The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-15
MODERATELY BAD MAN
MR.. COOK WAS NOT BY ANY MEANS
A FLUENT CoNvERsATIoNALIsT,
And Dfdn't Like to Be Asked a Ques-
of Cattle-Butchering Etiquette.

post, with the words, North Boundary
of the Maxwell Grant, painted on its
sides. This north line extends east and
west, and is about forty miles long. The
east side boundary extends directly south.
and is about seventy miles long. The west
line meanders along down the backbone
Of a range of the Rocky mountains, guam
tum subject to make, when Joined to east
line by south line, an Enclosure of about
two million acres. BY far the greater part
of this tract lies in New Mexico. 1t was
originally a medium-sized Mexican land
grant, such as the Spanish government
used to give to subjects who had performed
some military service. 1t had been mar
ried into by men with Yankee ingenuity
and enterprise. who, instead of embar-
RAISING their SO acquired possessions by
prodigality. after the style of true modern
nobility, viIlainously enlarged them. BY
treaty at the close of the Mexican war
the title to these grants survived in the
grantees. All the United States govern
ment required was that they should be
surveyed, their boundaries definitely To-
Gated and some little evidence to the eff
feet that there had been an original bona
fde grant.
BY the lax methods OF the Land Office
at Washington, contract surveyors with
elastic consciences and sugared literally
by the owners of the grant, ran the lines
in such a way as to inciose within their
boundaries two million acres. whereas the
grant called for less than one hundred
thousand acres. Not possessing the requi-
site faith for the emergency. perjury was
called in instead and suborned witnesses
removed mountains and other natural
monuments named in the old grant, forty
nr 6ffu pnfIco omov fror, the ,toc 40 thar
had firmly occupied. The settlers, poor
devils. had no friends at Washington, ana
the rascally surveys were all duly con-
irmed by sleepy or corrupt officials.
1t was my fortune to successfully fall
into intimate relationship with the man
who had devoted more than ten years Of
his life to the overthrow of this gigantic
swindle; who had for years had it totter-
Ing on its rotten foundations; who had been
offered money, lands, anything, If he would
only cease his agitation, and who had at
last only lost the cause on a technicality.
] knew many settlers who had at the time
located on what was known to be govern
ment land and had seen the tentacles OF
this octopus gradually embracing their
humble homes. in spite Of their vigorous
protests. There were other settlers intent
on making fortunes, with no thought of
permanent residence. who recognized the
validity Of the grant, thus giving a color
of title and endearing themselves to the
hearts of their landlords to the ex-
tent of being allowed free pastur-
age for their herds. There were Mexicans
who had. with their ancestry. lived there
since about the time Columbus discovered
America. Some courageous and combative
settlers had exas,tred into the state OF
affairs and had seen that, without gross
bribery, the government could never con-
firm such a steal, and, poor fools, they be-
lieved that the land Office was an honest in
stitution. I knew the affable and intelligent
attorneys for the grant, who had a short
time before been fighting it vigorously.
but who had been made TO see by the aid Of
smoked glasses and a douceur OF fifteen
or twenty thousand acres of land that they
were more interested in fighting the settlers
than in espousing their cause. 1 knew the
portly and agreeable general manager OF
the grant, with whom 1 enjoyed many a
pleasant rubber at whist, and the cowboys
who looked after the grant company's cat
tie Incidentally with the cattle themselves),
and, lastly, but not the least interesting of
the group. were the de~speradoes hired by
the grant company to intimidate those set
tiers in its domains who were inclined to
argue ownership.
TEXAS ETIQUETTE.
George Cook was one of the latter, who,
while past grand master cowboy and a
Texan, ignored. in his present capacity, the
Texas etiquette concerning the approach
ing to a neighbours corral while butcher
ing was going on. Texas ethics are
clear on this point. and insist that you
leave a well-beaten trail and make a wide
detour on the open prairie If there is any
danger that the trail may lead you en-
barrassingly near to where the butchers are.
You may go to the house, and the women
folks, If there are any, will entertain you
by remarking how poor the cattle are this
season and telling you how hard it was
for the men folks to find a Cow brute of
their own that was\ any way near fat
enough to kill. All Il same, IL you happen
to be a neighbor to whom any little cour>
tesy is due. you will. like as not, when
butchering is over. be presented with a fore.
quarter of one Of your own yearlings. A
distinguished statesman of New Mexico Is
credited with the remark that a gentleman
never ate his own beef except at his neigh
boris table. Even the Mexicans observed this
point in etiquette, and the little community
of them among whom I for some time
lived. were especially solicitous that 1t
should be observed with reference TO them-
selves. For these poor people, who had
strung their little settlement along a half
dry stream, whose waters at uncertain
times afforded them means for irrigating
scant crops of grain and vegetables. were
frequently sorely pushed for food. The
grant company. which has not even as
vet succeeded in driving them from their
homes. had, through its army of cowboys.
made the possession of herds or 1ocks,
| outside of a mich COW or two. or a pet
goat or sheep, impossible for them. 1t was
quite touching, If one CHANGED to pass a
Mexican's place at dusk. to see corralled
for the night, in an Enclosure that had
been made for thousands, two or three
sheep or goats, and several little children
| disputing in Spanish gibberish as to whose
turn IL was to nurse or play with a soli-
tary kid or lamb. That these poor people
did occasionally kill the company's cattle
there is no doubt.
So when George Cook rode suddenly up
to where several Of them were butchering.
one day, and asked what brand the ami
NAL had on il, he got short answers. Cook
was fearless, but possessed what is not
often found linked with fearlessness, and
that is. a grain of discretion. To have
dismounted and stopped over 10 examine
the hide which was lying on the ground,
hair side down. would have been to nut