The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-11
THE "COWBOY STEER"
He Rounds Up Cattle on Ranch o"
the San Marcos.

Tho greatest cowboy steer IN the
world has his home on the san MdreoS
ranch. near Santa Barbara
BY some people he is simply cailel a
trained steer: by others, "caVres'o.
But. as he does the hardest kind OF cow
how work. and a good deal of nature
the cowboys cannot do, 1t would seem
as If the Texas name cowboy steer Is
the most appropriate
On every well regulated cattle rancn
in the West there is at least one steer
trained to help the cowboys IN their
work. But there Is none as prohclehS
in his business as the one on the san
Marcos ranch. -,
Ths cowboys have named this fellow
FL Rey (the king, and he Is justly ue-
serving OF the title.
He holds his title and his throne by
the mower of brain and muscle. the
many manifestations of extraordinary In
tellect exhibited by dogs and trained
horses are surprising enough in them
selves. but they dwindle into common
Mace when one considers the peculiar
accomplishments of the cavresto ri Rey'
The ferceness of wild cattle Is simply APP
paling.
The credit for the conquering and odu-
cation of FL Rey is due entirely 10 Tue
pluck and patience of Vaquero iamed
Louis Ruiz And when his lapors were
finished a wonderful work had been ac-
complished. 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 cavresto
is trained, when the RATA has captured one
of the believing. plunging, madiened ami
mails. to range himself alongside the cap
tive and permit the vaquoro 10 -"cure
him firmly to the horns Of the captive
by means of the RATA.
When the rOdeo takes place these train
ed animals are sent into the dense under
growth and forests 10 route out the hid
ing 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 a great deal Of UrOddinS. push
ing and swearing IS considered necessary
to make them perform their duties
With EI Rey all is different. At the
word of command he Is of through tht
thickets. driving from their hiding places
the stubborn cattle He waits Tor No
RATA. Locking his own big, strong anc
crooked horns into the horns of his In
dignant brother, he hauls and tugs anc
pulls until victory is his. Many and
fierce are his fights. wild is his rage
when. after a terrific struggle, with vic
tory almost In reach. the captive succeeds
I'm slipping from the terrible crook OF ~
Rev's horns and dashes or once more 10
the chaparral and freedom But the Wild
steers liberty ia short-lved FL Key
never falters in his pursuit, ana never
returns except in company with his
struggling prisoner
Having brought In his captive. III Rey
~ nd
his horns till he Is identified. branded,
marked. killed. or whatever the cattle
men elect TO do with the animal All the
while the captive Is held steadily and
stoutly till the cattlemen have finished
and FL Rey is ordered to 'let go.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing Is
tho GOODNESS with which FL Rey stands
Quietly holding down the head Of the
captured animal while the vaquero deity
touches a knife TO the captive's throat.
The sight OF blood does not seem 10 affect
him in the least.
When one of the refractory cattle Is
brought in by n cavresto he Is imme-
diately thrown TO the ground and his
hind legs are securely tied together by
the strong RATA. His head is held down
b. the trained steer. and 1t Is then the
executioner operates.
The ordinary cavresto does not like
the operation OF holding another steer
10 be killed He would willingly get
away II he could. but Re Is usually too
tightly bound and must play his part to
the end. But FL Rey needs no RATA 10
compel him to do his duty. With his
terrible horns locked OF his own accord
into the horns of his captive he stands
a sturdy and interested participant until
the cleaning knife of the vaquero lets
tho lifeblood squirt forth.
With his master the Naquero Ruiz, FL
Rev is as gentle as a favorite horse
could be. To the home vaqueros he is
calmly indifferent. but with strangers
an his native fierceness and viclousness
come into life again. King Of his kind
Is Ell Rey. and gold cannot buy him.
San Francisco Call.