The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-02-24

copyright. 1851
HEN in the early '70s Edgar Cat
W lett. fresh from college, came
m his New York home to Texas for
purpose of starting cattle ranch
was just q years old. 1t was his first
il TO the Lone Star state. and he wise
waited TO learn something of the
pntry, its people and their ways be-
te investing. He soon found out that
best ranges near the settlements
re all taken up, and that if he wished
secure ranch cheaply he must push
beyond them to the westward. He
hrd much of the staked plain. vast
fetch of high prairie lying between
forks of the Brazos in Texas and
Pecos river in New Mexico. and he
ermned to make n hunting trip out
o this country, where perhaps he
ght find a good range on which to
IT his ranch. For this purpose he
nt to the little town of Nenadita,
bn on the far border. bearing with
n letter of introduction to William
Fter. the principal merchant of the
Ice. Carter received him cordially
gave him full information as to the
II routes to take and the outfit he
nld require. and with it Il warning.
There is danger from the Indians
Fays on the staBed plain" be said.
is the ranging ground Of the Co
inches and Kiowas. and il you should
in the way Of band of these In
ms they will attack you if they can
IT without too much risk"
FBut ! thought these Indians we're all
reservations under guard?" said
tlett.
FOh. they've made treaties and moved
eir lodges to reservation-that's
he." said Carter. "But II doesn't
Ike much difference. The bucks stay
the reservation enough to draw ra-
pms and get their yearly presents.
icy get passes from the agent to 90
and hunt. or slip away without
We. and then they're ready for any
3viltry that offers The troops and
|ngers and cowboys together can't
Yep them from stealing horses and
|king white scalps, and many lone
Frder. hunter and erligrant outfit is
|iped out with none 10 tell the tale.
|ou'd better see II you can get Sam
fonson to go with you. He's a good
ian every way. and he knows the
|aked plain and the Comanches as
Fell as any man in Texas"
|The same day the merchant intro
Pced Catlett to Sam Bronson. The
pm was OF different style from the
d-shirted cowboys. who with wide
PINNED hats. leather chaperidos and
Pring spurs rode into Venadita now
Pa then for n spree. and sometimes
hot up" the town. Beside these pic
Presque. dashing riders, silent, unas-
lming Sam Bronson, in his plain suit
California overalls stuff. looked un-
Pmantic and commonplace. But when
htlett on the next day saw Bronson
Fth his rife knock the spot through
|e ace OF hearts on playing card
hiled to tree at 80 yards away, firing
fhand. he decided that here was the
IAN he wanted. Two days later they
JADE their start for the staked plain
horseback, driving n pack mule car
Ting blankets, -four. bacon. salt, cof-
|e and ammunition for months trip.
pr fresh meat they depended upon
me. for these were days when the buff
10 roamed the plains, and. once away
pm the settlements, it was seldom
|at a herd OF these shaggy-hcaded
|asts or band Of graceful antelope
ps not somewhere in view of the two
pnters.f vssnt sR
The staked plain, where now the cat
and sheep of many ranchmen pas
re. was then an arid, .unpeopled
Pirie. TIE water courses which cut
plain are commonly dry except for
ew hours following heavy rains. hut
re are springs and water holes
ich the buffalo and the Indians. but
few white men, knew about. at
Tine Of which I write. It being
the beginning Of the rainy season,
pFlngss were flowing freely and
Pte. ices were :ull-brs Bronscv