The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-15

barricaded doors, who were al the time
pouring a leaden hail OF bullets as they
rushed 10 the attack Little squads OF
Rangers had no thought OF the fearful
chances they were taking in going for
miles into a hostile Indian region sur
rounded on all sides by treacherous saw
ages.
a great many stories have come 20 light
through the old Rangers enlsting for the
late war and the yarns they have spun
around the camp fires during the biv0uacs
and encampments have been so startling
as 10 seem incredible 10 Eastern eaTs and
people unaccustomed TO what the wild
regions OF Texas used 10 be. There have
been thousands OF Rangers who were JUS;
as neryy as D2vy Crockett. Travis. or
Bowie were at the Alamo. but when.
questioned about their exploits have mod
estly shifted the conversation and care
lessly replied that they hadn't done any
thing worth mentioning They are al
ways spelling for active fighting. and
whenever the call comes for volunteers
the old Rangers arr ever ready to step 70
the front. The great bulk OF the Rough
Riders were recruited at San Anioiio and
different parts OF Texas and Oklahoma
Unassuming, why. quiet men on the sur
face they give little evidence of the dar-
ing underneath the clam exterior. bur
once get them reused. once give them
chance TO fight an enemy. and the world
has never seen better mentor severe ser
vice and men that can always be relied
upon.
Notwithstanding the fact that the State
is virtually rid OF Indians their usefulness
has not entirely ceased. During the years
1880 $40 arrests were made by the
members OF the organization. mostly OF
desperate criminals. cattle thieves. OF
this number 76 were murderers and loo
| cattle thieves. Although Mexican out
RACES had decreased and the Indians had
utterly disappeared from the State the
Rangers from December. 1890. to Not.
80, 1899, made more than 900 arrests.
Any unmarried man over Is years OF
age Is enlisted as a Ranger but il Is an
exceedingly difficult matter to get into
the organization. and but few men can
fulfill the requisites for membership. The
Ranger furnishes his horse. accouterments.
and arms. while the State furnishes food
for the men. forage ammunition. medicine
and medical attendance. The pay OF cap
tains Is $500 per month, sergeants $50 and
privates $50. The force is made Up OF
young men, sober. well ordered, and.
a rule. fairly we'll educated. The Rangers
OF today attend 10 business in the same
thorough fashion as their famed predeces-
sors, and in small bands OF six or eight
persue and capture the worst deSpera-
does of the border communities. They
dress as they please, but experiences
teaches them that a corduroy coat with
reversible waterproof lining. heavy riding
trousers and boots well spurred, flannel
shirt. buckskin gloves. and big hat are
the best outfits For arms they carry
short carbine. bowie knife, and Colts
six-shooter, which hangs almost to the
knee In their belts are their cartridges
and 80 accoutered they are always ready
10 mount and ride, whether IL be 20 cap
ture some desperate train robber who mas
held up a passenger train. or To pursue
gang of cattle thieves, or mayhaps
murderer or some other desperate char
acter. n Waco, Tex, there is club OF
ex-Rangers. and when the members as
semble and are in the mood a visitor may
have some of the most thrilling anecdotes
and storier he has ever heard or read.