The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
THE OUTLAW TEXAS STEER.
Twelve Cowboys Were Required to Rope
Old Geronimo.

old Geronimo.
AvsrlN Tex, Nov 7--Georrc W. Sanders
has en- outlaw steer on his ranch in Fro county,
southwest Of here The animal is known 10
nearly every cowboy in southwest Texas He
was named Geronimo more than twelve years ago,
and he has lived up to his name in every respect
Geronimo is a typical long horn Texas steer.
lie now weighs nearly two thousand pounds and
has always been master u tho herds with which
he ran. Ho was born sixteen years aCo on a ranch
In Uvalde county. and when mere calf II took
three cowboys to rope and hold him while the
branding iron was put 10 his left shoulder lie
grew rapidly and soon became tie leader in the
FRANKS played by the cattle on the ranch lie
was the leader Of all stampsdcs. and many long
and weary chase did he cause the boys When
he was two years old his owner included him In the
sale Of lot OF other cattle, and force Of cowboys
started in TO round them up and drive them to tho
railroad shipping pens. Geronimo seemed TO
know the object Of the roundup and bolted the
herd before the pasture fence was reached and
took dozen other cows with him The cow
boys chased the boilers many miles and finally
got all Of them except Geronimo back into tho
herd. Geronimo WAS ropcd several times. but he
broke the lariat and with toss OF his head and
snort Of denson at his pursuers continued on and
until the effort to capture him given UP,
WIN tno ulShppcdIhnCo VI uls Hcru pcrOHlmD
Jumped dozen wire pasture fences and took UP
with large herd OF cattle on ranch in Edwards
county
When Geronimo was years old he was placed
with hord Of cattle with which he had been run.
ming for several months and an effort was made
to drive them to lIondo City. on the Southern
Pacific road for shipment 10 the Kansas City
market. The shipping pens wero about two
days drive from the ranch and everything went
smoothly until the second night The herd had
been rounded up for the night and as the moon
was shining trignny NO apprehension Of STAN.
cowboys On guard during the first half Of the
night, and they rode round and round the herd.
All the animals werc lying down and everything
WAS perfectly quiet when Geronimo suddenly
got on his feet and with snort and below rushed
and then bounded of toward tie south with the
whole herd after him at full tilt The cowboys
pc'ic and that Geronimo, caused !, out Of pure
| nleanncss There were about two thousand head
Of cattle in the herd and they ran for forty miles
to them. but they could no, get ahead Of Geronimo
and turn the course Of the herd When the herd
| Geronimo turned and looked at his followers ns
! u in disdnin aud then bounded of alone into
the, wilderness. Of mesquite bushes as II satisfied
The animal criminal OF the plains was found
few days later with another herd in Cvnlde
all kinds Of offences and the owner Of the ranch
favored shooting, the outlaw rteer. but the COW
%sa his Gspefae 81 and s bad S ns Thc sh spsn
| many n day trying TO rope and subduc Geronimo
Ihoy rcped him several lines but before he could
| b. made secure he had broken the thongs and
In 1854 hand Of Mesi"Ss thieves i made a raid
a, the time and drove Oh the herd The thievss
got tho cattle into tho mountains Of Brewster
county, and then Geronimo led stampede and
took the herd all the way back to tho ranch Tho
| thieves pursued the running herd for several
miles and then fearing detection. abandoned the
| chase
Geronimo met with his FIRST defea, in 1898
| In the November roundup in that year day
| was set aside for another eiior, 10 capture Tie
old outlaw Cowboys from all tho neighboring
ranches were invited TO be present. When the
day came ,h"Se was a gn,he ding Of .he most adept
in the morning. Each cowboy was 20 have
TRIAL and II no one succeeded in roping tho amin.
| the trial WAS next 10 be made In pairs then In
triples, and So on unit all n. participants made
Geronimo. There have been many other ropins
contests In Texas. but none Of them equSIled
the one on This ranch in Uvalde county on lht
| day that old Geronimo was the intended VICTIM
| Cowboy after cowboy went down before the Alert
ness and strength Of Ge,onipS until every p.r,ioc
yd-i into pairs and each pair in turn wen through
III" performance, and in each instance defeat wa
sport and eIci,emen, very much, but as the mum
Der OF rcpcrs he encountered At once increased
h. ,viden!y saw that ns nptsh was approsshnS
on the. part Of The cowboys 10 prevent Lhrr ponie,
team Of ropers numbered twelve and their con
certed charge on tho outlaw resulted in every
| rrpe finding lodgment on either the legs or horn
| Of the animal Geronimo made a desperate sirug
gle for freedom but ne was finally bound strong
and fast He was tllrn placed 10 a wagon and
hauled to Uvalde and shipped 10 his present hom'
| in FRO county
Upon arriving atSfr Sanders's ranch Geronim,
was placed In a small enclosure from which 60
cape was made In possible by high plank osrt
fence, Tn. old desperate Of the plains felt hi
huniliasi so kcenly that for ono hundred day,
he refused TO eat almost entirely and drank It'll
water. When h. had grown weak that hi
death was looked for at any time he srbmino'
TO the inevitable and began eating lie ha
condition fIe is the pride Of the stockmen AM
cowboys Of that section. Mr.. Sanders still keep
the outlaw In close confinement knowing ful
we'll that " he is turned into the pasture with othe
cattle the mischief will Ire TO play in short while