Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-22

fire. He is mindful of the morrow's early
start and long stent. In the first month OF
! the roundup the nights are cold; all summer
/ long they are cool.
How the Cowboy Makes His Bed.
Preparing ones bed is something of job.
All hands, save perhaps the pampered
cooks, sleep on the ground; few men have
tents, many lie out in the open, under the
starry>vault. In going to bed the cowboy
| who knows how first smooths with a shovel
a bit of ground the size of mattress, dig
| ging away the earth in spot or two to con-
form with the curves of his body. He first
lays a full size rubber blanket on the
ground, lining upward. Over this he
spreads piece of heavy waterproof canvas,
more than twice the size of the rubber
blanket. Next, and even with the upper
ends of his canvas and rubber blanket. he
unfolds his woolen blanket, or, if he is rich,
blankets. His overcoat and whatever cloth
ing he takes of, if any, he folds for pill
low.
Walking now to the foot of his great piece
of canvas, he turns it up over the blankets
and pillow, tapping it beyond them foot
or two at the head. Then he tucks in each
side of the canvas above the rubber blanket,
but under the rest of the bed, until the
edges of the canvas meet. LASTLY, he
works his way feet foremost from the
top into his big improvised sack. If it
is freezing weather, he tucks the overlap at
the head of his bed down underneath the
pillow. In there, tired, dry, warm, snug,
in a moment he is asleep like dog, not
to awaken until morning Before dawn
a good kick from kindly night herder
carries to his understanding the fact
that the order has been issued to
roll out and greet the coming day.
Cowboys Do Not Get Rich.
What ranch life offers to the cowboy is
fresh air, canned food, outdoor exercise, q
seat on bucking horse, some little oppor-
tunity for hunting, and perhaps an occa-
sional chance to act as target for an un-
tanned mans gun. Rarely does speedily ac-
quired fortune await the cowboy. After
the narrowing experience of branding day
the current of the steers life runs monot-
onously. Man interferes only to drive him
back to his owners range should he rove
too far away. The elements, albeit cruelty
testing his hardness in winter, are for the
most part not too much for his robust con-
stitution. The only event of Importance
after his birth-except the dread ordeal of
branding him in Chicago
slaughter house when butcher looks him
in the eve.
After the general roundup, and until the
oppAOoSh VI Solu w SdluCi, Vic 10
kept at work on the home range rounding
up beef cattle for shipment. The shipping
season is at its height in September. The
marketing of the cattle includes for the men
spell of hard work in gathering beeves,
long drive of the herd to be sold to rail-
road town and its shipment in cattle cars.
Some of the cowboys then ride in caboose
to Chicago, a journey of ], 900 to l, 500 miles,
caring for the cattle closely packed in the
cars on the way.
Winter on ranch is the dull season.
Once in while the cowboys may be dis
patched out in a snow storm to turn back
cattle drifting helplessly before the ever
driving northwest wind, or they may have
to pick up young calves from the range and
carry them to the stable to save their lives,
But much of the time the men sit in the
bunk house, a wood fire roaring in the open
chimney place, ,mending and making brides,
saddles and knickknacks, or losing small
fortunes at cards. j. W. SULLIVAN.