessity
nearly half century ago, when the Lone
Star state was the harbor Of men who had
''left their country for their country's
good, y and when the murder0us Indian and
Mexican had rather scalp pale-
face or steal his horses and cattle than TO
live in comfy with him. In those stirring
days that tried mems souls the ranger was
at once looked upon as knight-errant and
and soldier bold, whose duty ts was to
protect the life of the citizen, and to kill or
arrest (more often TO kill the buccaneer
who dared show his face out Of the mesquite
Then the service was organized and
equipped as an army, and combined the
functions Of national defense with those OF
the posse comitatus.
Up to ten years ago the personnel Of the
service was conspicuous by its eminent gen.
tility. The best blood of Texas volunteered
through that spirit Of adventure that led
their fathers to the turbulent state, and il
was considered social distinction 20 be
known as an "ex-ranger." It was in fact,
in the great majority of cases, a passport to
the highest social circles Of the state.
Another class Of its membership were apir-
ing young men from the east, who had
taken Horace Greeley's advice and gone
west, expecting soon to become the cattle
kings that spring from the florid imagina-
tion Of the novelist and dramatisr, but who,
in the majority of Instances, soon learned
that the life of ranger was more thrilling
and active than that of restaurant waiter.
Some Of the brightest newspaper men m
the United States were college graduates
who got a still better education Ia the
ranger service, and notably is this
true of the members of the press of
New York. New Orleans and Texas. Gunter,
the author Of those two lurid attempts at
novel writing yclept Mr.. Potter Of Texas"
and "Mr. Barnes Of New Y York y is said to
have served an enlistment as a ranger. Jen-
nings of New York did the same thing. But
perhaps the most famous Of all the early or
latter-day rangers is Col. John s. Ford,
now awaiting the last bugle call at San
Antonio, almost in penury and want. He
is known 20 fame as rip" Ford, and many
is the story that the dime novelist has
woven round his name. Col. Ford is past
20 years in age, but his frame is as erect and
his gait as spry as the average mans of so.
There is little exaggeration in the claim for
him that he had been in more hot fights in
the broad open prairies. on the burning
sands and in the thorny chaparral; has had
more hAnd-to-hand encounters with In
dians. Mexicans and bandits, has made
more hairbreadth escapes and has greater
number of notches in the handle of his
trusty Colts than any man in the west
And yet he Is not a rough or uncouth
character. On the contrary he is a man
Of more than unusual polish of manner
and mental accomplishment. When he was
not in the field he was at Austin, the capt
tai, editing a paper that welded an influ-
ence In its limited sphere equal to any of
the monster metropolitan sheets Of to-day.
Gen. Hamilton z Bee brother of that fam
ing genius of war who, with an audacity
superb, led the terribly destructive charge
of the contederates at Manassas, and when
expiring from bullet wound on the field
inspired his men to still more vicious battle
by shouting: ION men! See jackson stand
ing like a stone wall !" is another of the old
time rangers, and who attained the rank of
brigadier in the confederate army by that
same intrepid bravery that distinguished
him when young man In the ranger serv-
ice. Gen. Bee is enjoying the mellow
years yet remaining to his princely life at
San Antonio, surrounded by few of the
luxurtes to which men of such note are us
ually accustomed. save the affection of his
family and large circle Of friends.
The latter-day ranger, as stated above.
differs widely from his predecessor. The
same high order of nerve and intrepidity is
essential TO him, but he has deteriorated
in those other characteristics pointed out
with the constantly diminishing strength
and Importance of the services. The ad-
jutanb-general of the state is still the COM
mander of the force, but he has under him
only three companies, officered with cap
tain, two lieutenants and one sergeant
each, the entire number in active service
being less than 100. The one battalion into
w a aafao &
never modified, nor are the companies
often kept together. They are divided into
squads of from three to ten men,
and are stationed in those sections
OF the state where lawlessness
is most rampant or most liable to break out
1t is marvellous how the bare presence OF
these rangers, who are now little less than
deputy sheriffs, quells disorder. Instances
are known in the last few years where
sheriffs with posses of fifty or hundred
deputies have been utterly poweress to
quit mob and restore order until squad
of eight or ten rangers, and sometimes even
less, dashed into the town on their wirY
little ponies, and at once the mobs dispersed
and the riot ended. So awe-tnspirIug are
these men OF the buckskin and Winchester.
holsters that oftentlmes the mere threat of
calling them out is sufficient to strike such
terror to the Iawbreakers as to cause them
10 lmfnoulhtely come around 10 the SIDE or
the peace conservators.
The chief duty of the ranger In Texas at
the present time is, therefore, TO be ever
ready to mount his horse and fly. He must
be able to endure long marches in the sad
die, and it is no uncommon thing for him
to travel eighty miles between sun and sun
across bald prairie, over precipitous hills,
through deep canyons, fording rivers, wad-
ing lakes and lagoons. moving down a path
through thick mesquite and cactus, leaping
bitches, etc. But above all he must be quick
on the trigger and sure of mis- aim.
When he shoots he shoots to kill He is
no temporizer. He keenly realizes when
entering the service that he is wearing his
life on his sleeve, and that he has only the
most desperate men to deal with. He
knows. too, the dangers of ambush, and
views every mott with suspicion lest it ex-
plode and kill him. He is as alert as a cat
and sits his saddle with the grace of an
Indian. His ambition is, if he be of the
better class. to 30 impress his personality on
the community where his presence may be
needed as TO stand in the line of promotion
when a county sheriff is TO be elected, and
30 it is that the majority of Western Texas
sheriffs of to-day were but recently
rangers.