The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-08-21

The Exciting Scenes Enacted on
Western Ranges
Odd Outfits Used IN Branding
the Calf Crop

All along the western borders Of
South Dakota the roundup camparos
burn brightly now The Missouri
river marks the eastern border Of the
great western ranges In tho Dakotas
alone at least / 900 riders are now en-
gagged 10 rounding up cattle aud
branding the calf crop Twenty-Five
outfits have plannedand laid out their
routes, and at least six weeks Of con-
tinuous riding will be necessary 70 do
the work. Fifty to sixty riders will
follow each wagon or outfit
The outfit consists Of the mess
wagon, drawn by four or six horses,
loaded down with provisions necessary
to feed It's crew; the bed wagon, con-
tanning all the bedding and camp
equipments; the horse wrangler, Who
takes charge Of the bunch Of horses to
be used in the work, usually consist
ing Of 200 TO 800 horses. These
horses are moved with the camp, aud
whenever a rider wants a fresh horse
he throws a rope into the bunch and
brings out his animal Then follows
the scene Of ''buoking" and plunging,
for often the broncho has to be
"busted" before he eau be used on
the work. Camp lie moved every DAY,
or at least every second day, from
five to eight miles along the route.
Every morning the line rider foreman
leaves camp with his crew OF riders
and takes course at right angles
with the route; every half mile or
mile be starts a couple of riders to
ride parallel with the route, to throw
in all The cattle they find toward the
route and camp. After five or six
lines are started out the foreman takes
the balance of riders and swings
around in front to drive oil the bunch
es gathered toward camp, coming in
for dinner.
In the afternoon the same course is
adopted in the opposite direction, and
both sides of the camp are worked.
The cattle gathered are all thrown
into one bunch, which is known as the
"cavvy," and are moved along with
the camp. Calves are branded each
day, and every one is branded the
same brand as its mother, no matter
where or who the owner may be.
This part of the work is done with
the greatest care, and every cowboy
is faithful to this trust
Whenever 1000 or 5000 cattle are
in the "cavvy," and while cattle are
on their own ranges, the work of ''cut-
ting out" is carried on. In this the
peculiar skill and ability of the cow
boy is drawn out, and only men OF
well-known expertness with brands
and cattle are detailed to do this work.
The cutting horse must learn his part
as we'll as the rider; he must be able
to turn about as quickly and on less
ground than any other, and dodge the
attacks of the widest steer with as much
ease and grace as the circus horse. The
rider dashes into the "cavvy" and
separates the cattle of each particular
brand belonging on the range they are
passing over. He drives his animal tC
the outside of the bunch and dashe'
back after another On the outside
are a number of riders who drive
these cattle off to the owner. Eact
brand held in this way is driven bacl
on its own ranch, for these range cat
tie become located. This is called
working the cavvy, and the mail
bunch is pushed ahead until every
body's cattle are cut out and tn
calves branded.
In South Dakota no less than 500,
900 head OF cattle will be handled b
the present roundup The countr
traversed will be upward of $4,000,
900 acres, which constitutes the grea
South Dakota pasture or range coun
try. Ench wagon il nsaipnad its par