The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1898-12-12
STEER ROUNDS UP CATTLE
A Trained bovine Assistant OF Ranch
Cowboys ON the san
Marcos Ranch.

ranch, near Santa Barbara.
BY some people he is simply called a
trained steer; by others ''cayresto."
But, as he does the hardest kind of cow
boy work, and good deal OF a nature
the cowboys cannot do, it would seem
as il the Texas name cowboy steer" is
the most appropriate.
On every wellregulated cattle ranch
In the west there is at least one steer
trained to help the cowboys in their
work. But there is none as proficient
In his business as the one on the San
Marcos ranch.
The cowboys have named this fellow
FL Hey (the king), and he is certainly
deserving of the title.
He holds his title and his throne by
the 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
Rey. The fierceness of wild cattle is
simply appalling.
The credit for the conquering and
education of FL Rey is due entirely to
the pluck and patience of vaquero
named Louis Ruiz. And when his la
bors were finished wonderful work
had been accomplished From the
widest and most vicious of them all FL
Rey had become as docile and obedient
as dog.
As we all know, the ordinary cayresto
is trained. when the RATA has captured
one of the believing, plunging, mad
dened animals. TO range himself along
side the captive and permit the vaquero
TO 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
underground 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 El Rey 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 no RATA. Locking his own big,
c4ro,,,r aud ernnl-aI horne into .ha
horns Of his indignant brother, he
hauls and tugs and pulls until victory
is his. Many and fierce ire his fights.
Wild is his rage when, after terrific
struggle, with victory almost in reach.
the captive succeeds in slipping from
the terrible crook OF El Iiey's horns ane
dashes Off once more TO the chaparral
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 in his captive, FL
Rcy resolutely stands by and holds him
with his horns till he is identified,
branded, marked. killed or whatever
the cattlemen elect to do with the ami
NAL. All the while the captive is held
steadily and stoutly till the cattlemen
have finished and III Rey is ordered to
"let GO"
Perhaps the most remarkable thing
is the GOODNESS with which Ell Rey
stands quietly holding down the head
of the captured animal while the va
Qlero deftly touches knife to the cap
tive's throat. The sight of blood does
not seem to affect him in the least.
When one of the refractory cattle is
brought in by cavresto he is immedi-
ately thrown to the ground and his
hind legs are securely tied together by
the strong RATA. His head is held
down by the trained steer, and it is then
the executioner operates.
The ordinary cavresto does not like
the operation of holding another steer
TO be killed. He would willingly get
away If he could, but he is usually too
tightly bound and must play bis part to
the end. But FL Rey needs no RATA to
compel him to do his duty. With his
terrible horns locked of his own ac-
cord into the horns of his captive he
stands a sturdy and interested par
ticipant until the cleaning knife of the
vaquero let's the life blood squirt forth.
With his master, the vaquero Ruiz,
FL Rey is as gentle as favorite horse
could be. To the home saqueros he is
calmly Indifferent, but with strangers
all his native fierceness and viciousness
come into life again. King Of his kind
is FL Rey, and gold cannot buy him.
San Francisco Call.