The evening bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1887-1905, 1896-06-27
BOLD TEXAN RANGERS
A Unique and Formidable Band
of Frontier Fighters.
TERROR TO OUTLAWS AND INDIANS
Organized by Sam Houston In 1886, They
Have Had an Active and Picturesque
Existence Ever nce-Conservators Of
Law and Order.

Have Had an Active and Picturesque
Existence Ever since-Conservators OF
Law and Order.
There is no police force or militia on
earth quite like the Texas rangers. The
organization has been famous for go years,
but at length with changing conditions 1t
seems likely soon to disappear. 1t Is still
enormously popular in Texas, and its
members and veterans enjoy peculiar privi-
leges throughout the state.
The original rangers were organized in
1885 by Sam Houston. They helped to
bring about Texan independence and sub
sequently to defend the frontier against
the assaults of Indians and Mexicans
From that time to this the Texas rangers
have existed in one form or another. A
company of 80 former rangers is now
fighting for the freedom of Cuba, and an
organized force of rangers under the pay
of the state helps to maintain order in the
wilder parts of Texas.
When the civil war broke out, Con
Terry, an old ranger, organized the IA
nous body of men known as Terry's Texas
rangers, composed almost entirely of
former rangers and frontiersmen. They
fought from Bull Run to Appomattox and
lost as per cent of their original muster
roll
Soon after the close of the civil war the
Texas legislature provided for calling out
1000 rangers TO protect the frontiers
against hostile Indians. 1t was formid-
able little army thus provided, and for
some years thereafter the rangers formed
a strong body of troops.
The various state troops of Texas from
1866 to 1888 effectually followed 1913 par
ties of Indian marauders, had 81 fights
with Indians and Mexicans, killed SO In
dams, wounded 90 and captured 6, killed
81 Mexicans and wounded B and recovered
nearly 5000 stolen horses mules and cat
tie and citizens carried off by Indians
and desperadoes. During those years 896
citizens were killed and 81 carried off by
Indians or Mexicans, 10 rangers were killed
and 81, 600 horses and mules, 43, 400 cattle
and 2, 400 sheep and goats were stolen.
There were in addition many minor out
RACES which the rangers were called upon
to redress.
Conditions had so far changed in Texas
by the year 1889 that the rangers were no
longer needed for defense against hostile
Indians, as Indian raids had ceased. But
the force, now reduced in numbers, was
still active in the suppression of despera-
does along the border, some Of them raid
ing Mexicans, others native products and
all more troublesome from the fact that
increased vigilance on the Mexican side of
the Rio Grande tended to confine the oper-
ations of such persons to Texas. The ran
gers made in the years 1SS9-90 $40 arrests,
mostly of desperate criminals, among them
10 murderers, 100 cattle thieves and 25
robbers and burglars. Although Mexican
outrages had decreased in numbers and
the Indians had utterly disappeared from
the state, the rangers from December, 1899,
to Nov 30, 1894, made more than 900 ar
rests.
The Texas rangers of today and of re.
cent years have been officially designated
the frontier battalion. The present organ
ization was cut down last year from ii
men in each company to z, ga mere
handful" says an old ranger, "but they
are all aces" The whole battalion now
musters only 100 men. This dwindling
body Of heroic and adventurous traditions
Is held in vast respect throughout all the
border counties of Texas, and every border
youth of mettle wishes to serve in the
rangers. An old ranger may have almost
anything that the border counties have to
bestow, and it is from among the retired
rangers that sheriffs and other county
officers are usually chosen.
Any unmarried man over IS years Of age
is eligible as ranger, but 1t is an exceed
ingly difficult matter to get into the or
ganization. Courage, physical soundness,
first rate Craftsmanship, precision with fire.
arms and steady habits are the requisites
for membership. The term of enlistment
Is one year. The ranger furnishes his
horse, accouterments and arms, while the
state furnishes food for the men, forage,
ammunition, medicines and medical at
tendance. The pay Of captains is 800
month, Of sergeants $50 month and Of
privates $50 month. The force is made
up Of young men, sober, well ordered and,
rs a rule, fairly well educated The ran
gers of today attend to business in the
same thorough fashion as their prede-
cessors, and in small bands of six or eight
men they pursue and capture the worst
desperadoes of the border counties.
1--WE live In the saddle, and the sky is
our roof, " say the rangers and this is al