The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1894-01-20
THE TEXAS RANGERS
Origin Of the Organization An Eneetsvs
Body.

cuStOmed to the country. anu their iohe
life of scouting on the plains ana
among the foothills enables them to
locate the position of the reyolutionists
accurately. and to strike an effective
blow at the important moment Inc
entire ranger force massed upon the
frontier of the state could alone pro
tect the interests of law and order. and
make it impossible for filibustering
parties to make their plans and prep
arations within the United States
limits, and then to pass over the state
line to help the revolutionists Ihese
revolutionists are accustomed 10 the
same kind Of life as the rangers, and
they know the country thoroughly, but
they have not the discipline and cour-
age of the mounted police employed by
the state. The rangers are practically
scouts and spies. and for frontier fight.
ing they are unexcelled. Originally
they were organized to fight the indi-
ans and outlaws of the state, being
sort of vigilance committee, who at
moments notice could be ordered to
any part of the country.
The first ranger company consisted
entirely of scouts, trappers and old In.
dian fighters, and they volunteered
themselves to the call of the law.
They were q force and power in the
southwest long before they were Or
ganized into state company. and the
states marvellous development is large
ly due to their services. They banded
together mutually to fight the Indians,
and gradually the different scouts be-
came known to the people OF the
towns and cities. They were called
rangers, because of their accurate
Workmanship and bravery. They were
all over the country, protecting the
weak and helpless whenever possible,
and boldly facing all enemies to the
interests OF peace and order Besides
being crack shots, they were as cum
ming as the Indians and as brave as
lions.
The present battalion dates its his
tory back to 1874. when Richard Coke
was governor of Texas. Texas was
then overrun with Indian marauders,
daspara q hordar RI, f4iaps and eunniuo
Mexican bandits Tbese law.defvino
nao,lo ,vora stroro T., hers and
i;ta ond nronart,, ,,,oro not sacnre in
any nort ~ az stato Ponches within
b.if = ,n;la ~ lar9a town vere often
attacked and robbed. The state troops
could not prevent these raids. for long
hoforo thar oo,,la r,oro ,,non tho ana.
NV thev had eed 70 otbor n.rts ~ the
corntrv Tharo sao,,,aa - ho onl,, o,a
,yar ~ solve tho a;eonltr and that
,,,.s ~ or..r;.a a. aov,n.n;.s ~
r,nr.-s hal;oro tb;s ,ya. aono i'm.
med;ate,v and tho stste annro.
nr;ated ssoo ooo for tho n,,rnose nnon
The recon mend. ton ~ Tho oovernor
Altboroh tho;r rrnhors h.ro steadiIv
docraosad s;nca .ban st;lI tha =. n,ors
are a fixtura IN the STATE and tbei,
sarr;o.s will at,,,.rs =. noodod 70 1ono
as tho ast stretcbes ~ conntrv "a mn.
ssttled and tho bono ~ lov.dofv;na
norsons Ear oorn,ann no,. oonta; ns
shont t,vontv r,an ha. to- -. n,any
auv;l;arr hanas nrhioh any Ill r.
messed into service when needad The
rangers are always bpsv and the dan.
gers and invitations of their hard dutv
are ALWAYS preferred to the ouietness
and inactivity of the camn Often tbey
are compelled to make forced marches
of MANY miles. and thew show their on.
durance in the saddle bv riding for
twenty hours At a stretch Thew follow
the trail of the enemy through rough.
mountainous masses and across natb.
less plains with tireless energy unti,
the Indians or desneradoes arc canobt
and then with a disregard for thei,
own personal safety thew rush into the
battle with a determ;nat;on n cono,er
and thew generally succeed Spner;o,
forces. often outnumberino their our,
1--WE to one. are attacked with the same
amount of self-confidence. and 90 ef.
fcctiyelv do thew use their weanon.
that all fall before them Tbev hovo
won name throughout the state which
sends the cold sbivers down Tho hooL.
of those on whose trail the rangers are
placed.
Tho rap,ors f,,rr;sh .ho,u -
Mons and horses and a.oh ~" :. .o.'.
LID ~ 80 "u I ' W.. one 10 COIN
49, 80 - gu" "inones'er
Uoi' reVoiVer ana hunting knife.
Inc state furnishes them when In active
duty sixty rounds of ammunition for
the rife and thirty rounds for the re.
volver. Tents and food supplies are
also piven them at the axnonso - 49,
state Thew are not ba mnorad ~, ~ ha sAe
sa.,;,.a..s - ~ heaVy
oqu'pnaen. 80. ano az moments notice
can leave their camp and start in pur-
suit OF the enemy A small mule pack
slung over the side of the saddle con.
tains all the necessary equipments they
need. The discipline of the range,
companies is unlike ANYTIME tho. -.