New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-07
BORDER WARFARE.
HOW TIE RANGERS PROTECT THE INTER-
ESTS OF THE LONE STAR STATE.

Indispensable in protecting the frontiers from the
predatory work of the albusters. The Rangers aIv
accustomed 10 the country and their long hfc OF scout
Ing the plains and among the foothills enable them
to locate the positions OF the rcvoluonists accurately
and to strike effective blow nj the Important mo
ment The whole Ranger force massed upon tho
frontier of the state could alone protect the interests
OF law and order, and make IL almost mpos ible Tor
fbusterng parties TO make their preparations la tho
United States limits and then TO pass over the State
line TO help the icvolutionsts Garza's mcn are &c
customcd the kind Of life as the Rangers and
they know the country thoroughly. but they have nos
the discipline and sturdy courage OF the mounted police
employed By the State.
The Rangers are practically scouts ard spies and
for frontier fighting they are uaexcelIed. Originally
they were organized TO fight the Indians ana outlaws
OF the state constituting it were sor Of Govern
ment vigilance committee. who at moments nodcs
could be ordered 10 any part OF tho country. The
first Ranger company consisted entirely OF veteran
scouts and trappcrs and old Indian fighters and they
volunteered themselves to tile call OF the law They
force and power In the southwest long before
they were organized into paid company. and ne
States marvellous development is largely dne to their
services They banded together mutually to fight the In
disns and gradually the different scouts became Mswn
TO the people Of the towns and cities They we're called
Rangers because Of their accurate Workmanship ana
bravery They ranged over the country as frcclanceS.
protecting the weak and helpless whenever possible,
and boldly facing all enemies to the interests OF peace
and order. Besides being crack shots, they we're as
cunning as the red men and as brave ms liens.
The present battalion dates its history back 20 1874,
when Richard Coke Governor of the Stnte. Texas
then overrin By Indian marauders. desperate
border rnfians, and cunning Mexican bandits. These
awdcfying people were numerically strong, and life
and property secure in part OF she state.
Ranches within half mile of large towns aud cities
were lawiessly attacked and robbed. The regular
state troops too cumbrOus body TO prevent such
raids. for long before they could move upon the
enemy they had fed to other parts Of the land There
seemed to be only 10 solve the difficulty aud
that was 10 organize the companies OF Rangers Ths
done Immediately, and the Legislature VI the State
appropriated 100000 for the purpose, upon the rec
ommendaton OF the Governor.
With the organization OF the Rangers new era of
prosperity and peace opened for Texas, and the From
tier battalion" performed work that has not been for
gotten to-day. The remnants of that battalion are
now stationed on the border, ready to intercept any
hlbusteriDg party at moments notice. The bat
talon consisted OF so men, divided into five equal
companies. They to act special protectors "f
the state and Trey performed their work well that
in few years the Indians were entirely suppressed.
dcsperadoes killed off quieed down, and tho
Mexican bandits driven back over the border line.
As the result OF their work the Rangers publicly
thanked by the Legislature, and many private marks OF
esteem shown TO them.
Although their numbers nave StcA1iiy 0ccreascu
since then, the Rangers have become permanent
fixture In the State, and their services Will be needed
so long as the stretches OF the country
settled and the lone of many law defying persons.
Each company now contains about twenty men, but
there are many auxiliary bands which can rapidly
be impressed into the service when needed When Oh
duty the Rangers always busy and consequently
happy The dangers and privaoIs Of their hard
duty are always preferred 10 The quetness and in
activity OF the camp. often they compelled to
make forced marches Of many miles and they show
their endurance In the saddle by riding for twenty
hours or more at stretch. They follow the trail Of
the enemy through rough, mountainous passes. across
ano and mesa and painless plains With tireles'
energy, until the Indians or dcsperadoes arc caught
| Then with cqual disregard for their own personal
safety they rush into the battle with the determine
| ton TO conquer, and generally they succeed In this.
superior forces often outnumbcring their five 10
one. attacked with the same amount Of scfc0n-
fdence. and effectively do they use their weapors
| that all fall before them. They have won name
| throughout the state which sends the cold shivers
down the backs OF those whose trail the Rangers
are placed
The Rangers furnish leir own weapons and horses.
and each is compelled to have good Winchester.
n Colts revolver. ana hunting knife. Tie State
furnishes them, when in active duty, sixty rounds Of
ammunition for the rife. AMI thirty rounds for the
volver. Tents ard food supply also given TO the
| Rangers at the expense Of the state. They not
tempered by the heavy equipments, and ut a moments
notice they can leave their camp and start in pursuit
OF the enemy. \ small mule pack sIung over tho
sides of the saddle contain about all the necessary
equipments that they need. and with this they starr
| out dresry and wcaiisome trip ever
| devised by man.
When in camp the Rangers are never entirely salts
fed and they long for exciting revolution which
viii give them active service. The state continues to
pay and feed them but the enlist only for ons
it ! an easy matter 10 decrease or increase tho
force will If continually in camp. many OF n,
Rangers drop ont at the end Of year or two and
/ list again trouble j. brewing Every man
i, eligible again unless he has been discharged dson-
| oraby. Frequently Rangers discharged for the
infraction rule while in camp but they caA
join other companies except for few grave Offences
| such as cowlrdce and theft. The Government paws
the Hangers at the rate Of go month for prvates.
SO for corpora, $50 FOR first crgeans, S75 70 len
tena.ts and 300 for captains.
The discipline OF the Ranger companies is sui
sencris. and unlike anything that prevails In the
regular state or Government troop camps In fact
discipline rnle> exist. 1t might pc said and vet
every knows his duty and they act together as Q
INIT in battle. The Of this lack OF discipline 1.
due to the fact that every Ranger T. an experienced
hunter scout fighter and soldier before he cnlists.
and being well acquainted with the life in the rough
country. they know nsnctivsly what to do in every
emergency. There are no drills or paIS'dc,. and ono
inspection year sufce,. There are certain DIVISIONS
among them. and few rules about acting as scouis.
guards and similar work. They depend upon each
other and they are more like company Of old trap
per, banded together for mutual protection Wher
lighting the Indians they conceal themselves bchind
rocks and trees. each for himself and every one
for the whole company They cling together, and yes
fight after their own ia sicn. The lack OF any cast
iron discipline probably hTakes them move effective In
quick and sudden raids.
When in camp the horses find their own feed nv
roaming the il grassy lands. but they are o
well trained that they Fever stray 10 any greaS
distance from the camp. As 81 the call 20 arms
is announced the Rangers up ana dressed IN an IN
slant and in incredibly short time they have
caught their horses ard ready for the march III
shooting az gun always the signal for every Ranger
70 get hi, arms ready work. Trials when the
Rangers have not been expecting any call show that
they can lump fiom their hunks. gct dressed and have
their rifles lolded and In position Tor defending thqr
camp inside OF two minutes anfr the alarm
sounded During the present disturbance In Mckee,
and along the frontier of Texas there * no class 81
men so much depended upon for preserving peace ana
order as the old battalion Of Rangers They are on
the field now under experienced leaders VINO rave
won names as Indian fighter, before and they VIII shoy
their courage and scouting abilities IN contest whlca
will need all OF their powers. captains hcNefit.
Rourkc and Protto all IN the field with the staeo
Rangers and they are scouting all along the bo0S