Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-07
ON THE "ROUND-UP."
How the Thing Is Done and the Perila
That Are Encountered.

How the Thing Is Done and the Perila
That Are Encountered.
From Golfers Weekly.
The roundup is under the direct charge Of
one man. known the captain who is
sometimes selected by the association at the
time of appointing the meeting, and is
sometimes chosen by the ranchmen them
selves when the party assemblies for its
work. For the time being the authority Of
the captain is nearly absolute as one
mans authority can be over American citi-
zens. Violations of his orders are punish-
able in most cases by the assessment of
arbitrary fines, but recourse is not often
had to this penalty. for a rule the men
know what is expected of them. and take
keen pride In doing their work well. The
captain has lieutenant chosen from the
representatives of each ranch taking part
In the roundup. Thus differed, the force
of men is ready for its work.
The men are awakened in the morning,
long before daylight They have probably
slept on the ground rolled in blankets. and
with saddles boots for pillows. Toilets
are hurriedly made. for hardness is not toll.
Grated. The camp breakfast is gulped down
in the dark, and every man must be in
stantly ready to mount when the summons
comes
So soon as possible the nights camp Is
struck. and the wagons move forward for
five miles or SO. where the riders to
semble after the mornings work The two
parties of riders then strike off in opposite
directions. those in each party gradually
drawing further and further apart, until the
dozen men form a line ten or fifteen miles
in length. extending from the site of the
nights camp back to the foothills bordering
the stream. and then this line. with its
members mile or apart moves forward
in the direction of the camp. search
ing every nook and Granny among the rocks
and hills for wandering punches of grazing
cattle These must be assembled and driven
to camp.
Each ranch has its individual mark or
brand, which is put upon It's animals-some-
times letter combination of letters and
sometimes a geometrical figure.
The brands are protected by state law,
somewhat after tho fashion of a copyright,
and each is the absolute property Of the
ranch which uses it The ranches are COM
monty known among the cattlemen of the
neighborhood by the name of the brand
which they use-as "Circle-Bar ranch"
Lazy l. ranch" etc. The ponies used in
cutting out must be the best. thoroughly
broken to the work, and wise serpents,
for, in case of some maddened COW steer
forming sudden disposition to charge, the
life of the rider often depends upon the
Willingness and cool adroitness of his pony
in getting out of the way
Once the herd is apportioned to its own
erS there remains the labor of branding.
Calves with their mothers easily iden-
titled. but there will always be found some
mature animals which have escaped the
branding iron in former round-ups and
which are known as mavericks. 1t may be
imagined that the burning of brand upon
the shoulder. flank, or side of lusty two
year-old bull is fraught with considerable
excitement. To do this It is first necessary
that the animal be "roped," or larated and
thrown down. The skill Of men trained to
handle the rope is really admirable. and IT.
may be remarked in passing that an expert
roper is always in demand.
The work of branding concludes the most
serious business of the day, save that the
herd requires constant watching through
out the twenty-four hours. When night has
fallen and the herd has lain down. riders
are detailed to circle continually about to
guard against the ever-present danger Of a
stampede. In the night cattle will take
fright upon very slight alarm. and often
quite causelessly. One or two will rise. bell
lowing and in an instant the entire herd Ia
upon its feet craZed with fright and desir-
ing nothing but flight. To break stam-
pede it Is necessary to head off the leaders
and turn them back into the herd. If the
onward rush can be checked and the herd
induced to move around in a circle, the
present danger Is past: but 1t Is impossible
The rider who deliberately goes in front OF
a stampeding herd in the pitchy darkness
of a prairie night, thoughtless of everything
save his duty, must be man of fine fiber.
And, indeed I must say at the last that
the "cowpunchers." class, maligned
and traduced they have been. possess q
quality of sturdy, sterling manhood which
would be to the credit of men in any walk
of life. The honor of the average "punch-
err abides with him continually. He will
not lie: he will not steal. He keeps faith
with his friends; toward his enemies he
bears himself like man. He has his vices
as who has not?-hut like to speak soft-S
ly of them when set against his unassailabie
virtues I wish that the manhood of the
cowboy might come more into fashion furi
Their east