The daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Ind. Ter. [Okla.]) 1898-1902, 1899-01-02
STEER ROUNDS UP CATTLE
A Trained Bovine Assistant of Ranch
Cowboys on the San
Marcos Ranch.

trained steer; by others ''cavresto."
But, as he does the hardest kind of cow
boy work, and good deal OF a nature
the cowboys cannot do, it would seem
as If the Texas name cowboy steer" is
the most appropriate.
On every well-regulated cHttle ranch
in the west there is at least one steer
trained to help the cowboys in their
work But there is none as proficient
in his business as the one on the San
Marcos ranch.
The cowboys have named this fellow
FL Key (the king), and he is certainly
deserving of the title.
He holds his title and his throne by
the power of brain and muscle. The
many manifestations of extraordinary
intellect exhibited by dogs and trained
horses are surprising enough in them
selves, but they dwindle into common
place when one considers the peculiar
accomplishments OF the cayresto FL
Rey. The fierceness of wild cattle is
simply appalling.
The credit for the conquering and
education of El Rey is due entirely to
the pluck and patience of vaquero
named Louis Ruiz. And when his Ia
bors were finished wonderful work
had been accomplished. From the
widest and most vicious of them all Ell
Rev had become as docile and obedient
as dog.
III L ha< Jir,u ux-yf "a
is trained. when the RATA has captured
one of the believing, plunging, mad
dened animals, to range himself along
side the captive and permit the vaquero
to secure him firmly to the horns OF the
captive by means of the RATA.
When the rodeo takes place these
trained animals are sent into the dense
underground and forests to rout out
the hiding and 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 prodding. pushing and swearing is
considered necessary to make them
perform their duties.
With FL Rey all is different. At the
word OF command he is off through the
thiclSets, driving from their hiding
places the stubborn cattle. He waits
for no riata. Locking his own big,
strong and crooked horns into the
horns of his indignant brother, he
hauls and tugs aud pulls until victory
is his. Many and fierce are his fights.
Wild is his rage when, after terrific
| struggle, with victory almost in reach,
the captive succeeds in slipping from
the terrible crook of FL Rey's horns ane
dashes off once more to the chaparral
and freedom. But the wild steers lib
erty is short lived. FL Rey never fall
ters in his pursuit, and never returns
except in company with his struggling
prisoner.
Having brought in his captive, e
Rey resolutely stands by and holds him
with his horns till he is identified
branded, marked, killed or whatever
the cattlemen elect TO do with the ami
NAL. All the while the captive is helt
steadily and stoutly till the cattiemer
have finished and FL Rey is ordered te
''let 60"
Perhaps the most remarkable thing
is the coolness with which FL Rey
stands quietly holding down the heat
of the captured animal while the va
quero deity touches knife to the cap
tive's throat. The sight Of blood doei
not seem to affect him in the least.
4 When one OF the refractory cattle il
brought in by cayresto he is lmmedi
ately thrown to the ground and hi
hind legs are securely tied together b,
the strong RATA. His head is helt
down by the trained steer, and it is thel
the executioner operates.
The orainary cavresto does not lik
the operation of holding another stee
10 be killed. He would willingly ge
away il he could, but he is usually to-
tightly bound and must play his part t
the end. But El Rey needs no RATA t
compel him to do his duty. With hi
terrible horns locked of his own &C
cord into the horns of his captive h
stands h sturdy and interested par
ticipant until the cleaning knife OF tn
vaquero let's the life blood squirt fortf
With his master, the Vaquero Ruiz
El Rey is as gentle as favorite hors
could be. To the home vaqueros he
calmly Indifferent, but with stranger
all his native fierceness and viciousnes
come into life again. King Of his kin
I is Ell Rey, and gold cannot buy him.
Z San Francisco Call.
RAIN CARVINGS.