The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-09
LED HER MEN IN THE FIGHT
THE DARING EXPLOIT OF 4 TEXAS
RANCHMAN,S MIEE.


Talk about nervy women r. said tho Major.
There's a woman up in the Panhandle Of
Texas who is afraid OF nothing. She has
hunted all sorts of game and killed it, too; has
fought the Apache and Comanche; has herded
cattle; helped to run down horse thieves; is
the best horsewoman on the range can throw
lasso with such experts as Mexican Pedro Or
Apache Jack and yet is a good housckceper.
cook and the best nurse in the State. Every
body on upper Red and Canadian rivers has
heard of Mrs Cassie Redwine.
About seven or eight years ago a bard OF
Mexican and white robbers devastated the Rio
Grande country. stealing cattle and horses by
the thousand. They must have cleaned out
fully dozen ranches and killed at least
twenty men before things got too hot for them.
and they left that part Of the State. The next
thing heard of the gang was d series OF terrible
robberes and murders committed in the upper
range. along the Canadian and the New Mexi-
can border. or course there was general
pursuit but it didn't amount to anything. as
the bands always succeeded in escaping into
Mexico. where the pursuers could not follow.
One afternoon during Redwine's absence
from his range d bunch OF 500 cattle was run
off. and OF course the news was brought in by
the cowboys. Mrs. Redwne had often heard
OF the Rio Grande gang OF thieves, and she i'm
mediately made up her mind it was members
Of it who had stolen her cattle. Instead Of
sending a cowboy off to San Carlos ranch.
thirty miles away for help she called in and
hastily equipped eighteen of the best owboys
on the range for long ride and a hard fight
She didp't send out Jim Lucas, the boss Of the
hesders. as chief. but took command OF
them herself. Leaving half dozen men
at the ranch. with orders for ten more
IN RaIy nul
the brave ranch woman mounted her
big roam horse. the best trained and
fastest in the Panhandle. and started in pur-
suit Heretofore the pursuers had always
followed the trail of the stolen cattle through
the estacado and over the range. and as the
loss was not discovered for several days the
thieves always had start enough to get to the
border in advance. Instead. then. OF following
the old trail. Mrs. Redwine. or Capt. Cassie.
as she is familiarly known 10 the cowboys.
started in direct line for the nearest crossing
of the Grande.
The ride over prairie. desert and hills was
kept up for twenty-four hours with an occa-
the horses. Then the band went int" camp p on
the banks of small stream the horses were
watered and picketed out in the grass along
the banks. and the men and their leader re-
freshed themselves with meal OF dried beef
bread and all the strong coffee they could
the shade of the trees. Then on again they
went for another pull of eighteen hours before
they stopped for rest o. more than few min;
horses. and one would naturally think
that the woman. at least. woHld have
all said. after the affair was over. that Can't
Cassie was the freshest one in the party when
the band pulled up. on the AFTERNOON Of the
When the cowboys had dsmounted and wa
tered their horses Capt. Cassie told one OF them
to take scout at9ot down to the ford and as
certain whether the thieves had crossed at that
point. Arkansas Joe. who had been selected
for the work, returned in an, hour with the in
over the trail but that there were three Next
cans camred on the south side Of the ford,
Just what | expected said Capt. Cassie
Joe. take four men. ride up the Pecos aud
cross at the ford about a mil above then come
down in the rear of the Mexcans and hold them
joe had no idea Of what his Captain had in
his mind, but. as he was there to obey orders
which to accomplish their mission. the band
crossed at the same spot at which Joe had
made, the ford some tune before; They then
roHe 1aek asa ms Of ann mile hack of h
ford When they drew rein near the mouth Of
the pass they found three strange horses pick
must belong to the MeXicans. but what the
Greasers were doinethere was mystery to all
business After picketing the animals. one OF
the men was sent forward. returning in short
time with arkansas jog ana MS men men ana the
prise and captured without shot, They were
three villainous looking scoundrels. Capt
Cassie meanwhile had ordered her, men to
throw three assoes over the branches Of as
many trees at the side OF the pass In plain view
Of the Mexcans when they were brought in
When they were taken before the Captain her
How many men has your chief. and when
do you expect him give you three minutes
Wheeler It was the sight Of the swaying
ION before them that scared the Mexicans out
Of their wits. there's no telling; They con,
tessed that they were members me- Of the band OF
crossing and notify their chief II anything
suspicious was seen, and then gave the num-
Der in the gang Of marauderS as thirty two.
They did not know when the gang would APP
pear, but looked for them by the next day at
-, Here you Big Jim.' said Capt Cassie when
she had received this information. take these
fellows back in the brush and let three Of the
the the gang comes down to cross. the three men
dressed Ia the Mexrans' clothes can keep In
s srsa as sG fsa way
fore the gang can discover the trick
The change WAS soon made. and the men
went into camp. leaving the three men dressed
in the prisoners' clothes on guard Nothing
was seen or heard Of the robbers until about l
o'clock the neyt morning. when one Of the
:" They're coming, boys said Mrs. Redwine
when you get inside the pass. run your horses
back, dismount and take to trees. Six OF you
take trees on the lower side Of the pass. and
six on the upper jim, lake charge OF one crowd
and Joe of the other I'll take the three left and
the three dressed in Mexican clothes back to
| the bend there about hundred yards down
the pass and when YOU hear my shot, pick
your men. They have over thirty. and we've
got to thin them out tho first round or well
have trouble. Have your horses ready
No further orders were given. and with
such men none were necessary. Half an hour
later tho head Of the band appeared at the
crossing There were about twenty men IN
front. and behind them was a mass of cattle,
and behind the cattle was the rest of the gang;
at least dozen men. Through the leaves and
branches OF chaparra Capt. Cassie scanned tho
approaching band; then. turning to her men.
said: Boys. there's about twenty men in
front, and II we can dispose of them quick
" we can clean out the whole OUTFIT
THE cowboys. who were dressed in the nris-
| oners' clothes seemingly careless and indifEer-
| ent now that their comrades had arrived. one
| nv one rode into the pass and dismounted
| Every man was at his post when the head OF
| ing Jokes in Mexican at the EXPENSE of the
| 'Tcjano ranchers whose cattle they were driv-
ing into Mexico to be sold for he benefit OF the
| band. the column, led by Psdro Alvarez. or
Black Pedro as the chief robher was known
| on tho Pecos and Rio Grande, rode along
| smok ing cigarettes until the head OF the band
| had penetrated the PASS nearly POO yards
| and was upon the point OF turning