The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-07-04


the Lines on tho Sandy Plains
Probably every man who has had n
ranch in the west has received multitude
of applications from people who wish to
get on that ranch. Most eastcrncrs seem
not to know that cowboys business re-
quircs special training, and that hardy,
vigorous young fellow without any train
ing can no moro start in offhand as cow
boy than he could start in offhand rs
carpenter. Moreover, a man who isn't
good cowboy is worse than nuisance, be-
cause tho average cowboy needs ten horses
for his work, and If he doesn't 90 the work
tho ten horses arc wasted. A man to DO
proficient in the business must be not only
good horscman, but must be able to rope
we'll, to read brands, to understand cattle
and must have good knowledge of plains
craft. Ordinarily the work does not Imply
long continued physical cxertion, like the
work of % woodchopper, but 1t is often very
monotonous, and 1t Is also often fraught
with hardship and danger
Nevertheless, in the spring, summer and
early fall the life is very exciting and
pleasant one for those who have mastered
the work. There Is an attraction in the
wild, lonely country, and the entire free
dom of an existence spent mostly on horse
back. After one gets used to 1t tho rough
little shack seems comfortable enough and
for much of the year the ranch wagon is
tho COW punchcrs homo. To many hardy,
vigorous fellow tho roundup Is ordinarily
rather a picnic.
The men are fed well, and though they
do not have much sleep yet tho easiest OF
all forms of labor is sitting In tho saddle,
and the long rides in tho morning to gath
or in tho cattle and the furious Ralloping
and chasing round tho herd when cutting
out the beef steers and cows and calves in
tho afternoon possess q great charm for
mon fond of vigorous exercise and of lifo
In the open. OF course even in summer
there arc unpleasant experiences. A STAN
pcdc at night in u thunderstorm Is usually
too exciting to be agreeable, and fighting
fire Is very wearing work, while there is
always liability to misadventure. A
man may have now and then to make q
dry camp. He may get injured by nm I'M
usually vicious horse, or be damaged In
tho rush of stnmpedcd herd, OF be drown
cd In tho quicksands of some trcnchcrous
plains river. Still, take it as u whole in
good weather the life is pleasant enough.
But in tho iron winter the work Is very
hard and very dangerous. Tho last round
ups, which take place in November on tho
northern plains, are not agreeable. The
nights arc very long, and the freezing mis-
cry of standing guard round cattle hord
does not tend to make them seem shorter
In fine weather nobody wants u tent, but
1t Is not pleasant after n "a hours cold
rain to toss the damp blankets on the sod
ground and creep into them. or course,
the tirpaulin has kept out most OF the wet,
but it does not keep out all, and then some
nights there Is heavy snowfall, and when
you throw back tho tarpaulin in tho morn
Ing tho snow gets down the back of your
neck, and much doxtority Is needed while
drawing on your boots and trousers not to
I let tho snow get into tho blankets. Tho
ground is like iron after the heavy frosts,
and though the horses, being worn down
and thin, arc much less lively and vicious
than in spring, yet If they do act mean"
they arc more liable to slip and hurt them
selves, and more apt to hurt their rider IL
they throw him.
Early In December tho last of tho sea-
sons work ends. Most of tho cowboys arc
discharged, and they mny then 90 into
town, or build little shack and hunt for O
livelihood, OF stay around tho ranches, do
ing any odd job that turns up for their
board. a fow, however, arc kept on to
ride lines and keep track of the cattle In
the snow. These men must needs be of
vigorous constitution and thoroughly able
TO graphic with every cXigency of plains
life, for they arc certain TO have some pref
ty rough experiences before spring if tho
winter is Mt all severe
In riding lines each man has definite
beat. OF course In good weather the task
Is a perfectly easy one The rider lets his
pony jog along until he comes to the end
of his beat. If any cattle have crossed tho
line, no sees their tracks, and following
rounds them up and drives them back into
tho country where 1t is desired they shall
range during the winter. II no cattle
come near tho line, no simply goes to tito
end of his beat and comes hack again, but
If blizzard catches him he may find it an
almost impossible task to avoid getting
lost. All landmarks arc shrouded from
sight, and while tho blizzard Is In its
height it Is out of tho question to mako
head against it. OF course If tho day is %
very bad one the rider won't go out Mt all,
but often no has to take his chances, and
the snow may begin to fall and the wind
TO blow just when no Is at the farthest
point of his beat Then back nc comes
over the long stretches of sand colored,
ufclcSs prairie sward as fast as his pony
can go. The snow comes first in puffs and
little drifts-not the soft flakes of an cast
ern snowstorm, but fine Ice dust, which
feels almost like sand when blown against
the face Heavier and heavier grow the
gusts, thicker and thicker the Snowclouds,
and finally tho storm means and shrieks
and drives the Icy flakes in almost level
lines. The rider is then lucky if he can
find his camp. Unless he knows exactly
where he Is, and unless the landmarks are
very conspicuous, it is out of the question
for him to do So Tho only resource Is to
drift before the storm exactly as tho cattle
do, until no finally strikes some sheltered
place, under tho leo of big rock or In a
hollow where there is bunch of thick
tim hnr Inr he ,I.ill Il IL /.