Arizona republican., 1898-11-07
STEER THAT ROUNDS UP CATTLE

so lCnS c5 IL pays I-t ll.-W WaSniHS SlCt
 Post.
 STEER THAT ROUNDS UP CATTLE
 A Trained Assistant of Ranch Cow
 boys on the San Marcos.
 The greatest cowboy stc-G" in tho
 world has his home on the San Marcos
 ranch, near Santa Barbara.
 By some people ne is simply called
 a trained steer; by others ''cavrestO.'
 But, as he does the hardest kind O.
 cowboy work, and a good deal of a
 nd.ure the cowboy cannot do, it would
 seem as if lthe Texas name cowboy
 steer'' is the most appropriate. l On every well regulated cattle ranch
 in the west there is at least one steer trained to help the cowboys in their
 work. But there is E0ae as proficient in his business as the one on the San Marcos ranch.
 The cowboys have named this fellow Fl Key (the king) and he is certainly deserving of the title.
 He holds his titlal and his throne by
 tihe power of brain and muscle The many manifestations of extraordinary intellect exhibited by dogs and trained horses are surprising enough in them selves, but they dwindle into common place when one considers the peculiar accomplishments of the cavresto Fl Key. The fierceness Of wild cattle is simply appalling.
 The credit for the conQuering and education Of Fl Key is due entirely to the pluck and patienca of a vaquero named Louis Ruiz. And when his la bOrS were finished a wonderful work had been accomplished. From the widest and most vicious of them all Ei Rev had become as dOcile and Obedient as a dog.
 As we all knew, the ordinary cav restO is trained, when the riata has captured one of the believing, plung- ing, maddened animals, to range him self alongside the captive and permit the vaquero Ito secure him firmly to the horns of the captive by means of the riata.
 When the rodeo takes place these trained animals are sent into the dense undergrowth and forests to rout out the hiding and terrified cattle. Even the cowboys, strong and skilled as they are, would never be able to drive them into the open country. But with the best of the cavrestos great deal of prodding, pushing and swearing IS considered necessary to make. them perform their duties.
 With Fl Key all is different At the word Of command he is off through the thicketS, driving from their hiding places the stubborn cattle. He waits for nc riata. Locking his own big, strong crooked horns into ,,he horns of his indignant brother. he hauls and tugs ard pulls until victory is his. Many and fierce are his fights. Wild is his rage when, af-GT 2 terrific strug- gle. with victory almost in reach, the captive succeeds in slipping from the terrible crook Of Fl Keys horns and dashes off once more to the chapaTral and freedom. But the wild steers lib erty is short lived. Fl Rey never fal- ters in his pursuit, and never returns except in company with his struggling prisoner.
 Having brought ici his captive, Fl Key resolutely stands by and holds him with his horns til he is identified, branded. marked, killed, or whatever 1 he cattlemen elect to do with the ani- nal All the while the captive is held ! steadily and stoutly till the caatlemen have finished and Fl Key is ordered .o let go.'' |
 Perhaps the most remarkable thing $ the cCoiness With which Fl Key stands quietly holding down the head )f the captured amman W ulle tie N6- luero deftly touches knife to the cap ives throat The sight Of blood dCeS lot seem to affect him in the least.
 When one of the refractory cattle Is brought in by a cavresto he is immedi- t ltely thrown to the ground and his lind legs are securely tied together by he strong riata. His head is held town by the trained steer, and it is hen L,he eXecutiOaer operates.
 The ordinary cayresto does not like he operation of holding another steer 0 be killed He would willingly get way if he could, but he is usually tco ightly bound and must play his part o the end. But Fl Key needs no rlata o compel him to do his duty. With lis terrible horns locked of his own ac- ord into the horns of his captive he lands a sturdy and interested pardcl- ,ant until tine gleamirg knife Of the auuero lets the lifeblCod spurt forth
 With his master, the Vaquero Rulz, { T Rev is as gentle as favorlte horse l onld be. To the home vaQueros he Is almly indifferent, but with strangers i Il his native fierceness and vicious ess come into life again. King of his f ind is Fl Key, and gold cannot buy im.-San Francisco Call.