The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-08-20

Now began the cruel work OF burning
with red-n0t irons the Chasac tefs wn...,
compose the brand OF the Holt Live stock
Copany-a bar an o and a u. The irons
used we're OF only two shapes, a complete
circle and a straight bar. The brand
was placed on the left side OF the rump.
A MEAN TRICK.
Some of the calves were large and
strong and the task of throwing them was
not an easy one. But for trick which
tho cowboys pracuccd Il would have been
anything but easy. The calf was APP
preached on the right side. the left ear
seized with the left hand and the thumb
OF the right hand pushed Into the mouth
In the rear OF the teeth then the head
was given a suden twist TO the left and
down came the brute ON the right side
with the knee OF the cowboy on It's neck.
the hands still holding az described. while
another man quickly seized abe left hind
foot. pulling it TO the rear. while one OF
his feet was braced against the right leg
OF the calf and he lay as II In a vice.
The irons which had been heating for
some time were applied rapidly and re-
leutlcssy. burning through the hair and
almost through the skin amid the piteous
grCans OF the calf, squ.rming and twisting
the while.
abused they were allowed to reioin their
mothers and il vas rare sight to see the
great JOY Of BON az the reunion For
some time afterwards they discussed the
event I'm their own language the young
relating their awful experience. while the
old cOnsOlcd and caressed, Remembering
too well how 50 had been with them IN
their young days.
Before the calves were allowed to re-
Join their mothrs. however. It was do
c.ded. after much dehboration 10 under
take the dangerous duty of dehorning
the vicious cow Her horns were unusual.
~ well set for goring. and the cowboy.
who nad such narrow escape. insisted
that when the next branding time came
round she would be an the more UGLY.
Recognizing. nevertheless. that q was q
case OF revenge on the part of the escaped
cowboy, General Manager Jones agreed.
provided the insistcnt would catch the
cow himself which De readily agreed 10
DO Few Of us would have given i've
cents FOR his life when he started in. for
a. had 20 be done on foot the close quar-
tiers making 70 impracticable for q ponv
10 do the work There were many at.
tempts and many narrow escapes. but
the cowboy persisted getting dangerously
near the nOw-infuri8ted beast he would
the lasso caught fast on the horns. and
the cowboy deity tied the other end 10
a post. another rope was fastened TO one
hind foot and the cowboys succeeded in
throwing her heavily 20 the ground. while
several men rushed up and held her
fast. The horns sawed of. the COW had
10 be set free, which was risky. too. The
ropes We're quietly united. and al "A signal
all ran for life TO the fence. closely fol.
lowed by the enemy, but the pursuers had
tho start on her, and she did no harm.
LAWS EVADED.
Few laws. except perhaps the State
game laws. are more widely disregarded.
abused and evadcd than those Federal
enactments which authorize individuals
under the guise of settlers % take ND
government lands I'm Colorado. In the
gold fields the abuse is expected and no
one ever complains. but out on the prai-
rics. the grazing lands, the evil has grown
until the very means provided for SCI
ting the lands has proved hindrance
so strong that few believe the state Will
ever become populous boo such sections
OF course the great drawback with the
farming and grazing lands is the lack
Of water the absence OF living streams
where man and beast may drink ana with
which the former may irrigate titled
whom live I'm the East chiefly New York
and Boston. came early upon the ground
and claimed al of the watcrcd lands
Some OF these ranches are nfty miles i'm
length and about half as broad and
which control an OF the water as far as
they go. Crops are raised on land which
can Doe irrigated and the rest is given M
FOR grazing. hundreds Of miles Of pastures
being enclosed with haTbcd wire fences.
The unwatered lands which are by far
the greater portion Of the plains. then
began to be claimed by an who dared 10
come. Austrians MeXicans, and swedes
came and took mp claims living like
prairie-dOgs I'm holes IN the ground adobe
houses as they are called: they are not
as good as the homes of the EsQuimauX.
They TOUCHED" 10 out as rule for the
five years. proving their claims and le-
ceiving their deeds from the Federal au-
thorltles. some left before the FIVE years
expired. but perjured themselves and
got their deeds just the same. Much Of
the land taken up nov Is claimed by men
who do not pretend d live on il or till
the soil or herd sheep or cattle thereon.
Many Americans. who are employed by
big ranchmen at a salary stake aff
claim and I'm order t0 ease their con-
science go and sleep ON the claim every
law reads that they must not be absent
from the claim Tor six months at a time
and I'm their Interpretation they have
fulfilled the requirements. swearing that
they have lived ON it for FIVE years.
Many Of them take mp the additional
timber claims. planting on IL a few cot
tonwood trees or bushy elms. and with
the two find themselves possessed of
large farm i'm Colorado for a song They
hold il then waiting for something TO
turn up. TIE something that turns up Is
the bone fide settler who finds that f be
IS to get any desirable land he must buy
II from another, and the bright promises
OF the parent government Is a myth.
ABANDONED CLAIMS
The pralries for miles are dotted with
abandoned huts and adobe houses which
are ANYTHING but inviting 20 the hopeful
settler There is no timber upon the
plains and a good frame house is a rare
Sacrificed to